Woman has inspired thinkers, poets and creators for thousands of years with tenderness and charm, beauty and dedication, fragility and sensuality. The vocal quartet Contre le Temps – who performed as an IYAP ensemble for AMUZ as recently as 2023 – turn their kaleidoscope on the Middle Ages, where Mary is enthroned in glory as the virgin, mother and love incarnate. Countless composers sang the praises of her profound relationship with her son and the fortitude with which she bore pain and sorrow. Mary is clothed in the finest robes of sound, in music from the Winchester Troparium, Las Huelgas Codex, Cyprus Manuscript and Oxford Codex: key sources for vocal repertoire from the 11th to 15th century. Work by Guillaume Du Fay – the man who heralded the Renaissance – and Hildegard von Bingen, herself one of the most acclaimed women in music history, complete this dazzling tableau.
This concert is possible thanks to EFFEA’s artist-in-residence ‘Discovery’ programme, in partnership with York Early Music Christmas Festival.
Program
Works by H. von Bingen, G. Du Fay & anonymous from Winchester Troparium, Codex Las Huelgas, Cyprus Manuscript & Oxford Codex
Performers
Karin Weston, Cécile Walch, Julia Marty, Amy Farnell, singers
