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Composer of the Week

By BBC Radio 3
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Season 1 Oct 9, 2026 · 1 hr 28 min

The Venetian School

Donald Macleod explores the rise and fall of the Venetian School, the group of composers who helped make sixteenth-century Venice one of the musical capitals of Europe. As the Republic's political and commercial influence began to wane, its cultural life flourished. Music spilled out from churches, confraternities, publishing houses and civic celebrations, while St Mark's Basilica became the focal point of a distinctive and influential musical tradition. From the arrival of Adrian Willaert to the contributions of Cipriano de Rore, Andrea Gabrieli, Giovanni Gabrieli and their contemporaries, Donald traces a period of extraordinary innovation, rivalry and artistic ambition, set against the ceremonies, politics and myths of the Most Serene Republic. Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for The Venetian School: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00320zw And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z Music featured includes: Giovanni Gabrieli: O Magnum Mysterium Claudio Merulo: Benedicam Dominum Francesco Canova da Milano: Fantasia No. 19 "Bellissima" Adrian Willaert: Vecchie Letrose Adrian Willaert: Infelix ego Claudio Merulo: Toccata VIII Adrian Willaert: Veni Sancte Spiritus Adrian Willaert: Lauda Jerusalem Dominum Claudio Merulo: Cumque beatissimus Marcus Evangelista Adrian Willaert: Vespro della Beata Vergine: Dixit Dominus Cipriano de Rore: De le belle contrade d'oriente Jacques Buus: Ricercare Giovanni Bassano: Deus qui beatum Marcum Giovanni Bassano: La rose (after Willaert) Cipriano de Rore: Missa Praeter rerum seriem – Credo; Sanctus & Benedictus Andrea Gabrieli: Asia felice hor ben posso chiamarmi Cipriano de Rore: Descendi in Hortum Meum Gioseffo Zarlino: Modulationes per Philippum de Monte Andrea Gabrieli: Missa Vexilla Regis – Gloria & Credo Andrea Gabrieli: Ricercar VII Baldassare Donato: Chi la gagliarda Gioseffo Zarlino: Adiuro vos, filiae Giovanni Gabrieli: Sacrae Symphoniae – Canzon III a 4 Andrea Gabrieli: Egredimini videte Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon duodecimi toni Andrea Gabrieli: Ecco Vinegia bella Gioseffo Zarlino: Pater noster, Ave Maria Andrea Gabrieli: Gloria a 16 Giovanni Gabrieli: Magnificat, C75 Baldassare Donato: Viva sempre Giovanni Croce: In spiritu humilitatis Giovanni Gabrieli: Deus qui beatum Marcum Giovanni Gabrieli: Sonata XX a 22 Giovanni Croce: Quaeramus cum pastoribus Giovanni Bassano: Tota pulchra es Giovanni Gabrieli: Kyrie Giovanni Gabrieli: O quam suavis Giulio Cesare Martinengo: Regum Mundi Giovanni Gabrieli: Litaniae Beatae Mariae Virginis, C63

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