POLYPHONIC ENCOUNTERS – POLYPHONIC ENCOUNTERS II

Phantasm Viol Consort

Laurence Dreyfus, treble viola da gamba and conductor / Emilia Benjamin, treble viola da gamba / Jonathan Manson, alto viola da gamba / Martin Jantzen, alto viola da gamba / Heidi Gröger, bass viola da gamba and violone / Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, bass viola da gamba
Conception and artistic direction: Laurence Dreyfus

Performed works:

• Fantasia No. 4 a2 (MB 4) / The Silver Swan a5 (First Set of Madrigals, 1612) / Fantasia No. 4 a2 (MB 4) 4 a3 (MB 10) / Dainty fine Bird a5 (First Set of Madrigals, 1612) / In Nomine no. 1 a5 (MB 27) / Trust not too much, fair youth (First Set of Madrigals, 1612) / In Nomine no. 2 a5 (MB 28)
  
• Fantasia no. 5 a6 (MB 35) / Fantasia no. 6 a6 (MB 36) / Fantasia no. 3 a6 (MB 33)
  
• Fantasia no. 1 a6 (MB 31) / Fantasia no. 2 a6 (MB 32) / Fantasia no. 4 a6 (MB 34)
  
• Go from my Window (MB 40) / Pavan and Galliard a6 (MB 41/MB 42
  

The Phantasm Viol Consort started its own concert series in March 2025 in St. Elisabeth Church POLYPHONIC ENCOUNTERS – POLYPHONIC ENCOUNTERS, which focuses on distinguished polyphonic composers in a total of four concerts.


Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625), whose 400th death anniversary is commemorated this year, composed during the transitional period between the Elizabethan era and the Baroque period. He is considered one of the last representatives of the English polyphonic school. His legacy is not particularly extensive, but very diverse, ranging from sacred and courtly music to compositions for keyboard instruments and polyphonic chamber music.
Even during his lifetime, Gibbons enjoyed great popularity with patrons and audiences, and he was and continues to be revered by musicians: His contemporary William Byrd called him a "musical genius." Glenn Gould described his music as the one that "moved him more than any other sonic experience."