The Convents of the Renaissance & An Abbess of Byzantium
12:00pm | Virtual Concert MUSICA SECRETA : Mother, Sister, Daughter
Mother, Sister, Daughter celebrates women’s spiritual relationships and the stories they tell, with music honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary and communities of sisters in early modern Europe—brought to life by this magnificent, internationally-renowned all-woman ensemble. (Southampton, UK)
Pre-concert discussion at the start of the program with Musica Secreta Director Laurie Stras and BLEM board member and choral scholar Carolann Buff.
2:00pm | Workshop DANCING ON THE SQUARE (Monroe County Courthouse Lawn)
Learn about wild Highland reels and elegant Georgian country dancing in a rocking historical dance party on the Courthouse lawn. This first of our fun festival workshops will teach you the trendy Gaelic steps and genteel English figures you need to succeed in 18th-century British society. What a way to start the week! (No partner needed). Workshop runs 2:00PM-4:00PM.
5:00pm | Virtual Concert FORGOTTEN CLEFS : Leonora d’Este’s Ferrara
This longtime favorite Bloomington-born ensemble, with members now spread across the continent, journeys inside the peaceful convent where Leonora, granddaughter of a pope, daughter of Lucrezia Borgia, and child of one of the wealthiest families in Renaissance Italy, composed music for women and girls. (Richmond, VA)
Pre-concert discussion at the start of the program with Forgotten Clefs Managing Director and member Sarah Schilling, member Kelsey Schilling, and historical trombonist Liza Malamut.
8:00pm | Concert CAPPELLA ROMANA : Hymns of Kassianí (The Mill)
Hymns of Kassianí is a stunning exploration of chants and liturgical music—some long-suppressed until recent years—by the earliest known woman composer in history, the Byzantine-Greek abbess, poet, and hymnographer Kassia, performed by the world’s leading ensemble of Byzantine chant. (Portland, OR)
7:15pm | Pre-concert discussion with Cappella Romana Artistic Director Alexander Lingas and Dana Marsh, Director of the Historical Performance Institute at IU’s Jacobs School of Music.
Complete program information for BLEMF 2022: Celebrating Women in Early Music is here.