Musicologica Brunensia (Jun 2014)
"Per l'allusione alle correnti cose d'Italia" : Antonio Caldaras römische Weihnachtskantaten für Papst und Fürst
Abstract
The present study examines the three preserved Christmas cantatas (Vaticini di pace, Vo' piangendo e sospirando and Amarilli vezzosa), which Antonio Caldara composed during his time in Rome between 1709 and 1716. Two of them were written per request of his patron, Principe Francesco Maria Ruspoli and one was composed for the Christmas festivities at the Pontifical court of Pope Clement XI. The study discusses the performance context of both the Apostolic Palace and the Ruspoli court. It also brings into perspective the problems which arose around the dating of the musical sources mentioned in this study. A text analysis of the works highlights references to contemporary political situations as well as dramaturgical and content-related connections between the texts. The analysis has shown, that the politically desired image of the Pope as a facilitator for peace in the War of the Spanish Succession plays a central role in Caldara's cantata for the Apostolic Palace, Vo' piangendo e sospirando (1713), as well as in Vaticini di pace (1712). An analysis of the music shows a orrelation between Vo' piangendo e sospirando and Amarilli vezzosa (1713 and 1714 respectively), a cantata which has been preserved in two different versions. An intentional borrowing seems plausible, since the meaningful connection between the two cantatas shows Ruspoli's close relation and gratitude towards the Pontifical court, as well as his important social status as the patron of the Amarilli vezzosa.
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