Nigel North, Lute

Yale Collection of Musical Instruments presents

NIGEL NORTH, lute

in

A Decoration of Silence: sixteenth-century lute music from italy, france and england 15 Hillhouse Avenue New Haven 11 October 2015 3:00 p.m.

Program Notes When do we ever have silence today? In the late 15th century, the Renaissance philosopher Marsilio Ficino wrote that music was “nothing but a decoration of silence”, and wrote much about music that could bring on a “divine frenzy.” In our modern age, with piped music everywhere from elevators, planes and doctors’ offices, and music available on tap whenever and wherever we wish through iPods, our experience of Music has been diluted, losing much of the awe which listeners used to feel. The Italian lutenist Francesco da Milano, known as “il divino”, was said to send his audiences into a trance and rob them of all their senses, save one, that of hearing. This program invites the 21st century listener into a world of sensual delight and a decoration of silence.

In the 16th century, the lute was the king of instruments, and the virtuosi who played the lute in the European courts wrote “divine music”. Francesco da Milano was employed by the Pope in Rome; Alberto da Ripa was also Italian, but as court lutenist to Francis I in Paris was renamed Albert de Rippe. Both Italian lutenists wrote wonderful Fantasias and settings of contemporary vocal music which captured the senses of their listeners. At the English courts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, we have tuneful dance music and sets of variations by lutenists John Johnson and John Dowland, and some arrangements from the time of keyboard music by the illustrious William Byrd.

All complemented by a “Dump” by Philip van Wilder (who worked at the English court of Henry VIII), a piece which sounds much more modern than it should at 400 years old!

- Nigel North, 2015

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Nigel North was initially attracted to music at age 7, by the early 60’s instrumen-

tal pop group “The Shadows.” Nigel studied classical music through the violin and guitar, eventually discovering his real path in life, the lute, when he was 15. Self-taught on the lute, he has (for over 30 years) developed richly varied musical life that includes activities as a teacher, accompanist, soloist, director and writer.

Some milestones on the way have included the publication of a continuo tutor (Faber 1987) representing his work and passion for this subject. The music of J.S.Bach has been another intense interest, and the 4 Volume CD collection “Bach on the Lute” was recorded on the Linn Records label (1994-1997), now available as a 4 disc box set.

The ensemble Romanesca was formed by Nigel, together with Andrew Manze (violin) and John Toll (harpsichord & organ). For ten years (1988-1998) they explored, performed and recorded 17th century chamber music, winning several international awards for their recordings.

Nigel North enjoys accompanying singers and is also an enthusiastic teacher. For over 20 years he was Professor of Lute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London; from 1993-1999 he was Professor at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin; 2005-2207 he was Lute Professor at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag, The Netherlands, and since January 1999 he has been Professor of Lute at the Early Music Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington in the USA. Recent recording projects have included, Robert Dowland’s “A Musical Banquet” with soprano, Monika Mauch, for ECM (2008), Lute Songs with tenor Charles Daniels for ATMA (2007) and the Lute Music of Robert Johnson for Naxos (2010).

Yale Collection of Musical Instruments 15 Hillhouse Avenue New Haven

presents

25 October 2015 5:30 p.m.

NIGEL NORTH, lute A Decoration of Silence:

Sixteenth-century Lute Music from Italy, France and England John Johnson

The Delight Pavan and Galliard

(c. 1545-1594)

Philip van Wilder A Dump (c.1500 -1554) Francesco da Milano 4 Fantasias & Riceracars (1497-1543) (30, 28, 35, 58) Albert de Rippe (c.1500-1551)

Douce memoire Pavan La Romanesque

Simone Molinaro

Saltarello From “Intavolature de Liuto”, 1599

(1565-1615)

Giovanni Battista dalla Gostena Fantasias XXV (1558-1593) Fantasia VIII INTERVAL

John Dowland (1563-1626)

William Byrd

(1540-1623)

Francesco da Milano (1497-1543)

Lachrimae Pavan The Earl of Essex, his Galliard Go from my window Tarletons Risurectione Mrs. Winter’s Jump

The Woods so Wild My Lord Willoughby’s Welcome Home De mon triste desplaisir (Richafort) Fantasia de mon triste Fantasies 33 & 34 (“La compagna”)

This concert is being recorded and streamed live over the Internet; please turn off all cell phones and pagers.

Remaining Performances in the 2015-2016 Series

October 25 - The Sebastians 3:00 pm Daniel S. Lee, violin

Nicholas DeEugenio, violin Ezra Seltzer, violoncello

Jeffrey Grossman, harpsichord

February 14 - Lina Tur Bonet, violin 3:00 pm Kenneth Weiss, harpsichord

March 6 - Alexei Lubimov, piano 3:00 pm

April 10 - Smithsonian Chamber Players 3:00 pm Vera Beths, violin

Nicholas Cords, viola

Kenneth Slowik, violoncello

Robert Nairn, double bass

Charles Neidich, clarinet

Dominic Teresi, bassoon with William Purvis, horn

Special Performances

November 11

5:30 pm

February 17

5:30 pm

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Tiam Goudarzi, recorder Paolo Zanzu, harpsichord

-

Mark Kroll, harpsichord

Orders for SERIES tickets should be mailed to the Collection at 15 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven, CT 06520 or submitted by telephone at (203)432-0822; series tickets will be mailed to subscribers. Individual tickets should be ordered by telephone at the Yale School of Music box office at (203)432-4158 or over the Internet at: www.yale.edu/music Tickets -

$25.00 each, reserved seating $100.00, series of 5 concerts $20.00 each, senior citizens & Yale staff $10.00 each, students

Cover Graphic: A Lute Player by Theodoor Rombouts, c. 1620 Philadelphia Museum of Art. John G. Johnson Collection