Harmonia Early Music

Week of April 2

A Musical Tour of Ferrara

This week on Harmonia, we’ll travel to city of Ferrara, exploring sounds of its renaissance. We’ll also pay tribute to a pioneer in the field of early music, Gustav Leonhardt, who passed away in January 2012, and we’ll hear “new music” from 17th-century Italy on a featured release by the ensemble Quicksilver.

Week of April 9

A Springtime Celebration with Early Music Song and Dance

It’s a celebration of Springtime on Harmonia, with songs and dance music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and early Baroque. Plus, we’ll hear settings of Palestrina’s madrigal Vestiva i colli, and French baroque composer Nicolas Chedeville’s arrangement of “Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. (Repeat of March 28, 2011) LISTEN HERE

Week of April 16

Bad Boys of Renaissance England

What do Tobias Hume, Carlo Gesualdo, and King Henry VIII have in common? Hear the answer to that question and more on this edition of Harmonia! We’ll give you a line-up of musical bad boys from Renaissance England. Plus, we’ll hear some Scottish music in our featured release Alas Poore Men. (Repeat of November 7, 2011) LISTEN HERE

Week of April 23

The Far Side of the Veil

On Harmonia, we’re exploring the boundaries between this life and beyond. We’ll hear musical laments that pass beyond the veil from the Codex Las Huelgas, as well as a musical homage by Josquin des Prez, and death’s depiction in the keyboard music of Johann Jakob Froberger. Plus, we’ll follow Percival on his quest for the Holy Grail, travel along Celtic crossroads, and hear a thirteenth-century service for St. Martin of Tours. (Repeat of October 24, 2011) LISTEN HERE

Week of April 30

A Spotlight on William Christie

The week on Harmonia, we’ll take a look at the life and work of William Christie, early music pioneer and founder of Les Arts Florissants. Plus, we’ll study the Parisian chanson, as well as hear music by German composer Heinrich Isaac on a featured release by Capilla Flamenca.

Week of May 7

Flowers for Mother’s Day

In honor of motherhood, Harmonia looks at flower themes in music, with a special focus on the rose, a symbol of love and beauty. Plus, we’ll hear a featured release of Christopher Simpson’s “The Monthes.” (Repeat of May 2, 2011) LISTEN HERE

Week of May 14

EMA / Naxos Recording Competition Finalists

On Harmonia, we’ll hear from the five finalists of the 2011 EMA Naxos Recording Competition, performing music of Giuseppe Sammartini, Johann Schmelzer, Heinrich Biber, and Luigi Rossi. Plus, we’ll hear a performance by the winning ensemble, The Wayward Sisters. We’ll finish the hour with the music of 17th-century Germany performed by the ensemble His Majesties Sagbutts and Cornetts. (Repeat of January 16, 2012) LISTEN HERE

Week of May 21

Dancing in the Court of the Sun King

This week on Harmonia, we’ll dance at the court of Louis XIV, explore basse danses from the 15th and 16th centuries, and sound the bagpipe across time and space! We’ll also hear secret voices from the Las Huelgas Codex on a featured release by Anonymous 4. (Repeat of December 26, 2011) LISTEN HERE

Week of May 28

Musica Pacifica Retrospective

On Harmonia, we’ll view ensemble Musica Pacifica in retrospect, honoring the collaboration and achievement of its members. Plus, we’ll learn the history of the medieval and renaissance harp and explore the music of Jesuit missionaries on a featured release by Sphera AntiQva, Mission: Amazon Baroque. (Repeat of January 23, 2012) LISTEN HERE

Week of June 4

Gifts for Father’s Day

We’re celebrating Dads this week on Harmonia. We’ll feature traditional music from Scotland, and medieval music from the region of the Rhine River. Plus a featured release of Tudor and Jacobean music by the ensembles Stile Antico and Fretwork. What does all of this have to do with fathers? You’ll see.

Week of June 11

A Musical Tour of Prague

Harmonia tours the musical centers of 17th- and 18th-century Prague. Along the route, we’ll unravel the city’s intricate tradition of liturgical music, revel in instrumental masterworks by Czech natives and foreign visitors, and hear excerpts from operas premiered within the city. We’ll end our journey with a brief visit to 17th-century Leipzig on our featured release, “Sacred Music by Sebastian Knüpfer.” (Repeat of January 2, 2012) LISTEN HERE

Week of June 18

Marcel Pérès: Musician, Musicologist, and Medievalist

Harmonia focuses on the work of Marcel Pérès. We’ll also explore the viola da gamba as part of our “Listener’s Guide to the Renaissance Consort” and witness the birth of the baroque cello on a featured release by Les Basses Reunies.

Week of June 25

Consorts for the End of Time

This week on Harmonia, it’s the end of the world as we know it! We’ll hear movements from a Mass for the end of time, sample 9th-century Frankish music on similar apocalyptic themes, and explore some of the earliest polyphony ever sung.