Tarquinio Merula was one of the most important composers of the Italian Early-Baroque. Active in all musical genres of his time he served the largest part of his life as maestro di cappella of the Duomo of Cremona. A harmonically refined composer with solid mastery of counterpoint (as his rich and well-known production for keyboard and instrumental ensembles displays), at once whimsical, modern and brilliant as far as the rhythmical/metrical side of his writing is concerned, Merula was certainly of the highest caliber among Italian composers of the early Baroque. This recording, which focuses on his sacred works for voice and instruments (masses excluded) displays the full wealth of his musical creativity and the surprising variety of the stylistic and formal strategies he employed in order to set the standard liturgical texts with a constantly fresh approach. The sacred Motets on this new recording are performed by 5 Italian vocal soloists, while the rich continuo is played by the Ensemble Demetrio, consisting of violins, viola, cello, culcian, viola da gamba, double bass, theorbo and organ.