Bold, Fearless and Rash

Bruges in 1468 witnessed the sumptuous wedding celebrations of Margaret of York (sister to Edward IV and Richard III) and Charles the Rash, the last great Duke of Burgundy.

For much of the period the houses of York and Burgundy were closely allied, and Edward IV in his years of exile took refuge with his sister Margaret in Burgundy. The battle of Tewkesbury in 1471 saw Edward regain the throne, and the cultural contracts between Flanders and England strengthened. Margaret’s brilliant court was home to some of the leading English and Flemish composers of the day – among them Dufay, Morton, Hayne and Binchois – producing two of the most influential forms of the time – the Basse Dance and the Bungundian Chanson.

With organ, lute, harp, dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy and voices, we present a musical tapestry to illustrate the turbulent years of the 1470s and 80s.

Sara Stowe soprano, keyboard
Jon Banks gothic harp, dulcimer
Matthew Spring medieval lute, hurdy-gurdy