Sunday, June 7, 2015

Music for Henry and Katherine

From The Telegraph:
Choral music not heard since the time of Henry VIII has been brought to life for the first time in 500 years. The manuscript, a book of 34 religious songs, was given to Henry VIII as a lavish gift from a French diplomat in his early reign. Containing songs referencing Henry and his then-bride Catherine of Aragon, it is considered the most "luxurious" surviving diplomatic gift of its kind. It remained in the Royal Collection after the king's death, and was later given to the nation by George II where it has remained in the vaults of the British Library ever since. Dr David Skinner, a Cambridge fellow, has now examined the manuscript to bring the music back to life with ensemble choir featuring nine singers and period instruments. (Read more.)
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