Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) and his son Domenico (1685-1757) lived at a crucial time for church music with the impact of the Reformation starting to be felt and heard in Roman Catholic worship as well as in the musical world in general. Alessandro was born in Sicily and worked mainly in Rome and Naples. His son Domenico was born in Naples and worked in Italy, Portugal and Spain and possibly visited London. Scarlatti junior is best known as a composer of harpsichord music but his "Stabat Mater" is one of the best-loved compositions of the 18th century and this new recording does it full justice with the Choir of Christ's College, Cambridge singing very well indeed. Scarlatti senior's contributions are less well known, as this is in fact the first recording of a recently discovered Mass as well as debuts for several of his motets. The coupling of father and son gives us opportunity to compare and contrast. Certainly there are similarities but whether this is a family likeness or merely down to the fact that both men were working in a similar context is a debate we do not have time to go in to. David Rowland and the Choir of Christ's College are in excellent form and allow the composers to speak for themselves. Domenico's "Stabat Mater" is certainly worth having and if this is a piece you enjoy you will also appreciate his father's less well known compositions.

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