Canzona No. 1

Giovanni Gabrieli’s music has been regarded as some of the most representative and influential music of the Renaissance, with much of it still performed regularly. Gabrieli, who served as organist at the Basilica San Marco in Venice, Italy, from 1584 until his death in 1612, wrote for voices, instrumental ensembles, and organ. The Basilica, itself an architectural wonder, contains a main floor flanked by a balcony high above on either side. Gabrieli would often take advantage of this space by placing instrumental choirs in both balconies, performing his music antiphonally.

Canzon per sonar primi toni a 8, Ch.170 is one of the 45 motets found in Gabriel's 1597 Sacrae Symphoniae.

Program Note from Wikipedia