This original program presents works from the personal songbook of Margaret of Austria (1480-1530), arranged for recorder ensemble.
Margaret enjoyed a first-rate education and became a fervent patron of the arts, philosophy, and theology. According to the court poet Jean Lemaire, writing in 1505, Margaret was “excellently skilled in vocal and instrumental music, in painting and in rhetoric, in the French as well as the Spanish language”. She often read “noble books”, of which she had a great number in her library, one of the largest in Europe in the early 16th century. One of the treasures of her library was her newly commissioned personal songbook: a collection of 55 chansons and motets by various famous composers of her time, richly decorated with high-quality miniatures and initials.
As a reflection of her own difficult life the themes of loss, sorrow and loneliness abound in Margaret’s songbook. In a time in which public mourning was considered suitable, even advisable for widows, Margaret included several laments in the collection.
Featured composers include Desprez, De La Rue, Appenzeller, Compère, Richafort and various anonymous composers.
Seldom Sene is a recorder quintet on a mission to redefine the art of consort, namely in performing and arranging works seldom heard, in a manner seldom seen. Their innovative programming and CD recordings have earned them the highest international praise: “A model of creative and thoughtful programming…the playing is of the highest order, immaculate intonation and perfect ensemble” (Musicweb), “With passionate command, skillful precision, nuanced dynamics, the ensemble succeeds in creating a surprising spectrum of enchanting, unheard-of sounds” (MDR.de).
