Tuesday evening the Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet gave a concert at Heliconian Hall of 16th century music from Spain (so music in the reign of Philip II for any Braudel fans out there).  It was surprisingly varied.  This was the age of the Italian madrigal so tha’s a big influence but with a definite Spanish twist.  Quite a few different composers and two principal genre; the villancico (which lives on in modern Christmas carols) and the ensalada; which is generally about catastrophe (brought about by sin of course) where everything turns out OK because the Virgin Mary shows up.  A lot of the music was unaccompanied but some pieces were accompanied by either guitar or vihuela (a kind of lute).  It was pretty varied with some pieces having significant solos for one or more singers, some having quite complex polyphony and others more strophic, almost folk song like, structures.  Plenty enough variety to sustain about 80 minutes of music.

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