16th Century Improvisations

Andrew Lawrence-King and the Harp Consort are a kind of English equivalent to Jordi Savall's Hesperion XXI and often explore similar kinds of material. I would be tempted to take any recording by either on trust. This one from Lawrence-King is entitled El Arte de Fantasia based on works documented by Luis Venegas de Henestrosa from the 16th century Spanish court of Charles V. They were a sophisticated collection of Spanish romances, French chansons, popular dances such as villancicos and polyphonic fantasias. Henestrosa transcribed these for harp, keyboards and vihuela. Lawrence-King plays Spanish double harp, renaissance harp, organ, harpsichord and psaltery with members of the Harp consort playing viola da gamba, vihuela, renaiisance guitar and percussion. There is a gentle improvisatory nature to much of the music as was the practice at the time. Another practice at the time was the mixing of the sacred and the more exuberant folk elements. Interesting to compare with the music coming out of the contemporaneous and competitive Elizabethan court.