Italian Cantatas

A carefully selected anthology of previously unpublished baroque cantatas by Italian composers for soprano and continuo, edited from the original manuscripts and prints by the noted harpsichordist Edward Smith. The works have been chosen for their high musical quality, ranging from the fluid style of the late 17th century to the formal symmetry of the mid-18th century. The composers represented range from Stradella and A. Scarlatti to Legrenzi and Porpora. Of special interest are two cantatas (by Gasparini and Pergolesi) with an original written-out part for the harpsichord. The editon has been furnished with helpful notes, translations of the Italian texts, and a realised continuo, and should be welcomed by students and professionals alike as an addition to the few anthologies of this repertoire now available.