Sirinu

SIRINU is a highly innovatory Early Music ensemble founded in 1992 that specialises in medieval and renaissance music but also performs contemporary music. They first toured for the Early Music Network in 1992; followed by South America; North Africa and Turkey for the British Council.

They have recorded for Chandos Music of Henry Vlll (Hyperion) The Cradle of the Renaissance (Hyperion), and other labels including Métier (2020) – The Man Hurdy-gurdy and Me – music for early and unusual instruments by Howard Skempton. Sirinu’s new programme takes us to Bruges in 1468 and 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 where closely allied and Edward IV in his years of exile took refuge with his sister Margaret in Burgundy. The battle of Tewkesbury 1471 saw Edward regain the throne, and the cultural contracts between Flanders and England strengthened.

Margaret of York’s brilliant court was home to some of the leading English and Flemish composers of the day – among them Dufay, Morton, Hayne and Binchois. – and produced two of most influential forms of the time– the Basse Dance and the Bungundian Chanson. With organ, lute, harp, fiddle, wind instruments and voices we present a musical tapestry to illustrate the turbulent years of the 1470s and 80s. Sirinu’s two youngest members are Kira Thomas, a recent masters’ graduate in music from Bath Spa university and Lewis Spring, folk and choral singer and former chorister at New College Oxford and lay clerk (alto) at Magdalen College Oxford.

Sponsors: With support from the Continuo Foundation

Saturday 11 June at 3.30pm-4.45pm
St James Church, Prebend Street, Islington N1 8PF  

Tickets £10 on the door, concessions £8 or online through Eventbrite