Neapolitan Keyboard Music

At the turn of the 17th century, Naples was a thriving hub of music, its reach expanding out of Italy to touch all corners of the continent. The influence of the Neapolitan School extended far and wide, attracting talented musicians from Spain and northern Europe. This release brings together some of the most innovative composers of the time, including Alessandro Scarlatti, Trabaci and De Macque, composers whose works inspired generations of writers of keyboard music for years to come, not least Alessandro's well‐known son Domenico. The pieces here illustrate how far ahead of their time the composers really were: the chromaticism featured in Trabaci's works sheds light on the extraordinary research he and his contemporaries were undertaking, requiring the use of specially designed harpsichords with dozens of extra keys.

Italian musician Stefano Innocenti performs these works on both harpsichord and organ, having specially selected the two instruments according to his research into authentic historical performance. Internationally recognised for his various recitals and competitions, Innocenti is proud to have been installed as organist of the Ducal Palace of Colorno since 1985, where he plays an 18th‐century Serassi organ.