Early Music Now is a one-hour program showcasing music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and early Baroque: from sonorous medieval chant and polyphony to delightful Renaissance madrigals, dances, and consort music, to magnificent Baroque cantatas and keyboard music. Host Sara Schneider brings knowledge, charm and passion to her presentation of seven hundred years of music history. From the latest recordings by today's vibrant young ensembles, to classics from the dawn of the early music revival, Early Music Now makes this repertoire accessible and enjoyable to a wide audience.
Zacara da Teramo: The music of composer Antonio Zacara da Teramo (1355-1416) has been compared to the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch due to his surreal, grotesque, and humorous texts. Today we'll hear his La Fonte Musica and pieces by his contemporary, Johannes Ciconia.
Carissimi and his Circle: Giacomo Carissimi (1605-1674) experimented with dramatic sacred music in Rome that would lead to the High Baroque oratorio. We'll hear his oratorio, Jonas, performed by the Swiss Radio Choir, Sonatori della Gioiosa Marca, and music by his students, Vincenzo Albrici and Kaspar Forster.
Ministriles Reales: This week's show includes music from the royal courts of Spain with instrumental music from the court of Charles V played by Hesperion XXI. We'll also hear the RIAS Chamber Choir perform music by Tomas Luis de Victoria, including Missa Ave Maris Stella.