Dale Carr | Recercar quarta sopra mi-re-fa-mi by Girolamo Frescobaldi performed by Dale Carr on 21 June, 1989 @dalecarr6361 | Uploaded December 2021 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
Recercar quarta sopra mi-re-fa-mi by Girolamo Frescobaldi {1583-1643}
from his Primo Libro di Capricci, Canzon francese e Recercari {1615}
performed by Dale Carr on the organ {1581} of San Niccolò Oltrarno in Firenze on 21 June, 1989

Frescobaldi's book of 'Recercari, et canzoni franzese' was first published in 1615, and later with varying titles and the addition of his Capricci. The works are notated in 'open score', as were the Fantasie published in 1608.

This recercar uses a simple solmization subject throughout, combining it in each in of 3 sections with different countersubjects:
- the 1st section has mi-re-fa-mi in 'whole notes' with the countersubject in ½- & ¼-notes;
- the 2nd section {2'02"} has mi-re-fa-mi in notes of a whole measure, with a mildly chromatic countersubject that also sounds in inversion;
- the 3rd section {3'35"} has mi-re-fa-mi in notes tied through 2 whole measures, appearing once in each voice {TASB}. There are 2 countersubjects: the 1st, which might be named sol-mi-fa-sol, is heard also in inversion & in various note values ; the second begins before the beat and continues in 8ths & quarters. The final note of the final entry in the bass is an inganno : a deception, not a misspelling : the syllable 'mi' could be used in any of 3 hexachords or scale patterns. Here, instead of continuing with the natural hexachord starting on c, Frescobaldi switches for this note to the soft hexachord, which starts on f.

The organ of San Niccolò Oltrarno was built by Dionigi Romani in 1581, restored & altered in 1683 & 1769, & most recently restored by Pier Paolo Donati in 1985.
This performance used the 4' Flauto ottava.

Other recordings of this organ are here:
- youtube.com/watch?v=E7rQRLLofik
- youtube.com/watch?v=FxSZRo4pBeI

Other organ works of Frescobaldi:
- youtube.com/watch?v=9hgHeRtupWA
- youtube.com/watch?v=6IxQb3lKLUs
- youtube.com/watch?v=wzhqj9yA2DU
- youtube.com/watch?v=j3m1g8FzjwQ
- youtube.com/watch?v=MzjBvec6--A
- youtube.com/watch?v=5D1sJc9zdHI
- youtube.com/watch?v=EZt-roCsVJE
- youtube.com/watch?v=oQv96OhpVIU
- youtube.com/watch?v=zoIaytgsuCw


Harpsichord works of Frescobaldi:
- youtube.com/watch?v=JCLJhe47Vf8
- youtube.com/watch?v=eFxK1xpVjfI
- youtube.com/watch?v=oQv96OhpVIU
- youtube.com/watch?v=Uovg_ZMKomQ