Description

I Mercanti di Venezia is a collection of works by early-Baroque Italian composers. Salamone Rossi (whose Hebrew name was Me-Ha’Adumim) was born around 1570 to a noble family related to Azariah dei Rossi, a scholar and historian. In 1589, Rossi was appointed to the post of violinist and singer at the Mantua court. A cornetto virtuoso and unparalleled improviser, Giovanni Bassano was the principal instrumentalist at the Basilica di Saint-Marco in Venice from 1585 until his death in 1617. From 1550 until his death in 1604, Augustine Bassano was Musician in Ordinary for Recorders at the English court. He was also a lutenist, and left behind various manuscripts, including fantasies for viols and a handful of dances (pavanes, galliards, and allemands).