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.
Holy Week: We're highlighting music for Holy Week on this edition of Early Music Now, including selections from And the Sun Darkened featuring New York Polyphony. We'll also hear portions of an oratorio for Holy Week by Luigi Rossi and a setting of Stabat Mater by William Cornysh. Our performers include Les Arts Florissants, The Sixteen, and Theatre of Voices.
Day Dawns with Golden Light: This week's festive Easter program includes Aurora lucis rutilat by Orlando di Lasso, Christ ist Erstanden by Michael Praetorius, and Congratulamini mihi by Raphaella Aleotti. We'll also hear selections from a Venetian Easter Mass featuring the Gabrieli Consort and Players, with music by Lassus and Gabrieli.
Vox Femina: Music was the driving force for the two female composers on today's show. We'll hear sonatas by Isabella Leonarda, who spent her entire adult life in a convent, plus songs by Francesca Caccini, who was the highest paid musician at the Medici court in Florence.
Cinco de Mayo: This week's show takes us to Mexico's cathedrals and countryside, where we'll hear polyphonic music by Francisco Lopez Capillas sung by the Westminster Cathedral Choir. We'll also hear selections from Missa Mexicana featuring the Harp Consort, including works by Miguel Perez de Zavala and Juan Garcia de Zespedes.