Scorrete lagrime mie, flow my tears: tears of sorrow, of joy; pious tears, passionate tears; tears of longing, of betrayal; of death, and of life. In their treatment of these themes, Barbara Strozzi, Francesca Caccini, Sigismondo d'India, Giovanni Battista Bovicelli, Lodovico Viadana, Giovanni Bassano and Bartolomeo Barbarino use highly-colourful word-painting and encourage and require an extreme level of subtlety and variation in sound colours, articulations and shading; their sacred and secular monodies thus constitute a perfect conduit for exploring the vocal virtuosity of the trombone, an instrument that historically has perhaps more than any other been associated with the voice. These vocal compositions are supplemented with select instrumental works including three original compositions. For this project, Maximilien Brisson is joined by Christophe Gauthier and Luc Beausejour on organ and harpsichord, who provide a basso continuo approached here not as mere accompaniment, but as an equal and essential partner.
