Stile Antico

Our programme explores a selection of ‘heavenly delights’ in settings from the Biblical Song of Songs – some pious, and some decidedly less so, before turning to the pastoral world of English and Italian madrigals, peopled by nymphs, shepherds and birds. The repertoire ranges from the early Renaissance to the beginning of the Baroque; composers include Byrd, Guerrero, Monteverdi, Palestrina, Praetorius, and many lesser-known masters. Crowning the programme is Huw Watkins’ dazzling setting of Shakespeare, The Phoenix and the Turtle, composed especially for the twelve voices of Stile Antico.

Heavenly delights

Clemens non Papa: Ego flos campi
anon. (Leonora D’Este?): Sicut lilium inter spinas
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Sicut lilium inter spinas
Rodrigo Ceballos: Hortus conclusus
Sebastian de Vivanco: Veni dilecte mi
Palestrina: Osculetur me
Francisco Guerrero: Surge propera
Hieronymus Praetorius: Tota pulchra es

Earthly delights

William Byrd: This sweet and merry month
John Wilbye: The Lady Oriana
John Farmer: Fair nymphs, I heard one telling
Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending
John Wilbye: Draw on, sweet night
Claudio Monteverdi: Ecco mormorar l’onde
John Bennet: All creatures now are merry minded
Josquin des Prez: El grillo
Maddalena Casulana: Vagh’ amorosi
Huw Watkins: The Phoenix and the Turtle