Isabella's Court: Italian Music of the High Renaissance (2008)

Folger Consort performed Isabella's Court: Italian Music of the High Renaissance from September 26 to September 28, 2008. At the court in Mantua, Isabella d’Este was the center of a circle of humanist poets and musicians who pursued not only northern polyphony but a native Italian style based on improvised poetry and melody, text declamation, and lively rhythms. This style, known as frottola, was the core of the Consort's program, with songs and instrumental pieces by Cara, Tromboncino, and the Italophile northerners Josquin, Isaac and Martini. The program included the great soprano Emily van Evera, Renaissance viols, lute, and Tom Zajac’s usual amazing array of instruments.

Artists

Folger Consort

Artistic Directors

• Robert Eisenstein: viola da gamba, recorder
• Christopher Kendall: lute

Guest artists

• Alice Robbins: viola da gamba
• Margriet Tindemans: viola da gamba, recorder
• Emily Van Evera: soprano
• Tom Zajac: recorder, flute, bagpipe, trombone