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Musical Games, Puzzles, and Riddles of the Renaissance

PomeriumOutsideStIgAnt.CROPPEDSung by one of the world’s most celebrated vocal ensembles, this program was designed to complement the exhibit of Renaissance playing cards mounted at The Met Cloisters in early 2016. As an example of popular medieval and early Renaissance games, playing cards provide a window into an intellectual culture that delighted in games. All of the sets showed ingenious ways to illustrate numbers, suits, and face cards, reminding us that the late Middle Ages was a period fascinated by games and puzzles. This fascination extended to music. For more information on this program, please click here.

POMERIUM, founded by Alexander Blachly in New York in 1972 to perform music composed for the famed chapel choirs of the Renaissance, derives its name from the title of a treatise by the 14th-century music theorist Marchettus of Padua.The modern Pomerium is currently recording a series of compact discs of the masterpieces of Renaissance a cappella choral music, of which the sixteenth to be recorded, Musical Games, Puzzles, and Riddles of the Renaissance, will be released in the summer of 2017. http://pomerium.us/

Alexander Blachly, choir director

 

The singers of Pomerium 

 

Midtown Concerts sponsors lunchtime performances of music of the 18th century and earlier. Ensembles are chosen by a panel of early music specialists from the metropolitan area.

Time: Thursdays, 1:15–2:00 pm
All concerts are free; no tickets or reservations are necessary.

Concerts are in person at St. Malachy's Church, 239 West 49th Street, Manhattan, AND live streamed.