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Music
Passamezzo is dedicated to the performance of Early Music in an accessible, educational and historically informed context. Our name 'Passamezzo' comes from the sixteenth century ground (a series of chords) of this name. A passamezzo might take the form of a simple song or dance - Greensleeves is the most well known example of this form - but could also become a courtly dance or an exhibition piece, with virtuosic and showy divisions played upon it.
We give frequent public music performances and have played in museums, barns, palaces, concert halls, theatres, gardens, stately homes and ruins throughout the country.
We can provide music for television, radio, theatre and film, and are willing to research, compose or arrange original material.
Concert Programmes
They that in Ships unto the Sea down go: Music for the Mayflower
The Battle between Shrovetide and Lent
Recordings
Our first cd Gallimaufry was recorded at the archeological site of the Rose Theatre in February 2005 - the first recording ever to take place in that venue. Our first Christmas CD, Christmas Music in Shakespeare's England was recorded in 2006 and An Excellent Medley in 2009.
In Summer 2010 we collaborated with REEP to create a programme of 16th and 17th Century music, words and song for Summer and the Harvest In Peascod Time We have recorded two more CDs of Christmas/Winter music: To Shorten Winter's Sadness (music, words and song for Christmas and Winter) in 2011; and Old Christmas Returned ( Christmas celebrated, banned and restored in 17th Century England) in 2016.
In 2011 we also worked with Ensemble Mogador Chant et Musique Soufie to record From Shore to Shore, a cd of English and Moroccan music. We recorded a second CD, with them in June 2015: Meditations - Sacred Chant, Psalms and Hymns from England, Taize and Morocco
In August 2014 we were awarded an Arts Council grant to work with Dr Andrew Ashbee to create a recording of the music and song associated with the 17th Century playwright and poet James Shirley. This was released in March 2015.
Our newest CD, a recording of 16th and 17th Century French dance music for the Historical Dance Society, will be released in 2019.
Many of our concerts are performed by candlelight and are sponsored by Prices' Candles.
