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Wedding Bells

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Welcome to Harmonia…I’m Angela Mariani. Today’s wedding processionals might be accompanied by a string quartet, an organ, or recorded music. In centuries past, weddings of the rich and famous were accompanied by entire orchestras. Horse ballet, mock naval-battles, operas, sculptures, and grand multi-day feasts were expected events at European aristocratic weddings. We’ll hear music from a few famous weddings of the Renaissance and Baroque. Our featured release is Hymns of Kassianí, music by 9th century Byzantine nun, Kassía. 

[Theme music fades]

MUSIC TRACK 
Francesco Corteccia: Musiche fatte nella nozze
Schola Jacopo da Bologna (choir), Studio di Musica Rinascimentale di Palermo (orchestra), Centre de Musique Anciene di Ginevra (orchestra), Gabriel Garrido (conductor)
Tactus, 1999 / Naxos TC500301
Francesco Corteccia
Tr. 1 Ingredere (3:09)
Tr. 3 Sacro et santo Himeneo [La Musica del Banchetto] (3:46)

Pavan and two galliards from “The Early of Salisbury” by William Byrd. Alina Rotaru was the harpsichordist. We’ll hear more music for a British royal wedding by Byrd coming up.

Eleonora walked through a triumphal arch made of tall columns, ornamental molding, and a storytelling-frieze all designed for the occasion. Statues adorned the plaza in front of Saint Mark’s and decorations adorned the Medici palace. The sounds, sights, and smells must have been magical. Days of plays, music, and more festivities exploded into opulent joy around the whole city of Florence—all to celebrate the wedding of Cosimo de Medici and Eleonora di Toledo in 1539. Composer Francesco Corteccia wrote music especially for the occasion. Let’s hear “Ingredere” and “Sacro et santo Himeneo,”—music for a Medici wedding.

MUSIC TRACK 
Francesco Corteccia: Musiche fatte nella nozze
Schola Jacopo da Bologna (choir), Studio di Musica Rinascimentale di Palermo (orchestra), Centre de Musique Anciene di Ginevra (orchestra), Gabriel Garrido (conductor)
Tactus, 1999 / Naxos TC500301
Francesco Corteccia
Tr. 1 Ingredere (3:09)
Tr. 3 Sacro et santo Himeneo [La Musica del Banchetto] (3:46)

“Ingredere” and “Sacro et santo Himeneo” by Italian Renaissance composer Francesco Corteccia. Gabriel Garrido led Musique Anciene di Ginevra.

Weddings of Italian aristocrats in the Renaissance were so over-the-top that they rivaled royal weddings. On Valentine’s Day 1613, British Princess Elizabeth Stuart married Frederick V, later Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. Like the Medici event described earlier, this wedding included music, feasts, art—but also staged naval battles along the Thames River. At least the gender reveal events of today haven’t quite reached the point of staging military operations! Engraver William Hole even published a book of music for the keyboard instrument called the virginal, dedicated to Elizabeth Stuart for the marriage. Titled Parthenia, or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that was ever printed for the Virginalls,” and yes, you heard that right, it was first intended as a wedding gift. Hole later re-dedicated it [quote] to all the Maisters and Louers of Musicke,” an easier sell to the general public. Here’s a Pavan and Galliard by William Byrd from Parthenia.

MUSIC TRACK
Parthenia
Alina Rotaru
Dorian Sono Luminus, 2016 / Naxos DSL-92208
Wedding of Elizabeth Stuart (daughter of James I)
William Byrd
Tr. 2 Pavan and Galliard No. 2 in G Minor, "Sir William Petre", Pavane (4:56)
Tr. 3 Pavan and Galliard No. 2 in G Minor, "Sir William Petre", Galliard (1:51)

A wedding present for Elizabeth Stuart upon her marriage to Frederic V. We heard Pavan and Galliard “Sir William Petre” by William Byrd from William Hole’s collection of keyboard music called Parthenia. Alina Rotaru was the harpsichordist.

(Theme music begins)

Theme Music Bed: Ensemble Alcatraz, Danse Royale, Elektra Nonesuch 79240-2 / B000005J0B, T.12: La Prime Estampie Royal

You can hear highlights from recent and archival concert recordings of early music on Harmonia Uncut -- our biweekly podcast, curated and hosted by Wendy Gillespie. Listen online at harmonia early music dot org and through iTunes. 

You’re listening to Harmonia . . .  I’m Angela Mariani.

(Theme music fades)

Mid Break

:59 Midpoint Break Music Bed: Francesco Corteccia: Musiche fatte nella nozze, Schola Jacopo da Bologna (choir), Studio di Musica Rinascimentale di Palermo (orchestra), Centre de Musique Anciene di Ginevra (orchestra), Gabriel Garrido (conductor), Tactus, 1999 / Naxos TC500301, Anonymous, Excerpt of Tr. 2 Pass’e mezzo (excerpt of 1:16)

(fades out at :59)

Welcome back. We’re looking at Renaissance and Baroque weddings this hour.

Gaspare Vigarani’s machines and theater sets must have been spectacular at the 1661 premiere of the opera Ercole Amante. They depicted shipwrecks, Juno’s rage, and more, showcasing the latest technology for the new French King: Louis XIV.

When Louis XIV took his place on the French throne, he was already married to Maria Teresa of Spain. Ercole Amante, an opera with music by Francesco Cavalli and ballet by Jean-Baptiste Lully, was commissioned to mark that royal union. The libretto, written by Francesco Buti, takes after Ovid’s Metamorphosis, but it involves Louis XIV and his queen, too. The opera tells an improbable love story between mythological characters—Hercules’s son Hyllus and his lover Iole, whose father was killed by Hercules. We’ll hear scenes from act 4 of Cavalli’s opera.

MUSIC TRACK
Heroines of the Venetian Baroque
Capella Mediterranea / Clematis / Mariana Flores (soprano) / Leonardo García Alarcón (cond.)
Ricercar 2015 / RIC359
Francesco Cavalli
D.2, Tr. 14 Ercole amante (excerpts) Act I: E vuol dunque Ciprigna (3:14)
D.2, Tr. 15 Ercole amante (excerpts) Act I: Ma in amor cio ch’altri fura (3:02)

 “So Venus wants thus” and “But what is stolen in love” from Francesco Cavalli’s 1661 opera Ercole Amante. Soprano Mariana Flores was joined by Capella Mediterranea and Clematis with Leonardo García Alarcón conducting.

Louis, Dauphin of France was son of Louis XV and a descendant of Louis XIV. Although Louis the Dauphin never became king, three of his sons did. His first marriage was a happy one, but it ended when his wife Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain died three days after giving birth to their first child. For their wedding, Jean-Phillipe Rameau wrote Platée and he collaborated with Voltaire to write La princesse de Navarre. We’ll hear music from both pieces. First, the storm from Platée. Then, “Raging winds, cheerless storms” from La princesse de Navarre.

MUSIC TRACK 
Un Opéra pour trios rois
Orfeo Orchestra / György Vashegyi / Chantal Santon-Jeffrey (soprano)
Glossa 2017 / GCD924002
Jean-Phillipe Rameau
CD 1, Tr. 10 Platée, Act I: Orage (1:55)
CD 1, Tr. 12 La princesse de Navarre, Act III: Vents furieux, tristes tempêtes (3:04)

Soprano Chantal Santon-Jeffrey was joined by Orfeo Orchestra led by György Vashegyi [zhorzh vaSHE-zhy] in pieces by Jean-Phillipe Rameau. We heard music for the wedding of Louis, Dauphin of France to Maria Teresa Rafaela from Platée and La princesse de Navarre.

We turn now from the celebratory to the sacred. Ninth-century composer Kassía wrote music for public Byzantine worship. Her hymns were printed in service books in Constantinople—Istanbul, today. A nun, abbess, poet, and musician, Kassía’s writings were instrumental in developing Byzantine liturgy. Also known as Kassíni, Eikasía, Ikasía, and Kasía, her music is brought to life here by Capella Romana led by Alexander Lingas. We’ll hear music for Christmas day, “Stíchera Prosómoia” which begins, “O let your ears be attentive, to the voice of my supplication.”

MUSIC TRACK
Hymns of Kassianí
Capella Romana / Alexander Lingas
Capella Romana 2021 / Naxos CR422
Kassía
Tr. 2 Stíchera Prosómoia (Kassía, MS Vienna Theo. gr.181) (10:11)

“O let your ears be attentive, to the voice of my supplication,” music for Christmas day by Kassía from our featured release is Hymns of Kassianí.

In Greek culture, Kassía’s life has been told as legend in devotional texts, novels, and poetry. Whether fictional or not, the story goes like this: some 9th-century aristocrats held a show to parade eligible women in front of Emperor Theophilos. [The-AH-fil-us]. The emperor approached Kassía, finding her especially lovely. Theophilos told her that [quote] “it is from woman that evils flow,” referencing Eve’s fall from Eden. Kassía replied, saying, “But it is also from woman that the very best springs.” With this, she reminded Theophilos of the Virgin Mary’s role as Mother of Christ. Although Theophilos was impressed by her answer, he thought she was too assertive to marry. Here is Kassía’s penitential hymn for Holy Wednesday.

MUSIC TRACK
Hymns of Kassianí
Capella Romana / Alexander Lingas
Capella Romana 2021 / Naxos CR422
Kassía
Tr. 9 From Great and Holy Wednesday at Matins (Kassía, MS Grott. E.α.5) (8:07)

A penitential hymn for Holy Wednesday by Byzantine composer Kassía. Alexander Lingas led Capella Romana, from our featured release, Hymns of Kassiani.

[Fade in theme music]

Harmonia is a production of WFIU. Support comes from Early Music America: a national organization that advocates and supports the historical performance of music of the past, the community of artists who create it, and the listeners whose lives are enriched by it. On the web at EarlyMusicAmerica-dot-org.

Additional resources come from the William and Gayle Cook Music Library at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. 

We welcome your thoughts about any part of this program, or about early music in general. Contact us at harmonia early music dot org. And, you can follow our Facebook page by searching for Harmonia Early Music.

The writer for this edition of Harmonia was Sarah Huebsch Schilling.

Thanks to our studio engineer Michael Paskash, and our production team: Aaron Cain, Wendy Gillespie, LuAnn Johnson, and John Bailey. I’m Angela Mariani, inviting you to join us again for the next edition of Harmonia

(Theme music ends)

Wedding of Louis XIV

Jacques Laumosnier's painting "Wedding of Louis XIV of France, 1660." (Sir Gawain, Wikimedia)

Today’s wedding processionals might be accompanied by a string quartet, an organ, or recorded music. In centuries past, weddings of the rich and famous were accompanied by entire orchestras. Horse ballet, mock naval-battles, operas, sculptures, and grand multi-day feasts were expected events at European aristocratic weddings. We’ll hear music from a few famous weddings of the Renaissance and Baroque.

Our featured release is Hymns of Kassianí, music by 9th century Byzantine nun, Kassía.

PLAYLIST

Parthenia
Alina Rotaru
Dorian Sono Luminus, 2016 / Naxos DSL-92208
William Byrd
Tr. 6 Pavan and 2 Galliards No. 2 in A Minor, "The Earl of Salisbury", Pavan (1:41)
Tr. 7 Pavan and 2 Galliards No. 2 in A Minor, "The Earl of Salisbury", Galliardo No. 1 (1:07)
Tr. 8 Pavan and 2 Galliards No. 2 in A Minor, "The Earl of Salisbury", Galliardo No. 2 (1:58)

Segment A:

Francesco Corteccia: Musiche fatte nella nozze
Schola Jacopo da Bologna (choir), Studio di Musica Rinascimentale di Palermo (orchestra), Centre de Musique Anciene di Ginevra (orchestra), Gabriel Garrido (conductor)
Tactus, 1999 / Naxos TC500301
Francesco Corteccia
Tr. 1 Ingredere (3:09)
Tr. 3 Sacro et santo Himeneo [La Musica del Banchetto] (3:46)

Parthenia
Alina Rotaru
Dorian Sono Luminus, 2016 / Naxos DSL-92208
Wedding of Elizabeth Stuart (daughter of James I)
William Byrd
Tr. 2 Pavan and Galliard No. 2 in G Minor, "Sir William Petre", Pavane (4:56)
Tr. 3 Pavan and Galliard No. 2 in G Minor, "Sir William Petre", Galliard (1:51)


Theme Music Bed: Ensemble Alcatraz, Danse Royale, Elektra Nonesuch 79240-2 / B000005J0B, T.12: La Prime Estampie Royal

:59 Midpoint Break Music Bed: Francesco Corteccia: Musiche fatte nella nozze, Schola Jacopo da Bologna (choir), Studio di Musica Rinascimentale di Palermo (orchestra), Centre de Musique Anciene di Ginevra (orchestra), Gabriel Garrido (conductor), Tactus, 1999 / Naxos TC500301, Anonymous, Excerpt of Tr. 2 Pass’e mezzo (excerpt of 1:16)

Segment B:

Heroines of the Venetian Baroque
Capella Mediterranea / Clematis / Mariana Flores (soprano) / Leonardo García Alarcón (cond.)
Ricercar 2015 / RIC359
Francesco Cavalli
D.2, Tr. 14 Ercole amante (excerpts) Act I: E vuol dunque Ciprigna (3:14)
D.2, Tr. 15 Ercole amante (excerpts) Act I: Ma in amor cio ch’altri fura (3:02)

Un Opéra pour trios rois
Orfeo Orchestra / György Vashegyi / Chantal Santon-Jeffrey (soprano)
Glossa 2017 / GCD924002
Jean-Phillipe Rameau
CD 1, Tr. 10 Platée, Act I: Orage (1:55)
CD 1, Tr. 12 La princesse de Navarre, Act III: Vents furieux, tristes tempêtes (3:04)

Featured Release:

Hymns of Kassianí
Capella Romana / Alexander Lingas
Capella Romana 2021 / Naxos CR422
Kassía
Tr. 2 Stíchera Prosómoia (Kassía, MS Vienna Theo. gr.181) (10:11)
Tr. 9 From Great and Holy Wednesday at Matins (Kassía, MS Grott. E.α.5) (8:07)

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