The Royal Wind Fundraising Concert 'Cosmography of Polyphony'

About The Royal Wind Music

Twelve young musicians from seven different countries play music

from the 16th and 17th centuries on an impressive collection and

worldwide unique setting of Renaissance recorders. Together they

form The Royal Wind Music, an ensemble which thrills audiences

worldwide since its foundation by Paul Leenhouts in 1997. A desire

to bring to life music from the Renaissance times in an authentic and

accessible manner results in programmes that juxtapose rarely heard

compositions with more well known repertoire. Playing entirely from

memory and without a conductor, The Royal Wind Music is also known

for its engaging performance and ability to communicate

with the audience.

Programme – A Cosmography of Polyphony

‘Cosmography’ is the science that describes the universe and everything

in it. The word also refers to a visual representation of the universe, and by

extension to depictions or descriptions of smaller parts of the world. The

programme Cosmography portrays the musical universe of The Royal Wind

Music and includes highlights from all of the musical worlds which the

ensemble has visited since it began. Chronologically, the repertoire ranges

from early 16th-century motets to the moving chorale preludes of Johann

Sebastian Bach. In the centre of this universe is polyphony, the style of

simultaneously combining a number of parts, each forming an individual

melody and harmonising with each other.