At the beginning of the 17th century, Sweelinck and Frescobaldi were the most important composers of keyboard music. Sweelinck had an influence on the North German organ culture; Frescobaldi on Austrian and South German keyboard music. Both schools would meet in Bach's genius. In the more regent of Amsterdam, Sweelinck was employed by the city council. However, his colleague Frescobaldi lived in an
… environment in which a young artist was dependent on one or more patrons for his maintenance and employment. Frescobaldi found protection from Archbishop Giudio Bentivoglio. When he was appointed nuncio of Flanders in 1607, he took Frescobaldi with him in his retinue to Brussels. Flanders was the birthplace of great figures from the past such as Josquin and Ockeghem. In Frescobaldi's time, however, the accent had shifted to keyboard music. Amsterdam was still far away from Brussels; Frescobaldi and Sweelinck probably never met. It is probable that Frescobaldi has met Peter Philips from England and Pieter Cornet; not with John Bull, however, as he would not arrive until a few years later. Frescobaldi must have been deeply impressed by this thriving harpsichord and organ culture above the Alps. Nevertheless, no clear Flemish influences can be identified in the collection that he had printed in Milan on his return to Rome in 1608. Nevertheless, harpsichordist and organist Sergio Vartolo thought it worthwhile to use a volume in his recording of this collection. Italian instrument, built by a Flemish Jesuit. In addition to this Il Primo Libro delle Fantasie, the CD also contains the 10 Ricercari and the 5 Canzoni Franzese from 1615. Besides the mentioned organ in the Chiesa dello Spirito Santo, Pistoia, Vartolo also uses a copy after an Italian harpsichord that is kept in Ca 'Rezzonico in Venice. (HJ)more