Vestiva features virtuosic diminutions and embellishment practices of the 16th and 17th centuries, both historical and newly written, and improvised by the performers, based on historical treatises.

'Vestiva: not only our red thread throughout the album, referring to one of our favourite madrigal hits Vestiva i colli, but also a metaphorical motto: "dressing up" the music with colours, diminutions, trilli, accenti ... (as the hills, the colli, in the original madrigal text are dressed up with flowers) in the balancing act of pure flexibility and absolute punctuality or momentum - creating spoken "words" with a minimal, reduced instrumentation and without actual sung text. Working in this minimal, fragile and intimate instrumental setting with lute, harp and recorders while trying to reach maximum expression is an absolute challenge and pure joy.'

LUX MUSICAE LONDON

Mijam-Luise M?nzel violin

Aileen Henry harp

Toby Carr lute