Curtio precipitato et altri capricii

Tarquinio Merula (1595–1665) was an innovative composer of keyboard, string, and vocal music, as well as a virtuoso organist, choirmaster, and violinist. Merula’s Curtio precipitato et altri capricii (1638) contains virtuosic, lyrical compositions for voice and continuo, ranging in tone from deep piety to playful irreverence.

The first work in the volume, “Curtio, ove vai?” could well be a parody of Monteverdi’s Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda: while the pieces are musically similar, the text of “Curtio, ove vai?” presents an impudent caricature of the type of heroism and idealism found in Monteverdi’s Combattimento.

The volume of sixteen songs is transcribed here in its entirety, along with texts and translations, biographical information about Merula, and a discussion of his vocal music.