Hopkinson Smith - Bright and early

Cara, Marchetto, Dalza, Joan Ambrosio, Spinacino, Francesco

Smith, Hopkinson

E 7545

Hopkinson Smith, hailed as the "supreme poet of the lute" (Gramophone), creates on his latest album a subtle, intimate dialogue between Dalza and Spinacino, whose works bear witness to the flourishing culture of the instrument in Italy at the beginning of the 16th century. The tireless pioneer for over 40 years, he explores in this recording, backed by his historical knowledge and profound intuition, the first notation prints for lute. In a perfectly symmetrical program, the Swiss-American lutenist interweaves pieces by Joan Ambrosio Dalza inspired by folk dance with several free-form ricercari by Francesco Spinacino, taken from collections of tablatures published in Venice in 1507 and 1508. Hopkinson Smith approaches these mysterious treasures reminiscent of distant times and reveries of the Middle Ages on his six-part lute built in the late fifteenth-century tradition. With the humility of one who appreciates the incredible richness and expressiveness of these works, he is the lone lutenist who has become a storyteller through his instrument: like a true creator!

Works:

• Cara: Io non compro più speranza
• Dalza: Calata ala spagnola ditto terzetti [di zuan Ambroso Dalza]
• Dalza: Caldibi castigliano
• Dalza: Caldibi saltarello
• Dalza: Pavana alla ferrarese
• Dalza: Pavana alla veneziana
• Dalza: Piva ala ferrarese
• Dalza: Piva ala venetiana
• Dalza: Poi che volse la mia stella
• Dalza: Poi che’l ciel contrario adverso
• Dalza: Saltarello ala ferrarese
• Dalza: Saltarello ala venetiana
• Dalza: Tastar de corde
• Spinacino: Recercare No. 13
• Spinacino: Recercare No. 6
• Spinacino: Ricercare No. 12
• Spinacino: Ricercare No. 15
• Spinacino: Ricercare No. 19
• Spinacino: Ricercare No. 23
• Spinacino: Ricercare No. 25
• Spinacino: Ricercare No. 4

CD x 1

Naive

18.01.23

3700187675455