Gistou: Paduana - Galliard

Christian IV, 1577-1648, invested the Danish court with immense prestige. Added to diplomatic and military ambitions was a rich artistic life, especially in music. The Copenhagen court was rich with singers and instrumentalists, and therefore became an important place of passage for European composers. Les Witches invite us to listen to their latest recording, a celebration of Danish court musicians and the Esaias Compenius organ, installed in the chapel of the Frederiksborg Castle by Christian IV in 1617, but actually built in 1610 a mere 400 years ago, and played by both Dowland and Praetorius.

Brussels cultural life entered a golden age during the reign of the Archducal couple Albert and Isabella. Various paintings of the time depict an ensemble of six of the city musicians, that was termed the Alta Capella, and consisted of a cornett, a shawm, two bombards, a trombone and a bassoon. The La Caccia Ensemble has researched the repertoire of the Alta Capella and here presents an attractive and varied selection of its repertoire, showing its presence in churches, processions, deivertissements and Court balls.