Campion: Woo her, and win her

When the Palatinate Prince-Elector Friedrich V married the English Princess Elizabeth Stuart on Valentine's Day 1613, the whole world spoke of the "marriage between the Rhine and the Thames". The Calvinist Electoral Palatinate led the union of the Protestant German princes at this time and the Palatinate politicians saw in Anglican England a powerful ally against the Catholic Habsburgs. Thus this marriage was, of course, politically motivated; but there is considerable evidence that the two young people were actually fond of each other.

In London, the wedding was initially postponed due to the state mourning at the sudden death of the brother of the bride, and of the English heir to the throne, Price Henry, but it later took place on 14 February 1613 following hasty preparations.

After the arrival of the newlyweds in the Electoral Palatinate, the festivities were resumed at Heidelberg Castle. The Ensemble I Ciarlatani has reconstructed the many musical highlights with the help of historical reports, and presents the "marriage between the Rhine and the Thames" as an exciting musical story enabling us to witness the events of those times.

‘The Queen’ is a new CD by the Toronto Consort – numbering some of Canada’s leading early music specialists – which recreates musical life at the court of Elizabeth I. Many of these songs were written for or about this remarkable monarch, while others are songs that would have been performed at her court.

The Toronto Consort is Canada’s foremost chamber ensemble specialising in the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and early Baroque periods. The consort members include both singers and instrumentalists (lute, recorder, guitar, flute, early keyboards and percussion).They have previously produced a recording for Marquis titled “Praetorius Christmas Vespers” (774718133526), as well as several CDs for the American label Dorian. Queen Elizabeth the First was an accomplished musician so it is likely that she played many of the songs featured on this album. Elizabeth was also, famously, a lover of dancing and dance music. Even as she lay dying, Elizabeth is said to have asked for music so that she might die as gaily as she lived. She heard music until her last breath.