Composer

:

Girolamo Frescobaldi

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Publication Date

:

1635

Girolamo Frescobaldi was an Italian composer and organist of the Baroque era. He was born in Ferrara in 1583 and died in Rome in 1643. He was one of the most important composers of keyboard music in the early Baroque period, and his works had a significant influence on the development of keyboard music in Italy and beyond. One of Frescobaldi's most famous works is the Tocata per l'Elevazione, which is the 45th piece in his collection Fiori Musicali. Fiori Musicali was published in 1635 and contains a collection of liturgical organ music for use in the Mass and other religious services. The Tocata per l'Elevazione is a short piece of music that was intended to be played during the Elevation of the Host in the Mass. The Elevation was a moment in the Mass when the priest raised the Host (the consecrated bread) for the congregation to see and adore. The Tocata per l'Elevazione was intended to provide a musical accompaniment to this moment of the Mass. The Tocata per l'Elevazione is a single-movement piece that is characterized by its slow, solemn tempo and its use of rich harmonies and expressive dissonances. The piece is written in the key of F major and is structured around a series of chord progressions that create a sense of tension and release. The piece begins with a simple, chordal introduction that sets the mood for the piece. This is followed by a series of variations on a simple melodic theme that gradually build in intensity and complexity. The variations include passages of virtuosic keyboard writing, as well as moments of quiet introspection. The Tocata per l'Elevazione is a beautiful and expressive piece of music that showcases Frescobaldi's mastery of the keyboard and his ability to create music that is both technically challenging and emotionally powerful. It remains a popular piece of music among organists and keyboard players today, and is a testament to Frescobaldi's enduring legacy as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era.

More....