We are delighted to be leading the Early Music Day 2021 celebrations for the National Centre for Early Music on March 21 by embarking on an online musical tour of York. Owain writes:
“After a challenging year, it has been a delight to put our minds to this incredibly exciting project. We have long admired the work of the NCEM in York and so it has been an immense privilege to curate a musical journey that weaves through the city’s historic venues. Chiming with the NCEM’s spring celebrations, we aim to highlight the extraordinary power of collaboration and unity in a world where the seeds of division are increasingly sown.”
Early Music Day concert
We will debut our new programme, Josquin’s Legacy for Early Music Day on 21 March 2021, streamed live from the NCEM’s beautiful home of St Margaret’s Church.
Courts in renaissance Italy were meeting places for some of the greatest musicians from across Europe. The Court at Ferrara became a leading centre: many of the Franco-Flemish school passed through its gates and perhaps the most notable of these is Josquin. This programme contextualises some of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of Italian Renaissance repertoire by tracing themes of pedagogy and patronage in northern Italy over 150 years, featuring works by Ockeghem, Compère, Josquin, Mouton and Willaert.
Awaken Festival
We will also be performing as part of the NCEM’s online Awaken festival on Saturday 27 March 2021 at 1pm.
Beyond these shores: A York Tapestry
Exploring stories contained in stained glass and manuscripts, reading tales of travelling merchants and musicians, and inspired by beautiful architecture and heritage, The Gesualdo Six present a musical tapestry inspired by the great city of York, celebrating cross-currents in an era of collaboration and discovery. The programmes contextualise some of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of renaissance repertoire by tracing themes of pedagogy and patronage around Europe, featuring works by Binchois, Ockeghem, Josquin, Dunstaple and Byrd.
Filmed in York Minster, Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate; St Olave’s Church, Marygate and the York Merchant Adventurers Hall, Fossgate.
Read article by Charles Hutchinson
