The Heritage of Monteverdi collection now turns its attention to the works of two of the greatest instrumentalists of Monteverdi's circle: Biagio Marini and Dario Castello.

Both of these men were in his service at the Basilica of San Marco in Venice, the first as a violinist and the second as principal wind player.Their music derives from the polyphonic tradition of Gabrieli and contributed to the creation of the sonata as well as to instrumental virtuosity.

With such musicians, Monteverdi had the finest specialists in the genre at his disposition; this may well be the reason why he himself composed so little purely instrumental music.