A 21st-century Lute Song Book: Crafting the Toronto Book of Ayres

Duo Oriana’s latest endeavour, the Toronto Book of Ayres, sets four texts commissioned from contemporary poets Martin Gomes and Melissa Davidson to music by lutenist Jonathan Stuchbery. Together, these four songs form the beginning of a 21st-century collection of music for lute and voice. In this lecture recital, Duo Oriana will dive into the reasoning, process, and experience of using a historical arrangement of instruments as a vessel for words from today. The singer and lutenist engage with composers of the Renaissance and early Baroque periods whose music is featured alongside the Book of Ayres, often choosing texts that directly relate to the issues and personalities of their day. This new set of songs asks how we, as present-day artists, share in these traditions and ideas, why we choose to tell stories, and what drives us to share those stories through the medium of (early) music.

Co-organized with Early Music Vancouver.