Continental Connections

Continental Connections

The English viol consort music that we know and love so much was influenced by continental musical fashions. Throughout the 16th and early 17th century, court composers and musicians, traveling in the entourage of their respective courts, interacted with their foreign counterparts. Many English and European composers traveled to look for work abroad, often to escape religious persecution at home, and sometimes for espionage. In this concert we will explore how music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries transcended borders, leaving lasting imprints in English and continental repertoires alike. The program will include Franco-Flemish influences at Henry VIII’s court; the careers of English Catholic recusants abroad; the publication of English music on the continent; and the integration of continental works into English manuscript collections.

Guest artist: Caroline Nicolas, treble viol

Sunday, January 26th at 4pm

Pre-concert lecture by musicologist Cat Slowik at 3pm

The lecture examines the vibrant cultural exchanges that shaped the English Renaissance, highlighting English assimilation of continental musical fashions and the journeys of English musicians who sought fame, fortune, and religious freedom at courts across Europe. Key topics include Franco-Flemish influences at Henry VIII’s court; the careers of English Catholic recusants abroad; the relationship between music and espionage; the publication (both authorized and pirated) of English music on the continent; and the integration of continental works into English manuscript collections. Discover how music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries transcended borders, leaving lasting imprints on English and continental repertoires alike. (Location: Laughlin Hall at The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields)

The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields

487 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014, United States

This venue has an accessible entrance to the right hand side of the main entrance, through the garden.

This concert is part of our 2024-2025 NYC Concert Season