English 16th Century Programmes

Alongside the success for concert and theatre audiences of The Theatre of Music, I Fagiolini’s recording series for Chandos has focussed on late 16th and early 17th century English and Italian repertoire. The following suggestions can be combined in a number of different ways.

Thomas Tomkins – ‘Music Divine’ [6-7 singers]

Tomkins’ 1622 book (songs of 3, 4, 5 & 6 parts) is one of the greatest vocal collections of the age. Mostly secular but with some sacred pieces (When David heard is justly famous) its riches have until now remained largely hidden, at least partly because the pieces are so demanding with enormous vocal ranges and a wide range of vocal styles.

The first recording of this book was released by I Fagiolini in 2002 and has lead to a reappraisal of this unjustly neglected composer.

The Triumphs of Oriana (1601) [5-6 singers]

This famous collection assembled at the zenith of the English madrigal period appears to celebrate Queen Elizabeth I as Oriana although a new essay by John Milsom in I Fagiolini’s new recording (the first for 25 years) offers an alternative view. The collction includes contributions from 23 composers of the day including ‘hits’ by Weelkes, Wilbye and Bennet.

The Early Byrd / The Caged Byrd [6-7 singers]

William Byrd is usually heard chorally but much of his finest and most sophisticated music (Cantiones Sacrae / Gradualia) is intimate - almost private - written for small gatherings of singers at private gatherings, often held in fear of arrest.

Byrd, above all Renaissance composers, requires a deep understanding of the music and not just the noise that music makes! The early to mid-period works are expansive vocal fantastias, endlessly rewarding, while the works of the 1580s deal with the persecution of Catholics in England.