Media Release
Medieval Music Alive Again at the State Library Victoria
29 February 2008
A series of concerts featuring music from medieval and early Renaissance Europe will be held at the State Library of Victoria in April 2008.
The concerts, supported by the City of Melbourne’s Arts and Culture program, complement the remarkable State Library Victoria exhibition, The Medieval Imagination: Illuminated Manuscripts from Cambridge, Australia and New Zealand which opens 28 March 2008.
The Medieval Music Series will feature a series of ticketed concerts at the State Library of Victoria as well as free performances at activities associated with The Medieval Imagination exhibition.
The concerts - featuring liturgical, sacred and secular music linked to books on display in the exhibition - will be performed by medieval and early Renaissance music groups from around Melbourne, including the Early Music Consort of Melbourne.
Each ticketed concert is produced under the artistic direction of Professor John Griffiths, an internationally renowned early music expert from the University of Melbourne. Professor Griffiths will also introduce the concerts.
The Medieval Imagination is the first major international exhibition to be developed by the State Library of Victoria and will include over 90 rare medieval and early Renaissance manuscripts and books. The rich beauty of medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts will be on show in this magnificent free exhibition, featuring treasures from the collections of Cambridge University and from Australian and New Zealand libraries and museums. This spectacular display, the first of its kind in Australia, offers fascinating insights into life and learning from the 8th to the 16thcenturies. It includes sacred traditional texts as well as works of music, law, history, science and literature. Many feature beautiful and detailed paintings which illustrate the people and customs of the medieval world – often in a whimsical or humorous manner. In the lavishly decorated pages of these centuries-old masterpieces, the medieval world comes to life in glowing colour, highlighted with precious gold and silver.
Medieval Music Series performance details
Medieval Music Concert Series
Thursday 10 April, 17 April and 24 April 2008
Performances on Thursdays, April 10, 17 and 24 will be devoted to liturgical, sacred and secular works respectively. These will be directed by Professor John Griffiths of the Early Music Studio, University of Melbourne.
Professor Griffiths will introduce the concerts and, where appropriate, link each program to books or manuscripts in the exhibition.
Supported by the City of Melbourne
Sunday 20 April 2008
The Early Music Consort of Melbourne and vocalist Natalie Maroki present period music, instruments, costumes and gesture as part of a day long Medieval Faire.
The Consort, directed by Helga Hill, is Victoria’s longest-established early music ensemble. A portative organ, hurdy gurdy, psaltery, Saracen lute, schalmey, kemence and rauschpfeiffe will be among the rare instruments to be used during half-hour programs in Queens Hall at noon and 2pm.
In between, the group will provide a rare musical experience by ringing medieval music on handbells from high in the Great Dome of the library’s La Trobe reading room. This will occur between 1.10 and 1.25 p.m.
Supported by the City of Melbourne
Medieval Faire
Fancy some Medieval Myth-busting or some Feudal Fashions on the Field? Come to the State Library of Victoria to experience presentations and displays by local medieval groups as well as musical performances, talks and children’s activities which will bring the Middle Ages to life.
The Medieval Imagination: Illuminated manuscripts from Cambridge, Australia and New Zealand
28 March–15 June 2008
State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Open 10am–5pm daily (to 9pm Thursdays)
Free entry
Exhibition sponsors
The Medieval Imagination is presented by:
The State Library of Victoria Foundation and the State Government of Victoria
Major sponsors
Qantas, Palace Cinemas, Yarra Trams
Sponsors and supporters
City of Melbourne, J.C. Decaux, AAMI, K.W. Doggett Fine Paper, Click, Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, Herald Sun, 3AW, The Sebel Melbourne, Citigate Melbourne, Reader’s Feast Bookstore, Swisse Vitamins, Metlink, Macmillian Publishers, V/Line, Avant Card, J.T. Reid Charitable Trust, Limelight Magazine
Media inquiries and image requests
Matthew van Hasselt
Media relations coordinator
State Library of Victoria
Ph: 03 8664 7263
Email: mvanhasselt@slv.vic.gov.au
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