In this Magnificat, taken from a collection containing four-choir music for Vespers published in Venice in 1612, Viadana took an approach which was unusual at that time: the Magnificat is divided into 11 short movements like a cantata. The movements are structured with contrast clearly in mind. Viadana exploits not only the varied possibilities of the large vocal and instrumental forces to the full, but also presents a wide range of styles – from duet to four-choir tutti, from falsobordone to ex...