Chelsey Belt

Lots of music has come down through the centuries with no listed author, requiring varying levels of historical forensics by scholars and performers wishing to sleuth out its origin. This hour on Harmonia, we’re exploring music with notorious and notoriously incorrect composer attributions.

From nerdy puns to cheeky double entendres, musicians have long used their medium to make light of themselves and the world around them. Join us this hour on Harmonia for a celebration of wordplay in music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries!

We’ve got our ear to the keyhole as our "Listening to Art" series explores sixteenth- and seventeenth-century images of music making in elite private spaces. We’ll take in a variety of sounds heard behind closed doors, from Jan Steen’s garden terrace to Henry VIII’s banquet hall.

If you’ve spent any time in the early European wing at your local art museum, you might have noticed just how musical religious art can be. This hour on Harmonia, join us for harmonies both heavenly and terrestrial as we imagine the soundscapes of angel concerts in medieval and Renaissance art.

Put on a sweater because this hour we’re touring the Nordic countries! Often left out of the discussion when it comes to early music, the regions of modern-day Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland have fascinating musical pasts. We’ll hear from bards and religious reformers, local musicians and imported celebrities.

Outside the early music community, Christmas music is one of few contemporary traditions that continues to rely on centuries-old tunes and texts. From the medieval English roots of the carol to Renaissance takes on enduring Christmas favorites, join us on Harmonia for more than five centuries of festive joy.

The longest and darkest of nights, the Winter Solstice has been observed across cultures with rituals and feasts celebrating the warmth of community and the return of the light. Nothing drives the cold winter away quite like a rousing tune, so join us this week for music in honor of the Winter Solstice.

Tired of jingle bells yet? This time of year, we are surrounded by Christmas music. Join us for something a little different, as we explore Christmas music of another age – the medieval! We’ll hear music from the Tallis Scholars, the Boston Camerata, and more.

When it comes to the early music of Britain, Tudor England tends to dominate the historical imagination. But there was plenty going on north of the border, as we’ll hear this hour. We’re exploring over five centuries of music in and about Scotland, so tune in for rarely heard gems from Celtic chant to heartfelt ballads and snappy dance tunes. Click title for playlist.

We’re celebrating the harvest season on Harmonia. From pumpkins and cool breezes to the more spiritual aspects of remembrance and mortality, we’ve got bushels of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century tunes to put you in an autumn mood.