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.
A Star in the East: This week we'll hear a pre-Christmas feast of Baroque music with instrumental Noels by MarcAntoine Charpentier, a devotional song by Francesca Caccini, one of Bach's Christmas cantatas, and more, with performances by Les Violons du Roy and the English Baroque Soloists.
A Child is Born in Bethlehem: This year's Christmas show features selections from several recent releases, including Capriccio Pastorale: Christmas Music from Renaissance Italy, performed by Capella de la Torre. We'll also hear old favorites sung by the Tallis Scholars, Vox Luminis, and Pomerium.
Utopia in Bruges: Host Sara Schneider traveled to one of her favorite destinations recently and brought a musical souvenir back to share with you! The music on today's show was recorded live at Hof Bladelin, a Renaissance palace in Bruges, Belgium. We'll hear an eclectic program of Renaissance music, including Missa Quodlibetica by Jacobus Vaet, along with works by Gombert, Obrecht, and Josquin, sung by the Utopia Ensemble.
Three Wise Men from the East: Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.This week we'll hear music for Epiphany including 11th century chant and polyphony performed by Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Tribus Miraculis, a motet by Costanzo Festa featuring the Huelgas Ensemble, along with works by Sweelinck and Lassus.