As musicians in the late 14th century experimented increasingly freely with rhythmic whimsy, theoreticians made frenzied attempts to capture their work in notation. Where fantasy, ambition and sophistication met, an exciting polyphonic style bloomed in which spontaneous expression and theoretical refinement went hand in hand. Sollazzo Ensemble allows us to re-experience this tipping point with arrangements that highlight the adventurous character of the music. With music by pioneers such as Matteo da Perugia and Zacara da Teramo, plus a combination of temperamental voices and exquisite historical instruments, the musicians slip under the skin of the geniuses who toppled ars nova into ars subtilior.
