Harpa Romana. Arias & Cantatas by the 17th-Century Virtuosos

"What I have that is most precious I will preserve in my own name". This is most likely the belief that guided a series of harpists - ranging from Leonardo Mollica, the most renowned virtuoso of the late Renaissance, to Orazio Michi, Marco Marazzoli and Giovan Carlo Rossi (brother of the better-known Luigi) - to change their names to Leonardo, Orazio, Marco, and Carlo "dall'Arpa" respectively. Although none of the above were actually born in Rome, this was the place where their careers played out. Restoring an identity to these musicians is the express aim of this recording project. And the resulting portraits of these virtuosos of the "queen of instruments" are the outcome of lengthy research, study, transcription and arrangement carried out by Riccardo Pisani and Chiara Granata.

The ensemble La Smisuranza, with its unique formation of three double harps, accompanies the tenor Riccardo Pisani in this exhilarating musical journey, characterised by vibrant and ever-changing instrumental textures that alternate moments of intimacy and exuberance in accordance with the poetic text set to music. Pisani, a singer "gifted with a warm, seductive voice" (Diapason) presents the music of his home city after the recent success of La Cetra di Sette Corde, a recording dedicated exclusively to the 17-century tenor Francesco Rasi.

Anonymus , Orazio Michi (1594-1641) , Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643) , Andrea Falconieri (1585-1656) , Mario Savioni (1608-1685) , Stefano Landi (1587-1639) , Giovan Carlo Rossi (1617-1692) , Luigi Rossi (1598-1653) , Marco Marazzoli (1608-1662) , Lelio Colista (1629-1680) , Rinaldo Trematerra (1575-1603) , Vespasiano Roccia (1560-1625)

• Orazio Michi: Or che la notte del silentio amica; Piu non armi la mia lira; Perdan quest'occhi il sole; Infelice mia vita
  +Giovan Carlo Rossi: Vanne mio core alle stelle; E così dolce la pena; Vuoi ch'io mora
  +Marco Marazzoli: E pur volsi innamorarmi; Misero, et e pur vero; O che sempre mi scordi
  Luigi Rossi: Lasciatemi qui solo
  +Lelio Colista: Paradgima I
  +Andrea Falconieri: Arpa
  +Girolamo Frescobaldi: Toccata
  +Stefano Landi: La Ragana
  +Vespasiano Roccia: Madre del Redentore
  +Mario Savioni: Se l'amar nen e peccato
  +Rinaldo Trematerra: Canzon
  +Anonymus: Canzona; Toccata per Florete Flores; Una cetra s'accoglie