GREGHESCHE (A MUSICAL TREASURE OF THE VENETIAN RENAISSANCE)

The collection Di Manoli Blessi il primo libro delle Greghesche is the work of the well-known poet Antonio Molino (pseudonym Manoli Blessi). He wrote in a made-up language, a mixture of Venetian dialect and elements of Greek that was given the name of ‘greghesca’. The volume contains music set for four to eight parts. Most of the composers whose works are found there belonged to the highest level of Venetian musical life at that time and were requested by Molino to set his texts to music. Their greghesche first refer to simpler and more popular genres with their chordal and homophonic style and repetitive structures, and then go on to adopt the refined style of the contemporary Italian madrigal.

The sequence of the greghesche is well-considered and deliberate. It is thanks to the subtle narrative lines and to the richly variegated character of Molino’s poetry and the many intertextual connections with existing poetry that Molino’s carefully-assembled volume is revealed as such an unusual undertaking. This collection of greghesche unfolds before the spectator and listener in all its linguistic and musical richness as a tale complete in itself, an absorbing proof of the many layers of cultural life in 16th century Venice.

Zefiro Torna consists of musicians who have won their spurs in ensembles such as the Huelgas ensemble, Collegium Vocale, Capilla Flamenca en Het Muziek Lod. They bring the cultural heritage to life in a unique fashion, departing from a deep respect for the past. Authenticity is combined with creativity. The ensemble opts for historical instruments and a historical approach to performance practice. They incorporate literature, theatre and contemporary or ethnic music in their productions. Zefiro Torna was offered the Tech-Art prize by the Flemish Chamber of Engineers, meant to stimulate innovative realisations and entrepreneurship. Their CD El Noi de la Mare won the ‘Klara Muziekprijs’ for the best Flemish production of classical music; the CD De Fragilitate was awarded the prestigious ‘Diapason d’Or’.