Alkemie Medieval Ensemble

Tracy Cowart, mezzo-soprano & cup bells
David McCormick, vielle
Elena Mullins, soprano & percussion
Sian Ricketts, soprano & recorders
Niccolo Seligmann, vielle & percussion
 
Saturday, May 23
8:00 PM
 
$15 general admission
$5 students & seniors
Military always free
 
Cyprus, 1400: Alkemie voyages to this island crossroads of French, Greek, Armenian, Italian, and Ottoman influences. Their program explores the complex ars subtilior melodies of the Torino manuscript J.ii.9. This manuscript of French-style polyphonic vocal music features some of the most intricate rhythmic interplay and subtle melodic interactions of any written medieval music. Highly refined court music was likely influenced by folk music that was an omnipresent element of Cypriot daily life. Alkemie explores these connections in this program by presenting music from Torino J.ii.9, Greek, Cypriot, and Armenian folk music, and music from France that inspired the creation of such a marvelous manuscript.