A Measure of Love

Performed by The Vale Consort, resident ensemble of the Early Voices Festival 2026, this concert explores the refined world of Renaissance love and dance through stories of longing, joy, and human connection.

At its heart lie the frottola and villanella – expressive secular Italian forms where poetry, music, and movement intertwine. Initially shaped by composers such as Marchetto Cara and Bartolomeo Tromboncino, we will hear how masters like Orlando di Lasso and Francesco Patavino further refined these popular genres.

With seven singers and period instruments (portative organ, lute, and bass viol), The Vale Consort’s programme will take the audience on a journey through Italian, English, and German traditions, from the lyrical clarity of Jacques Arcadelt and Luca Marenzio to the intimate expressiveness of John Dowland and Orlando Gibbons.