Florilegium
A Botanical Bouquet
Interactive Concert Experience
Since time immemorial, floral and herbal representations have served to evoke memories, impart knowledge, and instill us with emotions. Plants have been used to show aspects of love and religious devotion, indicate medicinal applications, decorate public and private spaces, and inspire us with awe of our natural world.
With FLORILEGIUM, Alkemie takes a sensuous and rollicking trip back to 16th-century England and France with a program of instrumental and vocal works inspired by nature. Culinary and medicinal herbs, decorative flowers, and even Tolkien's “Simbelmynë” (or Evermind) all make an appearance in this sensous and rollicking concert featuring voices, vielles, viols, recorders, douçaines, bagpipes, and percussion.
Interactive Add on: This multi-sensory concert pairs 16th-century images and essential oils with the the plants mentioned in the music. Listeners receive botanical cards that may be opened mid-concert to experience the smell of violets, grapes, laurel, and more!
PROGRAM
“The fruit of love” — Anthony Holborne (c. 1545-c. 1602)
“Des herbs ais” — Thomas Crecquillon (c. 1505- c.1557)
“Sweet honey sucking bees – Yet, sweet, take heed” — John Wilbye (1574-1638)
“The honey-suckle” — Holborne
“Vignon, vignon, vignon, vignette” — Claudin de Sermisy (c. 1490 – 1562)
“The marie-golde” — Holborne
“Lady, when I behold” — Wilbye
Au joli bocquet — Jacobus Clemens non Papa (c. 1510-c. 1555)
“Those sweet, delightful lilies” — Thomas Bateson (c. 1570 – 1630)
“Den hoboeken dans” — Tielman Susato (c. 1510/15 – after 1570)
“Adieu, sweet Amaryllis” — Wilbye
“The Fairie-round” — Holborne
“Quis dabit capiti meo aquam” — Heinrich Isaac (c. 1450-1517)
“Paradizo” — Holborne
“Evermind” — Ben Matus (b. 1991)
This concert is about 60 minutes with readings, tuning, and talking, and typically performed without an intermission.
ARTISTS
Tracy Cowart (voice, harp, percussion)
Harrison Hintzsche (voice, percussion)
Ben Matus (voice, winds, lute)
David McCormick (vielle)
Daphna Mor (recorders)
Sian Ricketts (voice, douçaines, recorders)
Niccolo Seligmann (vielle, percussion)
Corey Shotwell (voice)
PAST PERFORMANCES