Poland’s cultural ascendancy was reflected also in its music, which was also strongly influenced by the Italian masters but with the rich ethnic traditions of northeastern Europe. Almost all the genres performed in Western Europe at this time make their appearance as well in Polish sources, and in our performance we will sample some of the tastiest selections. We have an innocent anonymous madrigal honoring the “sweet eyes” of the poet’s lover, as well as a bizarre chromatic madrigal, “Tirsi morir”, with its thinly veiled double entendre, by the Italian born Diomedes Cato. Sacred music from the 16th century is represented by motets of Szamotul and settings of the psalms in vernacular translations by Kochanowski, to the music of Mikolaj Gomolka. The earlier instrumental music on the program is taken mostly from one source, the Jan of Lublin’s Organ Book (1541), the largest surviving collection of keyboard music in Renaissance Europe and a vast repository of repertories including dances, fantasies and motets. We will look at early Baroque music as well: a Haec dies setting by Mikolaj Zielenski who studied in Venice with Giovanni Gabrieli, instrumental canzonas and trio sonatas, a few sacred concerted works for various combinations of voices, instruments and organ, and a unique anonymous patriotic work, “The Song of the Zerzydowski Rebels”.

TEMP’s performance of this beautiful and unique repertoire will be edited and constructed by frequent guest artist Tom Zajac, will feature instrumental pieces performed by viols, violins, recorders, sackbut, bagpipe, and keyboard. As always, some of the best singers in Austin are featured: Kathlene Ritch, Gitanjali Mathur, Stephanie Prewitt, David Stevens, Jeffrey Jones Ragona, Brett Barnes, Gil Zilkha, and more. Directed by Daniel Johnson and Tom Zajac.