Fiorenze / Mele / Bagliano / Collegium Pro Musica Recorder Concertos CD

Little is known about the childhood of Nicola Fiorenza (1700c-64), except that taught at the Conservatory of S. Maria di Loreto in his home city of Naples from 1742-62, from where he was dismissed for allegedly mistreating pupils after repeated complaints about his rather draconian teaching methods. His surviving works show him to be his own man, cultivating a style that is a skillful blend of Venetian, Neapolitan and French Baroque styles. He was also a very skilled exponent of counterpoint. His music is certainly stands out from the mainstream of late Italian baroque. Fiorenza's four concertos are coupled on this disc with a delightful work by another little known Neapolitan composer - Giovanni Battista Mele (1694?-after 1752). Hios lively and cleverly composed concerto for recorder and strings is a real discovery, and is his only known concerto.

1. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins ; Continuo in G minor: 1. Moderato 2. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins ; Continuo in G minor: 2. Allegro 3. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins ; Continuo in G minor: 3. Largo 4. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins ; Continuo in G minor: 4. Allegro 5. Concerto for Recorder, 2 Violins ; Continuo in a Minor: 1. Largo 6. Concerto for Recorder, 2 Violins ; Continuo in a Minor: 2. Allegro 7. Concerto for Recorder, 2 Violins ; Continuo in a Minor: 3. Grave 8. Concerto for Recorder, 2 Violins ; Continuo in a Minor: 4. Allegro Assai 9. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in C minor: 1. Largo Amoroso 10. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in C minor: 2. Andante 11. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in C minor: 3. Largo 12. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in C minor: 4. Allegro 13. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in F minor: 1. Largo - Presto - Largo 14. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in F minor: 2. Allegro Ma Non Presto 15. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in F minor: 3. Largo 16. Concerto for Recorder, 3 Violins, Viola ; Continuo in F minor: 4. Allegro 17. Concerto in F, for Recorder, 2 Violins ; B.C.: 1. Andante 18. Concerto in F, for Recorder, 2 Violins ; B.C.: 2. Allegro 19. Concerto in F, for Recorder, 2 Violins ; B.C.: 3. Adagio 20. Concerto in F, for Recorder, 2 Violins ; B.C.: 4. Allegro