In sixteenth-century Antwerp, a small shop described as being found “At the Sign of the Crumhorn” drew musicians, dancers, and the curious inside. There, the publisher Tielman Susato sent new music out into the world – tunes that became massively popular and culturally influential. This program opens that door again, with the vivid sound of shawms, sackbuts, dulcians, and crumhorns filling the air. Follow the sign and find what’s been waiting to be heard.
“So many of us were first introduced to early music through Susato’s dances,” notes Piffaro artistic director, Priscilla Herreid. “When we hear one of those dance tunes, we are transported back to the sound of an old recording we had, or to memories of playing orchestral, band, or brass quintet arrangements. Susato churned out dozens of editions for amateurs and professionals to play – motets, chansons, and masses by Josquin, Lassus, Crecquillon, Clemens non Papa, to name just a handful of composers. I’m elated to have this opportunity to play some of those great tunes.”
Herreid adds, “My favorite musicians to work with are people who can find both the beauty and the fun in dance music, and who can also break your heart with their playing or singing of complex polyphony. I can imagine that Susato would have been all of those things, and more.”
