László Rózsa (Recorder) and Jan Waterfield (Harpsichord) will be presenting

“Looking at the smaller picture : Diminutions and variations from late sixteenth and early seventeenth-century Italy”.

This programme explores the beauty of Diminution; a popular concept in the 16th & 17th centuries.

Musicians would take a popular song or chord progression & thoroughly investigate its possibilities; a bit like taking each note & putting it under a musical microscope. ’Diminution’ therefore expands the musical landscape, rather than diminishing it. These creations could be written out, or improvised, or a mixture of both.

Music by

Pierre Sandrin (c1490–after 1561)                                       
Diego Ortiz (c1510–c1570) 
Andrea Gabrieli (1532-1585)
Biagio Marini (1564-1663) 
Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643) 
Andrea Falconieri (1585-1656)
Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Mealli (c1630-c1669)