Motets from Epinicion Marianum 1683

Father Valentin Molitor (1637-1713) occupied a special place in the music history of the Benedictine Monastery of St. Gallen, Switzerland. The first indications of his musical activity are found in 1660, with publications of his works, including Masses and motets, seeing the light of day throughout the 1660s-80s. The Epinicion Marianum (Song of Praise to the Virgin Mary), published in 1683, contains a total of eighteen motets. The collection comprises music for six feasts of Our Lady of the liturgical calendar: the Circumcision of Our Lord as well as the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, Annunciation of Our Lady, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Birth of the Virgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception. Two five-part motets and a solo motet were intended for each feast, always with two obbligato violins and other instruments ad libitum. On this recording a selection of pieces for all feasts can be heard. For 20 years, the ensemble Musica Fiorita, conducted by Daniela Dolci, has been specializing in the performance of late Renaissance and Baroque music. The ensemble strives to promote the current standards of historically informed performance practice and is committed to being true to both the original scores and the liveliness of their performance.