Designed by guitarist and lutenist Jonathan Stuchbery, Battute e Pizzicato explores the development and dissemination of the ‘chitarra espagñola’ through the 17th century, tracing its Spanish roots, its popularity and development in Italy, influences from Rome, and its continued musical importance in Spain at the end of the century. The program features music for voices and instruments in groupings large and small, including solos, duos, solo songs with diverse accompanying instruments, ensemble songs, and dance-based pieces like the chacona, jacaras and canario. Works by Foscarini, Montesardo, Moulinié, Marini, Landi, Luis de Briçeño, Kapsberger, Sanz, Juan de Arañes and others are included.
Bringing this richly evocative music to life are The Musicians of the Egg, back in the musical saddle after their enthusiastically received return to concertizing in January of this year. They are Michele DeBoer, soprano; Rebecca Claborn, mezzo; Cory Knight, tenor; Olivier Laquerre, baritone; Jonathan Stuchbery, guitar; Alison Melville, recorders; Ben Grossman, percussion, and with special guests Felix Deák, viola da gamba, and Julia Seager Scott, triple harp.