Three Organ Masses

"Roberto Loreggian delivers very good performances. Many pieces are quite short, in particular the Kyrie and Christe settings, and they can appear quite short-winded. The fact that the are alternated by the appropriate plainchant helps to prevent that. The singing of the Schola Gregoriana is bright and clear. Of course, it would be nice to hear all pieces within the liturgical context for which they were intended. To my knowledge no such recording exists. So we have to be satisfied with this recording. The quality and variety of Frescobaldi's music and Roberto Loreggian's level of playing is such that that's no tall order. If these two disc reflect the quality of this whole project we are in for a treat."
Bargain of the Month MusicWeb Oct 2010

Born in the northern city of Ferrara in 1583, Girolamo Frescobaldi was one of the most significant figures in Italian keyboard music before Domenico Scarlatti. Under the patronage of the Este family, Ferrara had developed into a major centre for the arts, especially the musical avant-garde, and Frescobaldi thrived in this exciting artistic firmament.

In 1608 he was promoted to the post of organist at St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Here he was required to play at all the major religious ceremonies, and to provide organ improvisations as interludes in the Mass.

The Fiori Musicali or 'musical flowers' occupy a special place among his works. Published in 1635, they consist of three 'organ Masses'. Designed for churches where there was an organ, but no choir, the organ would play the movements of the Mass in the form of toccatas, canzonas, recercars and so on, sometimes with plainchant provided by the priest.

The music is relatively simple to play compared with Frescobaldi's other works for organ. No doubt he was thinking of country organists who were endowed with more modest abilities as musicians. That said, they are deeply felt and sincere works.

New recording from 2008

Full booklet notes by Frescobaldi scholar Noel O'Regan