Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
Pavane de Spaigne
La Rosette

Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger (1575-1651)/Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
La Canarie

Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710)
Marizapalos/Espagnoletas

Juan Vasquez (?1510-?1560)
Con qué la lavaré

Antonio de Cabezón (1510-1566)
Pavana con su glosa

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)
Sans frayeur dans ce bois

Etienne Moulinie (?1600-?1660)
Enfin la beauté que j'adore

Diego Ortiz (?1510-?1570)
Ricercada ottava

José Marin (1619-1699)
No piense Menguilla ya

Andrea Falconieri (1586-1656)
Sinfonia seconda a 3

Barbara Strozzi (1619-1664)
Che si puo fare

Athanasius Kircher (1602-1690)
Tarantelle Modo hypodorico

Tarquino Merula (1594-?1625)
Foll è ben si crede

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Quel sguardo sdegnosetto, SV 247
Moresca

Ensemble Mezzo

This album includes a carefully curated selection of Renaissance and early Baroque gems. Lightly skirting the fluid boundaries between high art music and folk music in early modern Europe, much of the vocal music presented here demonstrates the grace and charm with which even the most erudite and famed composers applied their craft to popular song and dance. The instrumental music further reiterates the centrality of dance music in the 16th and 17th centuries, whether explicitly or as a rhythmic and formal underpinning. Above all, while skillfully composed by master musicians, the music is infused by musical cultures existing beyond the Church and court. At first glance unrelated, but a more discerning gaze will uncover the fine thread of cultural exchange between high art music and popular musical traditions running throughout the album.