Gaspare Filippi - Concerti Ecclesiastici (1637)

Gaspare Filippi (c.1590-1655) spent his professional life in Vicenza.  In 1632 he joined the choir of the Vicenza cathedral, becoming its maestro di capella in 1634.  He held that position until his death.  Filippi composed both sacred and secular music, following the Concerti Ecclesiastici of 1637 with a 1649 collection of Italian songs for two to six voices, five-voice madrigals, and sonatas for three to five stringed instruments and basso continuo.  The remaining three publications contain sacred music:  Sacrae laudes (1651) for solo voice and organ, Messe a doi chori (1653) for double choir and organ, and Salmi vespertini (1653), also for double choir and organ. 

The motets in Concerti Ecclesiastici verify how adept Filippi was at expressive text setting and scoring, as well as compositional techniques such as points of imitation interspersed amongst homophonic or solo passages.  Surge gaude laetare (#24) opens with the three voices in close imitation, followed by florid solo passages for each voice. Quid a me petis (#18) is a beautiful example of a dialog wherein the two voices represent Christ and his Church.  Magi videntes stellam (#28) utilizes three basses to represent the three wise men.  The entire collection contains thirty-two motets in a variety of scorings with texts appropriate for feasts throughout the liturgical year.