Bernardi was a Italian composer and theorist. He was maestro di cappella in Rome and Verona and for the Archduke Carl Joseph before settling in Salzburg in 1624. Primarily a church composer, his style is transitional between the a cappella and concertato styles, the more modern idiom emerging in the motets and psalms of 1613. He wrote a counterpoint treatise (1615) and published books of madrigals and instrumental works for three to six players. The Salmi concertati (1637) are precursors of the solo concerto, contrasting a soprano voice with a four-part ripieno.

Bernardi contributed greatly to the integration of the Italian nuovo stile in Salzburg, especially of features such as polychorality and the stile concertato, and may therefore be seen as the musical forefather of later, more famous Salzburg musicians. The outstanding stature of his music is clearly evident from his majestic Requiem, the manuscript of which is still preserved in the Salzburg cathedral archives. Particularly impressive is the Sequentia, which forms the core of the work and opens with an elaborate Dies irae section, based on the famous chant melody. The Requiem, as well as a number of Motets by Bernardi, is recorded here for the very first time.
This Missa pro Defunctis contains:
01. Introitus
02. Kyrie eleison
03. Sequentia
04. Offertorium
05. Sanctus
06. Agnus Dei
07. Communio
08. Libera me, Domine

♫ 01. Introitus
© Arcana ACAA 470


♫ 02. Kyrie eleison
© Arcana ACAA 470


♫ 03. Sequentia
© Arcana ACAA 470


♫ 04. Offertorium
© Arcana ACAA 470


♫ 05. Sanctus
© Arcana ACAA 470


♫ 06. Agnus Dei
© Arcana ACAA 470


♫ 07. Communio
© Arcana ACAA 470


♫ 08. Libera me, Domine
© Arcana ACAA 470

Missa pro Defunctis in F major, a 6 voci.