The Italian Madrigal Group

Festival Programmes for 1999 - 2000

"......like a ray of sunshine piercing the shadows"
(Mersenne 1636)
A celebration of music for the Cornett

The Cornett was probably the most revered and admired musical instrument in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries. Its unusually true and beautiful sound naturally lent itself to accompanying vocal music of the period and was particularly prominent in the music of Monteverdi and Gabrieli. In a programme of music featuring the leading Italian composers of the day, we aim to reveal what can only be described as the glory of the Cornett.


Signor Milton

In 1638 John Milton visited Italy and was so struck by the power of the music he heard, he sent a full chest of music back to England. Featuring music by Monteverdi, Marenzio, Cifra, Vecchi and Gesualdo, we shed new light on the musical passions of one of England's finest writers.


Monteverdi: 17th July 1627
Monteverdi's concert at the residence of
Il Vaccher, the English Ambassador

Featuring music from Monteverdi's 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th Book of Madrigals as well as music by Rovetta and Marini we recreate a musical party given by Monteverdi for Sir Isaac Wake, known to local fishmongers as Il Vaccher.


Other programmes include: "The Doge's Dinner" - a light-hearted look at early music; "The Italian Madrigal" - the twenty great Italian madrigals as chosen by today's leading performers and academics in the field of early music, and "Madrigal Millenia", a programme specially designed for the forthcoming Millenium.


For further information, please contact:

Karen & Julian Stocker
11 York Road, Watford Fields, Watford, WD1 8BE
Telephone: 01923 491290
Fax: 01923 244234
E-mail: italianmadrigalgroup@btinternet.com


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