Musica Secreta has just spent a week at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, recording motets from RISM 1543/2, Musica quinque vocum motteta materna lingua vocata – thanks to development funding from Arts Council England, a generous grant from the Ambache Charitable Trust, and our amazing Crowdfunder supporters. Our fabulous Celestial Sirens joined us for a day, so not only were we able to make the most wonderful music with a group of committed and talented women, we were also able to catch up with old friends. And we made new friends with the Cuddesdon Sisters, whose beautiful and inspiring chapel was the venue for our recording, and whose lovely new home was our lodging for the week. We couldn’t have been made more welcome, and we couldn’t have chosen a better acoustic in which to record this special music.
We all felt that we were part of something truly special, and that the recording is only the start of a new attitude to Renaissance music. As we never tire of telling people, nuns’ voices were the sound of the Renaissance city, accessible to every citizen, rich or poor, and a backdrop to both their everyday worship and their landmark ceremonies. Look out for further updates and a release announcement!
