Mico primarily composed for viol consort because instrumental music was not associated with any faith, making it "unsuspicious" during a period of Catholic persecution in England.
Composer Biography
Richard Mico, the composer, began his first job at age 18 as a resident musician for the Petre family, receiving an adult's salary, which suggests he was already a fully trained musician.
Historical Context
The Petre family, Mico's employers, were devout Catholics who sheltered persecuted priests and commissioned Latin vocal music from William Byrd, despite the risk of arrest for possessing such compositions during the English Reformation.
Performer Biography
CONCERTO DI VIOLE, the ensemble on this recording, has collaborated with renowned singers such as Andreas Scholl and Emma Kirkby, and has premiered works by contemporary composers.
Composer Biography
Richard Mico, though raised Protestant, converted to Catholicism, which influenced his compositional choices during a time of religious persecution in England.
Compositional Technique
Mico's 'Latral' is a unique composition for five viols that responds to Claudio Monteverdi's madrigal 'Vattene pur crudel' by using an ascending chromatic passage, contrasting Monteverdi's descending one.
Compositional Technique
Mico's compositions for three viols and organ were modern for their time, treating the two bass viols as equally important to the treble viol, foreshadowing the trio sonata.
