"O Maria" by Giovanni ROVETTA || Anneliina Rif (soprano) & Tuomas Kourula (archlute)

The text of Giovanni Rovetta's "O Maria, quam pulchra es" is an eclectic mix of two biblical sources or Christian traditions, more often found distinctly: The Song of Songs (Nigra sum) of the Bible on one hand, and Marian devotions, common in several Christian churches, on the other. This textual combination lends this composition an additional sense of mystery and a unique air: Rovetta has succeeded marvellously in bringing forth the many varying emotions and affects of this unusual text. Perhaps he found the compositional challenge particularly exciting - in any case, the song is of the highest quality in every way. The source is in Ghirlanda Sacra (Venezia 1625). Rovetta was a younger contemporary of Claudio Monteverdi and they worked together. Performed by Anneliina Rif, soprano, with Tuomas Kourula, archlute. This video was filmed in the medieval cathedral of Turku in Finland.