10:07PM, 11 July 2014
Rose Consort concert:
Today we all met Alan and Chris for the day in York where we heard Alison Crum and The Rose Consort of Viols play a unique set of Renaissance instruments. These were modelled for them on instruments depicted on a Bolognese altarpiece by Lorenzo Costa, dated 1497. These viols are very different to those we play, being much more shallow and without sound posts, a kind of flat pack viol. They have a soft reedy tone which complimented the pure, natural voice of Clare Wilkinson singing a selection of songs brought to England by the 16 year old Catherine of Aragon in 1501 when she came to marry Prince Arthur, the heir to the Tudor throne. Catherine also possibly brought a consort of bowed viols which were later mentioned in a Tudor court inventory.
The Sixteen in York Minster:
To hear The Sixteen in York Minster on a balmy summer evening was a very special treat, singing sacred Tudor works by William Mundy, John Sheppard and Richard Davy to a huge crowd, probably over 1000, and broadcast live by the BBC. As I write we are just arriving home at 10.30, where the sky is still light and pink with a beautiful full moon rising.
