The specification of instruments in vocal-instrumental compositions began in the final decades of the sixteenth century in Italy and gained momentum in the early decades of the seventeenth, including in church music. Trombones, in particular, were increasingly specified and often used interchangeably with voices. The early Italian concerted motets of this edition were composed in the period 1600–1640, contain explicitly labelled parts for trombones, and are small scale—containing fewer than eight parts (excluding basso continuo). Unlike other editions of similar repertory, the works selected here provide a representative sample of a significant repertory and present music of high-quality by lesser-known composers whose output is largely unavailable.

Contents

1. In te Domine speravi, Leone Leoni (2 trombones, AA, organ)

2. Deus exaudi, Leoni (violetta, trombone, SS or TT, organ)

3. Ave Regina caelorum, Archangelo Crotti (2 trombones, SS, basso continuo)

4. Sancta Maria, Crotti (cornetto 1 or violin 1, cornetto 2 or violin 2, trombone, S, basso continuo)

5. Sancta Maria, Amante Franzoni (4 trombones, S, organ)

6. Intonuit de caelo, Francesco Usper (ST, 4 trombones or voices [with violas as alternatives to 2 trombone parts])

7. Vulnerasti cor meum, Usper (S, 5 trombones or voices)

8. Ego sum qui sum, Carlo Fillago (2 trombones, ST, organ)

9. Sub tuum praesidium, Fillago (violin, trombone, ST, organ)

10. Diligam te Domine, Fillago (3 trombones, TT, organ)

11. Confitemini Domine, Fillago (4 trombones, SS, organ [with theorbos as alternatives to 2 trombone parts])

12. Spargite flores, Nicolò Corradini (violin or cornetto, violone or bass trombone, S, organ)

13. Cantate Domino, Corradini (violin or cornetto, violone or bass trombone, S, organ)

14. Domine Iesu Christe, Federico Cauda (recorder, violin, trombone, SB, organ)

15. Iste sanctus, Cauda (recorder or violin, trombone, A, organ)

16. Beatus vir qui suffert / Sancte N., Cauda (recorder or violin, trombone, STB, organ)

17. Beatus N., Cauda (recorder or violin, T, trombone, organ)

18. Iubilemus Deo, Cauda (recorder, violin, trombone, SATB, organ)

19. Laetare Syon, Gasparo Casati (2 violins, 3 violas or 3 trombones, T, basso continuo)