Early Music in a Modern World...

K'antu were one of the highlights of our season. Their thoughtfully compiled programme of Hispanic music from across the globe was a real musical journey, providing lots of fascinating insights along the way as they communicated brilliantly with the Bridgewater Hall audience. Their fantastic musicianship and beautiful voices wowed the audience, who were swaying in their seats and all left with big smiles on their faces. K'antu's post-concert session with the audience, where they spoke further about their music and allowed audience members to take a closer look at their instruments was such a lovely gesture and really demonstrated the approachable and hugely accomplished nature of the ensemble.       
                                                                                               (Clare Preston-Pollitt, Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society, Bridgewater Hall)   

Programmes

Much of the popular music from history is carefully preserved and stored away in national archives around the world, often hand written, within early printed books, or painstakingly preserved in beautiful manscripts made as presents for Royalty. Our director Ruth Hopkins, rediscovers these songs and dances, exploring the links between early, world and folk traditions. From acapella to instrumental pieces in many combinations, she draws repertoire from across the globe and the centuries to create our unique sound.

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Concert 1: A la vida bona!
Fom Montserrat Monastery, Spain, to Oaxaca Cathedral, Mexico, we explore the sacred and dance music of Hispanic cultures across the globe:

Concert 2: Come now, a roundel and a fairy song
Songs and dances evoke the colourful spirit of the Elizabethan and Jacobean court and playhouse
in this Shakespeare-themed programme.​

Concert 3: Songs & Dances of Renaissance Europe
Explore the popular songs and dances played in the Royal Courts of the Low Countries, ​England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Concert 4: Dancing & the Divine
Explore the origins of our much loved Christmas traditions through this festive programme of songs and dances from around the world.

Concert 6: The Palace Song Book of the Catholic Monarchs

Concert 5 :Music in the Age of Discovery 
Juxtaposing traditional folk music with villancicos and negritos composed by South American composers, experience the colourful musical landscape of the New World. 

Concert 7: Interactive Dance Performance