Musicians to accompany Renaissance exhibition

In conjunction with the Nameless, Renaissance exhibition, currently being held at Moray Art Centre, a number of world class music events are being led by Anthony Rooley, recently described as ‘the early music veteran’.

The music events start on Wednesday 7 July with the concert Unknown Music from the Court of Isabella D’Este, c.1500 by Evelyn Tubb, soprano, Anthony Rooley, lute with ‘The Earle, His Viols’. The concert is followed with two music workshops on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 July designed for any music participants who would like a ‘hands on’ learning experience with both Evelyn Tubb and Anthony Rooly on Renaissance music.

Moray Art Centre is delighted to welcome these internationally known musicians to the area. The British lutenist, Anthony Rooley directs the early music ensemble, The Consort of Musicke, which continues to be one of the chief vehicles for his inspiration. He has recorded extensively and continues to perform solo and duo repertoire with sopranos Evelyn Tubb and former partner and celebrated singer Emma Kirkby. ” In Basel he is Director of a new, experimental Masters Performance Programme – ‘Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies’, that aims to develop a new level of awareness and performance standard for the secular polyphonic repertoire of the 16th and 17th Centuries.

Evelyn Tubb has traveled the world, and recorded numerous projects with the Consort of Musicke, and in a solo capacity, she now devotes much of her year at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis – Basel, Switzerland, where she encourages a new generation of singers to continue this ceaseless exploration of early music.

Accompanying Tubb and Rooley are ‘ The Earle, His Viols’. The foundation of the Earle his Viols (Irene Klein, Jessica Marshall, Brigitte Gasser, Randall Cook) took place in 1999 following a stimulating ensemble project at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis combining the Renaissance viol class of Randall Cook with the inspirational leadership of Anthony Rooley. The experience of this project excited the desire to continue and intensify the work. All four members of the consort studied at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and bring many years of musical experience amongst different ensembles and styles to the group.

The music programme reflects the anonymous drawings of the current exhibition, with poetry and music of the same era. As Director of Moray Art Centre, Randy Klinger says “What survives from around 1500 is almost by chance. Drawings were ephemeral, but steps towards ‘real Art’. Poetry was written not for posterity, but for immediate amusement, to flatter, impress with a wanton ‘sprezzatura’ ( a ‘noble negligence’!). It was also the same of music which was often commissioned in the morning for an evening diversion by an composer, who was often employed as a higher-ranking servant to the nobility.”

Randy Klinger continues to add “The concert and music workshops are of world class level and real pleasure to bring to Moray. It is seldom that one gets a chance to meet such great musicians who have dedicated their entire lives to the beauty of sound. The audience will be captivated by its dramatic intensity and authenticity.”

Concert: Unknown Music from the Court of Isabella D’Este, c.1500

Wed. 7 July, 19:00-21:00 Cost: £12.50

Renaissance Music Workshop I, Anthony Rooley & Evelyn Tubb

Thur. 8 July, 10:00-16:00

All are welcome, in an exploratory workshop that opens the awareness to the ‘Renaissance’ – the 16th Century; bring anything you would like to share in performance, and enjoy how these two ‘specialists’ transform your awareness of music from 400 years ago. They have some lovely anonymous songs to perform for you, but the main purpose of this day is for you to bring your own repertoire and see how it might be developed through their experience of performance.

Cost: £50, or £85 for both days

Renaissance Music Workshop II, Anthony Rooley & Evelyn Tubb