Music for voices and viols from the Jacobean court

The reign of the artistically minded King James I between 1603 and 1625 coincided with one of the greatest creative periods in English history. Alongside the obvious dramatic achievements of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, was an extraordinary flowering of sacred and secular music, especially for voices and for viol consort. Building on the already long career of the great William Byrd were younger composers from around the kingdom, such as London-born John Dowland, Orlando Gibbons from Oxford, the Welshman Thomas Tomkins, and Thomas Weelkes from Sussex.

The Elysian Singers, under the direction of Sam Laughton, are delighted to be collaborating with Chelys Consort of Viols to share the wonderful diversity of music from this period, from anthems to solo songs, and from part-songs to instrumental music.

Progamme:
Byrd: Ave verum corpus
Dowland: Thou mightie God
Dowland: When David’s life
Dowland: When the poore Criple
Gibbons: Great King of Gods
Gibbons: O all true faithful hearts
Gibbons: O clap your hands
Gibbons: See, see the word is incarnate
Gibbons: Sing unto the Lord
Gibbons: This is the record of John
Tomkins: Above the stars
Tomkins: Be strong and of good courage
Tomkins: Know you not
Weelkes: When David heard
Wilbye: Draw on, sweet night