BrEMF – Passion Body & Soul – Philomel

Straight-backed, sombre viol players tuned up and, with no introduction, began a Lassus motet, wordless and solemn. At first, alienated by the detached manner, I felt we were eaves-dropping on some sober domestic scene, but then Philip Thorby, the ensemble’s mentor, spoke up and gave the lovely music some context. Emma Murphy’s voice needed a more resonant acoustic but it matched the instruments perfectly.

In this old-fashioned early music performance where could we find any passion, the theme of this year’s BrEMF? It was there in the music, Palestrina, Josquin, Cipriano de Rore et al., restrained, decorous and perfectly crafted.

Coda: BBC Radio 3 recorded this concert. Look out for it in the Early Music Show on the iPLayer sometime soon.

Sallis Benney Theatre, 26 October 2013

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