Playing with Fire: Virtuoso Instrumental Music of the Renaissance (2016)

Folger Consort performed Playing with Fire: Virtuoso Instrumental Music of the Renaissance from March 18 to March 20, 2016 in the Folger's Elizabethan Theatre.

Shakespeare’s era was a time of rapid developments in instrumental styles; new genres and techniques for winds, strings, and keyboard instruments became popular with the world changing technology of printed music. But professional instrumentalists in the Renaissance largely improvised, and so, continuing that tradition, our musicians here incorporate their own arrangements and improvisations, in a performance of remarkable fantasias, dances, and virtuoso diminutions from Italy, Spain, France, and England. In continued celebration of the Shakespeare anniversary, lively “groundling” music — country dances and tunes mentioned in his plays — charms all listeners. With viols, violin, wind instruments of all sorts, lute, and percussion.

For further information, please visit the Folger site to learn more.