The silver voices of the "pueri cantores", mixed with the robust voices of tenors attracts the astonished tourist, warm the hearth of the preaching people, creates enthusiasm among the lovers of holy music, a patrimony of the Church of outstanding beauty."
- Monsignor Angelo Majo, archpriest of the Duomo. The Milan Cathedral Choir, the "Cappella Musicale", is the city's earliest cultural organ. Its foundation was established as 1402 and has been active, without interruption, ever since. The Choir consists of the "Coro dei fanciulli" (Boys Choir), who attend a special school, and the "Coro Virile" (Men's Choir). It depends on and is managed by the "Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo" (venerable factory) of the Cathedral. Actually, the Cappella Musicale carried on the activities of the Scola (choir) of the Milan Cathedral before the appearance of polyphony; therefore its origin can be dated back to before the 1000 AD.
Over the centuries it never interrupted its activity. In its age-old history, the Cappella has had highly renowned musicians as the chapel masters and organists: these included Matteo Da Prato, and Matteo Da Perugia, respectively first organist (nominated in 1394), and first chapel master (nominated in 1402), and Franchino Gaffurio (1484-1522), renowned composer and theorist, humanist and poet, as well as Michelangelo Grancini, the most illustrious composer of the Milanese 17th century, and Vincenzo Pellegrini and Giovanni Antonio Grossi, both prolific composers of the 17th century.
The task was then passed on to Giovanni Antonio Fioroni, Giuseppe Sarti, Carlo Monza and Agostino Quaglia, all of them great exponents of the 18th century arts. Benedetto Neri, Raimondo Boucheron, and Salvatore Gallotti worked in a period of crisis for church music, composing however in noble style and tradition. In modern days, above all Luciano Migliavacca updated church music in a refined and elegant way after the Second Vatican Council.
The Cappella Musicale shows a lively artistic presence. Every Sunday it accompanies the chapter Mass in the Cathedral, often also the Vespers. It takes part in many public, religious and cultural events. It gives concerts and has done series of recordings. Its repertoire includes the early Ambrosian Chant, performed by a particular group of adult singers, at which the boys also take part with special pieces reserved for them, polyphonic chant with special regard to the music of the Cappella's early chapel masters, without, however, neglecting the best examples of other historical schools, and modern music in Latin and Italian, composed by today’s chapel masters
.
Maestro Claudio Riva was born in Milan. He studied at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi of his native city. Immediately after graduating in organ and organ composition, he started to collaborate with the Cappella Musicale of Milan Cathedral as vice-organist and to give concerts as a soloist both in vocal and in instrumental ensembles. In October 1998 he assumed the position of the Deputy Chief Chapel Master of the Cappella Musicale, succeeding to monsignor Luciano Migliavacca. He is member of the commission of Church Music and the Diocesan Organ Commission of the Milanese Diocese. He teaches piano and organ at the Pontificio Instituto Ambrosiano di Musica Sacra. Maestro Luigi Benedetti is the current Titular Organist of Milan Cathedral. Maestro Emanuele Carlo Vianelli is since 1998 vice organist of the Milan Cathedral.
Maestro Riva was so kind to help us in selecting the appropriate music for the various monuments of the Arounder Milan project, in particular for San Ambrogio, the Cenacolo (Last Supper) and the Duomo, all of which you will be able to enjoy during your fullscreen exploration.
The music has been taken mostly from these productions, performed by the Cappella Musicale del Duomo, directed by Claudio Riva:
CD1
50731 MUSIK IM MAILÄNDER DOM - Chor und Orgel im liturgischen Jahr
(Music in the Duomo of Milan, choir and organ) Ecommerce at € 17.40
CD 2
- RORATE COELI - Canti per l'avvento e Natale, Multimedia San Paolo, Edizioni musicali e discografiche 12.5 Euros
For more information on Maestro Claudio Riva and the Duomo Cathedral Choir (site in italian) or write us at VRMAG, we'll translate your (please) short first contact mail and send to them.
Above text is courtesy of: Ursina Motette Verlag and Konsul Kommunication S.r.l.
