News

Deborah Roberts, Musica Secreta’s founder and long-time co-director, died on 9 September 2024.  There have been tributes for her from the entire early music community, on social media, on the radio, and in the press: she was so clearly loved and esteemed by so many people.  While Deborah was central to Musica Secreta, we were … Read more

Last year, Musica Secreta got in touch with a number of other early music/vocal ensembles to see if they would be interested in creating an album that could be used to raise awareness and funds for cancer charities. The only criterion for inclusion was that the text should include a reference or references to breasts … Read more

  On Friday we release our second digital Christmas single, O magnum mysterium – it’s Bandcamp Friday again, and 100% of sales will come to us directly. The single has two tracks and a bonus: Cristobál de Morales, “O magnum mysterium”: Josquin des Prez, “Alma redemptoris Mater”; and November’s Corpore et anima track, Marc’Antonio Ingegneri’s … Read more

For many years, Deborah and Laurie had a pipe dream of creating a programme around motets about breasts – specifically to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research and support. Finally, we have taken steps to start realising that dream, with a series of videos/recordings that we will be releasing monthly between October 2023 … Read more

As a group, we are committed to working collectively – everyone pitches in to make sure recordings and performances go smoothly. But we felt it was time to acknowledge that very often the labour of setting tempi, getting everyone in on the right note, keeping things on track, and making in-the-moment musical decisions falls on … Read more

We have had so many lovely reviews for Mother Sister Daughter, including featuring in the New York Times “5 Classical Albums You Can Listen To Right Now” for August ’22.  But we were utterly delighted to see the album included in both Alex Ross’s list in the New Yorker of “Notable Performances and Recordings of … Read more

Last week, we met for a day to do some filming – it’s always odd to sing Christmas music when it’s still sunny and warm and there are leaves on the trees! We’ve long wanted to do an album of Advent and Christmas music: even though it seems like an obvious undertaking, we’ve never done … Read more

We are delighted to be launching a new crowdfunder campaign – our first since 2015 – to help us fund our new recording, Mother, Sister, Daughter. We are looking to raise £6000 to help us ensure that our creatives – musical and technical – are reimbursed appropriately for their time and expertise. We would be … Read more

On Thursday 16 September, Laurie will be presenting at the WoMuNet (Women and Music Networks in Early Modern Europe) workshop, hosted by the Universidad de Granada. She will be talking about the links between the Biffoli-Sostegni manuscript and Suor Maria Celeste Galilei, the daughter of Galileo Galilei, and how convent of San Matteo in Arcetri … Read more

This past Tuesday and Wednesday we have been rehearsing our new programme for 2022, Mother, Sister, Daughter, which ruminates on women’s relationships, their prayers and the stories they tell each other. We were so privileged to have a wonderful space at Stapleford Granary, as part of their Artist Residencies scheme. Rehearsing in pandemic conditions meant … Read more

Musica Secreta’s score shop includes many works that we’ve prepared for ourselves and our workshops, and it is growing steadily. Choirs all over the world have already included them in their repertoire and recordings – just listen to these wonderful performances of Leonora d’Este motets from the Monteverdi Choir and Elektra Women’s Choir. But we … Read more