Lacrime amare

The only fact known about the life of Donna Bianca Maria Meda is that her “Motetti a 1, 2, 3, 4 voci, con violini e sanza” were published in 1691 by the Bolognese publisher Pier Maria Monti. Donna Bianca Maria Meda was a nun, a “Donna” which means that she was a Professa in a Benedictine convent. Her life was spent in the
monastery Martino del Leano, in Pavia. This new recording contains her 12 motets: two for solo voice (soprano and bass, with paired obbligato violins), two duets (soprano and bass), four trios (soprano, alto, bass) and four quartets (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). All motets are with organ and basso continuo. The wide range of the vocal lines, as well as the sheer difficulty of the vocal and instrumental parts, indicate that both singers and instrumentalists in Meda’s convent were highly skilled. • Another fascinating recording (world premiere!) by the Cappella Artemisia conducted by Candace Smith, an ensemble of female vocal singers and instrumentalists specialized in the performance of Italian convent music of the 16th and 17th century. They already successfully issued a CD on Brilliant Classics: “Weep and rejoice” , music for the Holy Week.