Louise Hung plays Orlando Gibbons' Galiardo Fantasia of Foure Parts from 'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613. Audio production by Matthew Antal.…

'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613 probably as part of the celebrations for a royal wedding. MIO's Artistic Director John Edwards talks to keyboardist Louise H…

Louise Hung plays John Bull's Pavana and Orlando Gibbons' Galiardo and The Queenes Command from 'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613. Audio production by Matthew…

'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613 probably as part of the celebrations for a royal wedding. MIO's Artistic Director John Edwards talks to Prof. Deanne William…

Louise Hung plays William Byrd's Earl of Salisbury’s Pavan and Galiardo Secundo from 'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613. Audio production by Matthew Antal.…

'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613. As the chief counsellor in the last years of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign and the first years of James I’s, Robert Cecil, the …

Louise Hung plays William Byrd's Preludium and Galiardo Mrs. Mary Brownlo from 'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613. Audio production by Matthew Antal. Virginal …

'Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls (in England at least), composed by three famous masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull and Orlando Gibbons' was probably printed in 1613. MIO's Artistic Director John Edwards talks to harpsichordist Louise Hung about the terminology of plucked string keyboard i…

Deanne Williams is professor in English at York University, a Fellow of the Centre for Renaissance and Reformation Studies and a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada. She was dramaturge for our production of Comus, has written extensively on girl performers in the Early Modern Period and dedi…

Director Heather Davies and theorbo player and artistic director John Edwards chat about the music in John Milton's masque Comus and especially about the dance music of masques in general, and the dances of William Lawes which we used in our production. Visit https://musiciansinordinary.ca/episodes to click through the series and download mp3s to a…

Director Heather Davies and theorbo player and artistic director John Edwards chat about the music in John Milton's masque Comus and especially about the original songs by Henry Lawes. Visit https://musiciansinordinary.ca/episodes to click through the series and download mp3s to add to your music playlist.…

Actor Bethany Jillard chats about playing the part of The Lady, a role first played by Alice Egerton, the teenaged daughter of the Earl of Bridgewater, and the similarities and differences between preparing for this role from John Milton's Comus and her experience playing Shakespeare’s women. Visit https://musiciansinordinary.ca/episodes to click t…

Director Heather Davies discusses the special challenges of the masque form, Milton’s verse and the rehearsal process in the time of covid with John Edwards. Visit https://musiciansinordinary.ca/episodes to click through the series and download mp3s to add to your music playlist. Heather Davies was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and grew up in Toronto,…

The second Corant in F from Royal Consorts Set 9 by by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. The saraband was a fast vigourous dance when first introduced to the dance suit…

The second Corant in F from Royal Consorts Set 9 by by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. Another Corant from the suite we used for the dances of the Egerton children in…

The third Alman in F from Royal Consorts Set 9 by by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. We used Lawes' Royal Consort Set 9, a dance suite heavy in Almans, the favourite …

The first Corant in F from Royal Consorts Set 9 by by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. We used Lawes' Royal Consort Set 9 as the dances for the Egerton children for ou…

The second Alman in F from Royal Consorts Set 9 by by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. We used Lawes' Royal Consort Set 9 as the dances for the Egerton children for ou…

The first Alman in F from Royal Consorts Set 9 by by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. We used Lawes' Royal Consort Set 9 as the dances for the Egerton children for our…

A Pavan in F from Royal Consorts Set 9 by by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. The stately Pavan was used as an entrance dance in the 16th and 17th century and we used …

Two Morris Dances from William Lawes' Royal Consorts (Sets No. 5 & 6 in D maj.) that we used for the 'Country Dances &c' in our performance of John Milton's Comus. Visit https://musiciansinordinary.ca/episodes to click through the series and download mp3s to add to your music playlist. The Musicians In Ordinary string band is led by Christopher Ver…

The Antic dances of a masque were performed by professional dancers using preposterous gestures in the guise of some sort of subhuman species such as witches, apes or, in the case of John Milton's Comus, the entourage of the god of revelry 'a rout of monsters like men and women but headed like wild beasts their apparel glistering'. An orphaned piec…

A Pavan by William Lawes (1602-1645) is played by The Musicians In Ordinary string band led by Christopher Verrette, 1st vln. with Patricia Ahern, 2nd vln. Felix Deak and Laura Jones, violas da gamba and John Edwards, theorbo. This pavan quotes John Dowland's 'Lachrimae' theme, which had become a musical emblem for melancholy, at the beginning and …

John Milton's Comus (Bridgewater manuscript version), with the original songs set by Henry Lawes and dance music by William Lawes, directed by Heather Davies, performed by Roger Honeywell - Attendant Spirit, Paul Hopkins - Comus, Bethany Jillard - The Lady, Tracy Ryan - Elder Brother, Beryl Bain - Second Brother, and Tahirih Vejdani - Sabrina, with…

John Milton's Comus (Bridgewater manuscript version), with the original songs set by Henry Lawes and dance music by William Lawes, directed by Heather Davies, performed by Roger Honeywell - Attendant Spirit, Paul Hopkins - Comus, Bethany Jillard - The Lady, Tracy Ryan - Elder Brother, Beryl Bain - Second Brother and Tahirih Vejdani - Sabrina, with …

Lutenist John Edwards plays Dump Philli from the Marsh Lutebook. Pieces called 'Dump' are often memorial pieces and are often built on ground basses of as few as two notes, as is this one. In a much earlier, and much shorter version this piece is titled 'Arthur's Dump' and it has been suggested that this is a memorial piece for court lutenist Arthu…

Tracy Ryan reads 'With how sad steps, O Moon, Sonnet 31 from Sir Philip Sidney's Astrophel and Stella, in original pronunciation of the time of Shakespeare and Sidney. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Alium Fund of the Toronto Foundation. Pronunciation prepared by Hallie F…

Lutenist John Edwards plays Anthony Holborne's sombre pavan 'The Countiss of pembruth fineralle' as it is called in Jane Pickeringe's Lutebook, from which this highly decorated version is taken. The Countess of Pembroke is Lady Mary Sidney, whose father and brother died the same year. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humaniti…

Tracy Ryan reads part of a lament by Lady Mary Sidney, on the death of her brother Sir Philip Sidney, author of Astrophel and Stella and The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, in original pronunciation of the time of Shakespeare and Sidney. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Al…

Lutenist John Edwards plays Sir Phillip Sidneys Lamentacion from Matthew Holmes' Lute Book. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Alium Fund of the Toronto Foundation.By musiciansinordinary

Tracy Ryan reads a description of the death of Phillip Sidney at Battle of Zutphen from Elizabethan historian John Stow's The Annals of England to 1603 in original pronunciation from the time of Sidney and Shakespeare. Pronunciation prepared by Hallie Fishel. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Can…

Lutenist John Edwards plays John Dowland's The Battell Galyerd, also known as The King of Denmark's Galliard, in a version from Jane Pickeringe's Lute Book. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Alium Fund of the Toronto Foundation.…

Tracy Ryan reads a description of the Battle of Zutphen from Elizabethan historian John Stow's The Annals of England to 1603 in original pronunciation from the time of Sidney and Shakespeare. Pronunciation prepared by Hallie Fishel. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Alium F…

Lutenist John Edwards plays The Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Lisle his Galliard composed by John Dowland, based on Orlando di Lasso's Susanne un jour. Viscount Lisle is Robert Sidney, younger brother to Sir Philip and Mary Sidney, the Countess of Pembroke. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of …

Tracy Ryan reads a sonnet by Robert Sidney, the Viscount Lisle, found in manuscript, in original pronunciation from the time of Sidney and Shakespeare. Pronunciation prepared by Hallie Fishel. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Alium Fund of the Toronto Foundation.…

Lutenist John Edwards plays William Byrd's setting of Will you Walk the Woods So Wild anonymously arranged for the lute. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Alium Fund of the Toronto Foundation.By musiciansinordinary

Tracy Ryan reads a poem from Sir Philip Sidney's romance The Countesss of Pembrokes Arcadia in original pronunciation from the time of Sidney and Shakespeare. Pronunciation prepared by Hallie Fishel. These podcasts are supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Spem in Alium Fund of the Toronto Foundation.…

Actor Tracy Ryan reads and excerpt from the First Eclogues Sir Philip Sidney's romance The Countesss of Pembrokes Arcadia in original pronunciation from the time of Sidney and Shakespeare. Lutenist John Edwards plays The Countess of Pembroke's Paradise by Anthony Holborne. The Countess of Pembroke was Mary Sidney Herbert, the sister of Philip. Pron…

Actor Tracy Ryan reads the first poem from Sir Philip Sidney's sonnet cycle Astrophel and Stella in original pronunciation from the time of Sidney and Shakespeare. Lutenist John Edwards plays The Right Honourable the Lady Rich, her Galliard by John Dowland. Lady Rich is Penelope Devereux, the 'Stella' of Sidney's poems who never requited the love e…

Professor Deanne Williams talks to John Edwards about Philip, Mary and Robert Sidney and their contribution to literature as inspirers and innovators, practitioners and patrons in the Elizabethan and Jacobean period. This episode is an introduction to a new series of readings, prepared in texts in original pronunciation by Hallie Fishel, read by Tr…

Christopher Verrette, violin, plays divisions by Davis Mell on John Come Kiss Me Now and anonymous divisions on Johnny Cock Thy Beaver from Playford's The Division Violin accompanied by The Musicians In Ordinary Renaissance Violin Band: Matt Antal, Brandon Chui, Sheila Smyth, violas, Laura Jones, bass violin and John Edwards, lute.…

Deanne Williams and John Edwards discuss John Milton's Comus, The Lady, Alice Egerton, her experience and her exemplars as a performer. The Musicians In Ordinary Renaissance Violin Band (Matt Antal, Brandon Chui & Sheila Smyth, violas, Laura Jones, bass violin, John Edwards, lute, led by Christopher Verrette, violin) plays Davis Mell's divisions on…

The Musicians In Ordinary Renaissance Violin Band plays Antiq Masque by John Coprario, and the Robert Johnson's First Witches' Dance and Second Witches Dance from The Masque of Queens by Ben Jonson, probably revived in Middleton's The Witch and Shakespeare's Macbeth. The MIO Violin Band is Matt Antal, Brandon Chui, Sheila Smyth, violas, Laura Jones…

Dr. Natalia Khomenko, Lecturer at York Univ. and VK Preston, Asst. Prof. at Univ. of Toronto’s Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies, talk about depictions of witches in 16th and 17th century England and France. The Musicians In Ordinary Renaissance Violin Band (Matt Antal, Brandon Chui & Sheila Smyth, violas, Laura Jones, bass violin, Jo…

The Musicians In Ordinary Renaissance Violin Band plays The King of Denmark's Galliard from John Dowland's Lachrimae or Seven Tears, The Fairy Round from Anthony Holborne's Pavans, Galliards etc., Sir Henry Umpton's Funeral (Dowland) and Paradizo, or The Countess of Pembroke's Paradise (Holborne). Special guest Felix Deak, (viola da gamba) plays De…

Prof. Tom Bishop (Univ. of Auckland) talks about Shakespeare’s Pericles. Prof. Linda Austern (Northwestern U.) talks about music and medicine in the 17th century. Felix Deak plays Deth by Tobias Hume. The Musicians In Ordinary Renaissance Violin Band (Matt Antal, Brandon Chui & Sheila Smyth, violas, Laura Jones, bass violin, John Edwards, lute, led…

The Musicians In Ordinary Renaissance String Band, (Matt Antal, Brandon Chui and Sheila Smyth, violas, Laura Jones, bass violin, John Edwards, lute, led by Christopher Verrette, violin) plays John Coprario's dances from The Lord's Masque in versions published in 1617 by William Brade, The Tempest from Squires’ Masque and The Haymakers' Dance (both …

Stephen Orgel, Professor Emeritus at Stanford Univ. talks to John Edwards about the Stuart court masque, its performers, its expressions of power and the meaning of the masque conjured by the triumphant Prospero in The Tempest. The Musicians In Ordinary string band, Matt Antal, Brandon Chui and Sheila Smyth, violas, Laura Jones, bass violin, John E…

Delyght Pavan and Delyght Gallyard by John Johnson and the ballad tune I Can not keepe my wife at howme from Margaret Board's Lutebook, played by John EdwardsBy musiciansinordinary

George Torres, Prof. in Music at Lafayette College, Deanne Williams, Prof. in English at York University, and John Edwards discuss correspondences between lute instruction manuals and manuals on civility from 16th and 17th century in France & England, how lute lessons were also decorum lessons, & the lute lesson in Taming of the Shrew. We hear Dely…