Kaleidoscope

Music in the Mirrors of Time

Pastyme with Good Companye

Music at the Court of Henry VIII

The Virgin Queen

Music and Dances at the Court of Elizabeth I

 

The Quest for the Lost Music


Kaleidoscope

Music in the Mirrors of Time

The programme presents the stylistic diversity found in the three part compositions of the past millennium. A multifaceted picture of musical colours and forms appears as in a kaleidoscope, a toy similar to a telescope containing a system of mirrors and loose fragments of coloured glass: when looking through it while turning it, an endless variety of geometrical forms and varicoloured patterns become visible. In the concert over twenty different instruments belonging to the recorder family will come into play.

Compositions by G. Dufay, J. S. Bach, A. Vivaldi, P. Desmond among others

Pastyme with Good Companye

Music at the court of Henry VIII

Henry VIII is certainly one of the most fascinating figures of the 16th Century. The powerful renaissance king is known as a cruel and ruthless ruler: he had two of his six wives executed. But he was also an intelligent and convivial man who studied mathematics and theology, was fluent in many languages and a powerfully built and outstanding sportsman. His great love was in any case music. He engaged composers, musicians and dancers from all over Europe to serve at the English court. As well as being a fine singer, he was accomplished at the lute and cembalo. The recorder was one of his favourite instruments and he possessed 79 in his extensive collection. He composed numerous songs and instrumental works, among them being Pastyme with Good Companye, If love now reigned. In his lifetime the well known song Greensleeves was already attributed to him.

A narrator who accompanies the programme with poems and excerpts of letters written by Henry VIII and some of his contemporaries is available on request.

Works from Henry VIII, W. Cornish, H. v. Gizeghem among others

Ensemble Dreiklang Berlin
, recorders
Michael Metzler, percussion

The Virgin Queen

Music and Dance at the Court of Elizabeth I

The last twenty years of the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) are well-known as The Golden Age. Apart from politics that granted stabilisation and a long lasting period of peace, the queen's concept of life and reigning was characterised by her youthful temperament and joie de vivre. Calling herself a Virgin Queen she opposed all plans of marriage proposed by her political advisers again and again. Elizabeth did like music and loved to dance. In court there was no separation of activity and leisure, work and pastime. Festivities often went on for several days; Elizabeth herself enjoyed a high reputation as an enthusiastic dancer up until her old age, her favorite dances being the vivid springing Galliard and the Volta.
The highlights of this epoch's cultural achievements come within her reign. Shakespeare's dramas were given performances, John Dowland's und Anthony Holborne's compositions were created. Most of the fantasies, pavanes, galliards and Masquing Ayres were five part compositions. Playing in a so called Broken Consort, in which consorts of different instrument groups play together, had reached its height.
The programme presents compositions of A. Holborne and J. Dowland and courtly dances in period costumes.


Works of Anthony Holborne and John Dowland a.o.

Ensemble Dreiklang Berlin
Irmhild Beutler, Martin Ripper, Sylvia C. Rosin: recorders
with
Friederike Däublin, Claas-B. Harders: Viola da Gamba
Ophira Zakai: lute
Jutta Voß: Rennaissance Dance