Claudia Francesca Rusca began her musical studies at home before taking her vows alongside several of her aunts, cousins and sisters at the Umiliate monastery of S Caterina in Brera, Milan. Here she served as a composer, singer, organist and music teacher. Her Sacri Concerti à1-5 con Salmi e Canzoni Francesi was dedicated to Archbishop Federico Borromeo (1564-1631) and published by up-and-coming music printer Giorgio Rolla in Milan during the Great Plague of Milan (also referred to as the Italian Plague of 1629–1631), a second plague pandemic brought to the Italian peninsula by troops fighting in the Thirty Years War. Among her collected works, Rusca composed sacred concerti, vespers, a Magnficat and numerous motets. The Canzoni Francesi presented here are especially noteworthy as they are the earliest published instrumental works composed by a woman.

https://ffm.to/claudiafrancescarusca

Performed on treble, tenor abd bass viols with lute at A415 in 6th-comma meantone temperament, this EP was recorded, mixed & mastered August-October 2021 by @PhillipWSerna at Dwarf Star Audio, Plainfield, IL for the Midweﬅ415 release "Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzoni Francesi à4 (Milan, 1630)." This audio content is copyright © 2021 @PhillipWSerna, Midweﬅ415. For information on gambist & historical bassist @PhillipWSerna, visit https://ffm.bio/phillipwserna.

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Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzoni Francesi à4 (Milan, 1630)

Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​​-​​1676) - Canzon Prima à4 'La Borromea​,​' No​.​17 from Sacri Concerti à1​-​5 con Salmi e Canzoni Francesi (Milan, 1630)

https://phillipwserna.bandcamp.com/track/claudia-francesca-rusca-1583-1676-canzon-prima-4-la-borromea-from-sacri-concerti-a-1-5-con-salmi-e-canzoni-francesi-milan-1630 https://soundcloud.com/phillipwserna/claudia-francesca-rusca-1583-1676-canzon-prima-a4-la-borromea-1630 https://youtu.be/SulkRcI_ro4 https://www.instagram.com/p/CUMC5rcgYdP/
https://fb.watch/8cO7njjAKK/ https://twitter.com/PhillipWSerna/status/1441229886052397060

Performed, recorded, mixed & mastered August-October 2021 by @PhillipWSerna at Dwarf Star Audio, Plainfield, IL for the Midweﬅ415 release "Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzoni Francesi à4 (Milan, 1630)." This audio content is copyright © 2021 @PhillipWSerna, Midweﬅ415. For information on gambist & historical bassist @PhillipWSerna, visit https://ffm.bio/phillipwserna.

Canzon Prima à4 'La Borromea​,​' No​.​17 from Sacri Concerti à1​-​5 con Salmi e Canzoni Francesi (Milan, 1630)

Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzon Prima à4 'La Borromea' (1630)

Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzon Seconda à4, No.18 from Sacri Concerti à1-5 con Salmi e Canzoni Francesi (Milan, 1630)

https://phillipwserna.bandcamp.com/track/claudia-francesca-rusca-1583-1676-canzon-seconda-4-no-18-from-sacri-concerti-a-1-5-con-salmi-e-canzoni-francesi-milan-1630 https://soundcloud.com/phillipwserna/claudia-francesca-rusca-1583-1676-canzon-seconda-a41630 https://youtu.be/V0Szad53dyQ https://www.instagram.com/p/CV3GOEaFNCa/
https://fb.watch/8COnmkP_Mi/ https://twitter.com/PhillipWSerna/status/1448297012760301569

Performed, recorded, mixed & mastered August-October 2021 by @PhillipWSerna at Dwarf Star Audio, Plainfield, IL for the Midweﬅ415 release "Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzoni Francesi à4 (Milan, 1630)." This audio content is copyright © 2021 @PhillipWSerna, Midweﬅ415. For information on gambist & historical bassist @PhillipWSerna, visit https://ffm.bio/phillipwserna.

Canzon Seconda à4, No.18 from Sacri Concerti à1-5 con Salmi e Canzoni Francesi (Milan, 1630)

Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzon Seconda à4 (1630)

Faculty: North Central College, Valparaiso University, The Music Institute of Chicago, Adlai E. Stevenson High School Baroque Ensemble & Viol Consort Double Bass: Illinois Philharmonic, et al Viol: @BlackTulipEM, Burning River Baroque, @NewCommaBaroque, The Spirit of Gambo - a Chicago Consort of Viols, @ViolMedium, et al

Viols in Our Schools - Early Music America’s 2010 Laurette Goldberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in Early Music Outreach

Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583-1676) - Canzoni Francesi à4 (Milan, 1630)

Phillip W. Serna, Double Bass & Violas da Gamba

Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583​-​1676) - Canzoni Francesi à4 (Milan, 1630)

Phillip W. Serna, Double Bass & Violas da Gamba

Claudia Francesca Rusca (1583-1676) - Canzoni Francesi à4 (Milan, 1630)