Sixteen Bicinios, Volume 3

- Angelo Bertalotti / ed. Rev. Gabriel Iróffy

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Use: Marian, Advent
Required Resources: 2-part choir
Language: Latin

This collection of two-part solfeggios is an homage to the composer and pedagogue, Angelo Bertalotti (1666-1747), who during most of his life, was connected with the School of the Order of Saint Joseph Calasanz (also known as the Piarist Fathers) in Bologna. A musician of sound contrapuntal training, he was responsible for the children's choir, and following a centuries-old tradition, wrote solfeggio exercises for his pupils.

The present work, in three volumes, makes practical the execution of some of those solfeggios. For that, liturgical texts in Latin were applied to the exercises, according to the characteristics of the respective melodies. For performance, there are several possibilities. The ideal would be, without doubt, to sing both voices a cappella, either SA or two-part mixed (ST). During the Renaissance and Baroque eras, it was common to use instruments (e.g. the viola da gamba) for the second voice, perhaps transposing it an octave lower.

Contents of Volume 3 (Marian and Advent antiphons) include:

1. Alma Redemptoris Mater – Loving Mother of the Redeemer, who remains the gate by which we mortals enter heaven, and the star of the sea, help your fallen people who strive to rise: Taking from the mouth of Gabriel that Hail! have mercy on our sins, Mary.
2. Ave Regina cælorum – Hail, Queen of the heavens, Hail, ruler of the angels: hail, root, hail, portal from whom light has shone to the world. Hail, O most comely, and pray to Christ for us. Amen.
3. Regina cæli lætare – Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For He whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia, has risen as He said, alleluia.
4. Salve Regina – Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
5. Rorate cæli desuper – Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: Let the earth open and bring forth a Savior.

Volume 1 (from the Psalms) and Volume 2 (from the Mass) are also available.

Dom Gabriel Iróffy is Rector Emeritus of the Santo Américo Elementary and High School and Founder of the Eszterhaza Music School, both in São Paulo, Brazil.