The period of Rubens' life saw a significant shift in music, moving from Renaissance polyphony to the Baroque, where single voices could express emotions with unprecedented intensity.
Album & Artwork
This album, "Rubens and the Music of his Time," was conceived in conjunction with the exhibition "Rubens and His Legacy" held in Brussels and London from Autumn 2014 to Spring 2015.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rubens' painting style, now called Baroque, influenced a way of painting and a worldview that spread across Europe, inspiring artists like Van Dyck, Jordaens, and Jan Breughel.
Historical Context
Europe in the early 17th century was recovering from religious reformations that divided countries into reformed churches and those loyal to Roman doctrine and Counter-Reformation precepts.
Historical Context
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), the renowned painter, was also a diplomat who undertook numerous missions across Europe for the Archdukedom of Albert and the Infanta Isabella.
Historical Context
Rubens was ennobled by Philip IV of Spain and knighted by Charles I of England for his involvement in negotiating a peace treaty between the Spanish Netherlands and the United Provinces after 1627.
Recording & Production
Most of the musical excerpts on this album were sourced from recordings made by the Ricercar label between 1982 and 2012, with two tracks from Arcana and Alpha.
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