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, alongside music from 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.

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Surge, propera amica mea

Clemens non Papa: Ego flos campi
anon. (Leonora D’Este?): Sicut lilium inter spinas
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Sicut lilium inter spinas

William Byrd: This sweet and merry month
John Wilbye: The Lady Oriana
Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending

Sebastian de Vivanco: Veni dilecte mi
Orlande de Lassus: Veni in hortum meum
Hieronymus Praetorius: Tota pulchra es

John Wilbye: Draw on, sweet night
Claudio Monteverdi: Ecco mormorar l’onde

Rodrigo Ceballos: Hortus conclusus
Palestrina: Osculetur me
Francisco Guerrero: Surge propera

John Bennet: All creatures now are merry minded
Maddalena Casulana: Vagh’ amorosi
Josquin des Prez: El grillo
Monteverdi: Quel augellin che canta
Huw Watkins: The Phoenix and the Turtle