Folger Consort's Musical Heraldry

Charles T. Downey, Folger Consort presents Renaissance pieces (Washington Post, September 29, 2014)

Heraldry, the elaborate system of coats of arms that was an expression of family pride in past eras, remains as a tangible emblem of history. One possible musical counterpart, dances and songs written for and dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I and her courtiers, was the focus of the Folger Consort’s first program of the season, heard on Friday night, offered in parallel to the heraldry exhibit at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Four members of the recently formed Arcadia Viols joined their colleague Robert Eisenstein to perform dance pieces for viol consort, a family of instruments at the height of its popularity in the Renaissance... [Continue reading]

Folger Consort, with Arcadia Viols
Courting Elizabeth, with tenor James Taylor
Folger Shakespeare Library