Music from Renaissance Portugal

Renaissance Portugal’s greatest composers of sacred music were active in the first half of the 17th century, a time when much of the rest of Europe (following Italy’s example) was moving on to the new Baroque style. But by some musical alchemy they managed to combine the daring harmonic innovations of Monteverdi with the more conservative musical style of Palestrina. The result was a heady, luscious, and completely individual mix - once heard, never forgotten.

Amazingly, this repertoire laid ignored for centuries, and has only started to be explored in the last twenty years or so. In this concert of sacred music by Cardoso, Lôbo, Magalhães and others, the men of DE PROFUNDIS, directed by David Skinner, present a beautiful programme of sacred music from this group of composers. The main work is the Missa Veni Domine by Magalhães, based on the famous Advent motet by the great Seville composer Francisco Guerrero.

DAVID SKINNER is Fellow and Osborn Director of Music at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He is co-founder of The Cardinall’s Musick and artistic director of the early music group Alamire. His particular specialism is music and the Reformation in England. Alamire’s album Anne Boleyn’s Songbook was nominated for a BBC Music Award, while The Spy’s Choirbook won the 2015 Gramophone Early Music Award.

Host or Publisher De Profundis, conducted by David Skinner