From lofty king to lowly serf the notion of travelling to a faraway land in the name of one's faith and personal salvation was highly attractive. Using instruments which reflect the unique meeting of eastern and western traditions in Iberia at this time, and solo and a capella songs, The Dufay Collective display the splendidly diverse nature of medieval music. In this programme, The Dufay Collective perform music which reveals the significance of the seasons for the medieval poet musicians, the troubadours and trouveres. Winter was a time of seclusion, and for reflection upon the harsh aspects of life, and for looking forward to better and warmer times. Included here are songs from England complaining of the bad weather and ill-treatment, and the song of a French minstrel who fears the onset of winter, when his life becomes hard.
Spring is the most significant time for the troubadours.
We see a new life springing all around, and the thoughts of young men and women turn towards love. There are many hundreds of songs concerning the joys of spring, and the banishment of winter. The famous round Sumer is icumen in displays wonderfully the excitement at the abundance of nature's revival. Summer is a happy time of leisure, of resting in the woods and fields, of chance encounters and for dancing. Estampies, Caroles and Pastourelles represent this easy time of love and merrymaking.