Satyr’s Band presents a complete masque arranged by Andreas Böhlen. Inspired by 17th century English masques, their performance incorporates masks and costumes designed and made by Lisa Goldberg.
English Masque Dances
The masque as a genre grew out of various court entertainments and folk customs. It flourished during the reigns of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs, and yet almost immediately became obsolete during the British Civil War as a result of the challenge to the monarchy. A masque was a spectacle performed at court or at the manor of a member of the nobility; its purpose was to glorify the court or a particular aristocrat. The masque included diverse artistic elements at different stages in its development but invariably included choreographed dances by masked performers; members of the nobility were often participants.
Unfortunately no complete score for a court masque has survived. What is clear is that a masque involved works by several composers such as Matthew Locke, alongside well-known, anonymous tunes which could accompany dances in the court. Satyrs Band takes many surviving, fragmentary pieces from the genre and combines them to present a Masque of their own. In the manner of 17th century England, the written material is used as a basis for their own arrangements, improvisations and diminutions. Even though the arrangements may seem estranged from the written musical material, the moment of improvisation brings both the listener and the musician close to the spirit of this particular music. Knowing that the preserved musical material has probably rarely been played simply in its written form can only underline this approach.