Following the astonishing success of La Folia, Jordi Savall began work on an in-depth study and reappraisal of the most interesting works created around the basso ostinato. The musical journey of Ostinato, covering 150 years and crossing the lenght and breadth of Europe, takes us from the early works of Diego Ortiz to Johann Pachelbel’s Canon. This recording gives us insight into two types of composition. On the one hand, there are the richly improvised works which were built around the raw material provided by Ortiz, with the added development of a single-voice part (for viola) – such as Greensleeves to a Ground, Canarios and Gallarda Napolitana. On the other hand, we have those compositions which were constructed along the more elaborate lines of chamber music, allowing a free, uninterrupted interplay among the instruments (Falconiero, Marini, Purcell, Pachelbel).
Ostinato is an anthology which brings together the most representative works of the art of improvisation and of a musical form based on a unique concept of the basso, which is repeated sequentially throughout the compositions.
The multiplicity of solutions developed on the basis of the system which is common to all the works included in the anthology results in a disc full of contrasts, variety, verve and surprise.