Classical Interludes: Alkemie - Love To My Liking album release concert
Listen to the evocative sounds of today’s leading medieval music performers. Love to My Liking is a very special album release concert in which Alkemie performs 13th-century trouvère songs, dances, and motets; 8 of the 13 tracks on this concert are world premiere recordings. Characterized by San Francisco Classical Voice as “a restless band of Medieval experimentalists,” Alkemie focused the album on a little-known but widespread compositional practice, quoting a refrain—a germ of melody or text or both—between works, rather than the modern practice of a refrain contained within one song.
Hundreds of such refrains crisscross the vocal works of medieval France, revealing a fascinating cultural provocation that weaves together mystical and spicy meditations on love and longing. The lush musical textures are equally informed by historical performance practice, bluegrass, old time, and Celtic music, creating an alien yet familiar soundscape that bridges the past and present.
Alkemie will be available after the concert for CD signing + an informal Q&A.
CDs may be purchased at a discount in advance for pick-up after the concert.
Alkemie
- Tracy Cowart (voice, harps, percussion)
- Ben Matus (medieval bagpipes)
- David McCormick (vielle)
- Niccolo Seligmann (vielles, psaltery, scheitholt, gittern, percussion)
- Sian Ricketts (voice, recorders, douçaines)
- Adrienne Lotto (voice)
- Ellie Sutherland (voice)
Photo credit Anja Schütz
BPL Presents programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Listen to the evocative sounds of today’s leading medieval music performers. Love to My Liking is a very special album release concert in which Alkemie performs 13th-century trouvère songs, dances, and motets; 8 of the 13 tracks on this concert are world premiere recordings. Characterized by San Francisco Classical Voice as “a restless band of Medieval experimentalists,” Alkemie focused the album on a little-known but widespread compositional practice, quoting a refrain—a germ of melody or text or both—between works, rather than the modern practice of a refrain contained within one song.
Hundreds of such refrains crisscross the vocal works of medieval France, revealing a fascinating cultural provocation that weaves together mystical and spicy meditations on love and longing. The lush musical textures are equally informed by historical performance practice, bluegrass, old time, and Celtic music, creating an alien yet familiar soundscape that bridges the past and present.
Alkemie will be available after the concert for CD signing + an informal Q&A.
CDs may be purchased at a discount in advance for pick-up after the concert.
Alkemie
- Tracy Cowart (voice, harps, percussion)
- Ben Matus (medieval bagpipes)
- David McCormick (vielle)
- Niccolo Seligmann (vielles, psaltery, scheitholt, gittern, percussion)
- Sian Ricketts (voice, recorders, douçaines)
- Adrienne Lotto (voice)
- Ellie Sutherland (voice)
Photo credit Anja Schütz
Brooklyn Public Library - Central Library, Dweck Center MM/DD/YYYY 60