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• Gabrieli, Giovanni: Lieto godea

Gabrieli, Giovanni: Lieto godea

for 8 instruments in 2 choirs.

Giovanni Gabrieli's Lieto godea has come down to us in the following printed source:
“CONCERTI / DI ANDREA, /ET DI GIO: GABRIELI / ORGANISTI / DELLA SERERISS. SIG. DI VENETIA. / Continenti Musica DI CHIESA, Madrigali, / & altro, per voci, & stromenti Musicali; a 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 & 16. / Novamente con ogni diligentia dati in luce, / LIBRO PRIMO ET SECONDO, CON PRIVILEGIO. / IN VENETIA, Appresso Angelo Gardano, 1587”
This collection consists entirely of vocal works of various kinds, apart from Andrea Gabrieli´s 8-part ricercar (pub. in our VM3). Actually there is some possibility that Lieto godea might have been conceived as an instrumental piece, with the text added as an afterthought. The text does not fit the music especially well, and also has a curiously irregular line-structure. In style the piece is very close to a simple canzon da sonar, and in fact it is headed “per cantar & sonar”.
Whatever the intention behind Lieto godea, it seems to have been quite an influential piece. Adriano Banchieri composed a mass on it, and it was imitated by several German composers, notably Hans Leo Hassler.
In this edition the original note values have been retained throughout. Editorial accidentals appear above the stave, applying to a single note. The original accidentals are regarded as affecting the whole bar. I am grateful to Peggy Forsyth for translating the text.
The two choirs are very much equal in importance, a factor that should be taken into account when scoring. The work can be performed purely vocally (though a continuo instrument or two definitely helps), purely instrumentally (recorders, cornetts, violins, etc.) or it can be done with a mixture of voices and instruments.