Music in the Age of Discovery

Embark on a vibrant musical voyage through the Age of Discovery - a time when European explorers set sail in search of new worlds, trade, and treasure, sparking a cultural exchange that would shape the globe.

K’antu Ensemble invites you on a journey through the glittering courts of Renaissance Europe, where the Elizabethan elite were captivated by exquisite lute songs and elegant dance music. Performed by a quartet of K’antu Ensemble’s award-winning players, this programme traces the musical connections between England, Continental Europe, and the New World – from the refined courts of Spain and England to the distant missions of South America.

Singer Ruth Hopkins is known for interspersing performances with quirky facts and vivid quotes from historic manuscripts, bringing the stories, characters, and contexts behind the music to life.

Expect lively dances from both court and countryside, haunting melodies from the Cancionero de Palacio, and rare gems from the Codex Martínez Compañón – a remarkable Peruvian manuscript illuminating the fusion of Indigenous and European traditions.

And of course, no early music programme would be complete without the most prolific composer of them all: Anon. A mystery to us still, but evidently a firm favourite of scribes, performers, and publishers alike.

Join K’antu Ensemble for an evening of discovery, diversity, and delight.