Delight in Musicke: English Songs and Instrumental Music of the 16th and 17th Century

Featuring

Stephanie Brandt
Ruth Dyson
Eva Gemeinhardt
Hester Groenleer
María Martínez Ayerza
Klaartje van Veldhoven

Seldom Sene
John Dowland
William Byrd
Edward Gibbons
John Baldwin
Christopher Tye
Nathaniel Patrick
Anonymous (late 16th century)
Henry Purcell
John Bennet
Richard Nicholson
Thomas Weelkes

Did you know?

1/7

Instruments

At the time of his death, King Henry VIII owned an impressive collection of musical instruments, including seventy-four recorders across eleven sets.

Historical Context

Henry VIII was attracted to the Italian custom of performing in consorts of equal instruments and established ensembles of viols, recorders, flutes, and shawms at his court.

Composition History

The 'consort song', a specific type of song usually sung by a boy soprano with a consort of 3 to 5 viols, flourished during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.

Historical Context

King Henry VIII of England, a keen composer and instrumentalist, significantly promoted music at his court, increasing the number of musicians from five to almost sixty during his reign.

Performer Biography

The recorder quintet Seldom Sene, founded in Amsterdam in 2009, performs on a collection of over 75 different recorders, including Renaissance, Baroque, and modern instruments.

Composition History

The 'In nomine' is a polyphonic composition based on a short section from John Taverner's Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas, which became popular and inspired many instrumental works.