Ave Maria by Giulio Romolo Caccini

Giulio Romolo Caccini was an Italian composer, singer, and lute player based in Florence during the late 16th century. He was a pioneer of opera and Baroque music thanks to his influence and contributions to the musical landscape during the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque period. “Ave Maria”, composed by Caccini, is a setting of the traditional Roman Catholic prayer Hail Mary. It is featured in his “Le Nuove Musiche”, a collection of madrigals published in 1602. The text is a request for the Virgin Mary to intercede on behalf of the petitioner. Its use of Baroque music techniques such as non-diatonic notes and chords creates drama, which is further demonstrated in its text. Performed By: Mark Anthony A Carpio, Countertenor Noel Recinto Villanueva, Piano Did you know that the term “countertenor“ originated in England during the mid-17th century? Countertenors, classical male singers with a vocal range similar to female contraltos or mezzo-sopranos, often sing in falsetto or head voice rather than chest voice. They played a prominent role in sacred music when women were prohibited from singing in church services. Interestingly, in early opera, countertenors were overshadowed by castrati, but composers like Purcell in England wrote significant music specifically for them.