Majesty, solemnity and brilliance: Volume 3 of a series dedicated to the works of Giovanni Battista Fasolo (1598-1664), a little-known monk and church composer from southern Italy.

Individual pieces by Fasolo have already been published on several compilations of sacred music from 17th century Italy, but until now there has been no comprehensive account of this overlooked but important figure. This new 3-CD collection of his organ masses, recorded in Verona Cathedral in August 2024, is the most comprehensive collection of his work ever published. All of the music was published as early as 1645, but was composed at least a decade earlier, during Fasolo's service in various ducal chapels in Naples and Rome.

The three mass settings follow the orthodox form of "organ masses": each line of text is sung in Gregorian chant, alternating with new and original instrumental arrangements of these lines on the organ. The weight of the musical content thus rests heavily on the organ part, which Federico del Sordo performs here with exuberance and sensitivity.

The 51 verses that Fasolo composed for this trio of organ masses cover a broad spectrum of musical styles. They show how much Fasolo wanted to break out of the idioms he had adopted from Renaissance composers such as Frescobaldi and extend the syntax into the Baroque realm. The masses on each CD are complemented by Fasolo's settings of motets and old church hymns such as the Te Deum and Pange lingua, all organized according to the same alternatim practice.

Alberto Turco and Federico del Sordo have received much praise for two previous collections of Fasolo's music on Brilliant Classics. Of the collection of Magnificats and a Salve Regina (95512), the critic in Fanfare wrote: "Federico del Sordo's keyboard playing is skillful and always lively... I like the brilliant registrations of the organ, which give it a remarkable resonance. An excellent recording which shows that Fasola was no weakling in the practice of his craft."

- Giovanni Battista Fasolo (1598-1680) was born in Asti (Italy) and spent his life as a Franciscan monk in Rome, Naples and finally as chapel master at Monreale Cathedral in Sicily. He is best known for his "Annuale", the most comprehensive compendium of liturgical organ music from the 17th century.

- Fasolo's works illustrate the complexity and expressiveness of sacred music at this time. Fasolo's contributions to liturgical music, especially his masses and hymns, reveal his mastery in combining traditional polyphony with the emerging Baroque idioms.

- Fasolo's masses are characterized by their balance of solemnity and melodic grace, tailor-made for the sacred context. Using the contrapuntal style adopted from the Renaissance, he gave these works spiritual depth while maintaining the clarity and harmonic richness characteristic of the early Baroque. His masses are often characterized by clear declamation of the text, which ensures liturgical accessibility.

- His hymns also demonstrate a preference for melodic ingenuity and expressive nuances. Fasolo created these pieces with the liturgical calendar in mind, thus creating a musical basis for communal worship. These compositions are characterized by their lyrical beauty and their ability to inspire devotion, often alternating between chant-like simplicity and more elaborate polyphonic textures.

- Performed by the Nova Schola Gregoriana from Verona under the direction of Alberto Turco and Federico Del Sordo on the historic Antegnati organ of Verona Cathedral. Both musicians have already successfully recorded works by Fasolo, Merulo and Salvatore for Brilliant Classics.

Missa in Dominicis diebus; Missa in Duplicibus diebus; Missa Beatae Mariae Virginis
+Hymnen: Te Deum; Lucis creator optime; Ave maris stella; Christe redemptor omnium; Hostis Herodes impie; Ad caenam Agni providi; Iesu nostra redemptio; O lux beata Trinitas; Veni creator Spiritus; Pange lingua; Ut queant laxis; Aurea luce; Exsultet luminum; Deus tuorum militum; Sanctorum meritis; Iste confessor; Iesu corona virginum; Fortem virili pectore; Proles de caelo prodiit; Decus morum dux minorum