Details
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
Mill Street
Ludlow
Shropshire
SY8 1AZ
England
Programme
Anonymous – In a Garden So Grene (Scottish)
Anonymous – Remember me my deir (Scottish)
Anonymous – Then wilt whou goe (Scottish)
Nicholas Lanier – No more shall meads
Nicholas Lanier – Mark how the blushful morn
Claudio Monteverdi – Eri giĆ tutta mia
Barbara Strozzi – Amor, amor
Henry Purcell – The Mock Marriage: 'Twas within a furlong of Edinborough Town
Henry Purcell – King Arthur: 'Fairest Isle'
Henry Purcell – Evening Hymn, Z.193
Anonymous – Auld Lang Syne (Scottish)
Anonymous – Corn Riggs (Scottish)
Performers
Mhairi Lawson – soprano
Paula Chateauneuf – lute
Other concerts in this Series (+)
Programme Note
A 45 minute late evening concert - the second recital of this year's Ludlow English Song Weekend, a three day celebration of art song in English in the beautiful town of Ludlow in the Shropshire Hills. This concert can be booked separately, or with 'Heart's Haven: Andrew Hamilton and Iain Burnside' at 7.30pm. Alternatively, immerse yourself in a whole weekend of music with discussions, film and masterclasses with a festival pass. For details of the full programme visit the Ludlow English Song Weekend website.
Soprano Mhairi Lawson and lutenist Paula Chateauneuf share 17th century songs from England, Scotland and Italy, including music by Henry Purcell and Barbara Strozzi. Part of a long tradition of music for voice and lute that began with medieval troubadours, 17th century basso continuo song sees improvised accompaniment on the mellow, resonant theorbo make a perfect match for the human voice.
One pioneer of the genre was court musician and composer Nicholas Lanier. Sent to Italy by Charles I to scout out paintings for the royal collection, Lanier heard a revolution in musical composition among Italian innovators, chief among them Claudio Monteverdi, where music became the servant of the text. Lanier brought his discoveries home, composing songs in this new style in English and influencing the development of Britain’s musical world.
Mhairi and Paula have worked on renaissance and baroque repertoire together for nearly 30 years, most recently the theatre music of Henry Purcell in worldwide and award winning performances of King Arthur with the Gabrieli Consort and Players.
“Mhairi Lawson’s shining soprano excels.” Gramophone
