All kinds of diminutions from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

Hille Perl – viola da gamba (Germany)

Maria Morozova-Meléndez – spinet (Switzerland)

Josué Meléndez – cornetto, recorder (Switzerland)

The Fitzwilliam Book may well be the source containing the most beautiful instrumental diminutions of all. As it is a source devoted exclusively to keyboard instruments, few melody instrumentalists venture into the vast forest of diminutions it offers. Some of these diminutions are so complex that they might even seem nebulous; yet, thanks to their fluidity and brilliance, they can always be brought to life with great elegance.

The repertoire consists mainly of music by British composers such as Peter Phillips, William Byrd, John Bull, Thomas Tallis, John Dowland and Giles Farnaby, but also includes works by Luca Marencio, Jackob van Eyck and Toinot Arbeau.

Our programme features dances, works on the themes of the forest, the hunt, bells, laments and hymns.