In today's fast-paced world, music has become an integral part of our daily lives, whether it's providing a soundtrack to our morning routine, keeping us company during our commute, lifting us out of an afternoon dip or setting the mood for a quiet evening at home. Many of us integrate music seamlessly into our daily routines, and will have playlists for many different occasions.
If we were to imagine how it would be to have a ‘live’ playlist, we will have arrived at the idea behind Ensemble Molière's recently-launched album, The King's Playlist.
During their research, Ensemble Molière discovered the compositions of Michel Richard Delalande (1657-1726). His Simphonies pour les soupers du Roy (Symphonies for the King’s Dinners) immediately captured their imagination and “inspired us to reimagine the spectacular music that acted as a soundtrack for King Louis XIV’s life.”
The ensemble set out to record a luxuriant and varied selection of French baroque music that accompanied the king’s daily life as he aspired to establish France’s artistic supremacy in Europe. Louis started the day with a musical premiere when going to mass at the Royal Chapel. The Chapel Music choir, famous throughout Europe, performed a new piece every day. During Louis’ record 72-year reign, music flourished at Versailles.
You can read more about the inspiration for the album, and listen to the music. We also love the artwork by Gisela Gayleard, an illustrator known for her unique approach to visual storytelling, which she terms as "inky narratives." Her work includes elements of history, folklore, nature, and character design.
The concept of curated playlists tailored to specific times of the day is popular (and far more feasible these days). Inspired by Ensemble Molière's album, our latest curated playlist consists of pieces reflecting moments and moods throughout the day. We certainly had fun putting the list together, enjoying Bach’s Ei! Wie schmeckt der Kaffee süße, lieblicher als tausend Küsse (Ah! How sweet the coffee tastes, sweeter than a thousand kisses), Haydn’s Clock, reminding us of the passage of time, and Telemann’s Tafelmusik (“table music”), perfect to accompany lunch. The pieces chosen for this playlist are designed to take you through the day, starting with ethereal Hildegard von Bingen and ending with Trios pour le coucher du roi (the King’s bedtime ceremony) by Ensemble Molière.
And if you would like to add some live music to your daily soundtrack, then recent shifts in concert scheduling have certainly made concerts more accessible to a wider audience. Shorter, one-hour performances, often scheduled earlier in the evening or during lunchtime, accommodate the hectic schedules of modern life. You might wish to consider taking off the headphones and taking in some live music during your day!
Browsing through the upcoming concerts on Continuo Connect, there are many options for adding some live music to your daily routine. Below are a few examples:
For the early birds, Ensemble Augelletti kicks off the day at 10am on 25th May as part of the Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival, focusing their musical lens on a curious and well-connected local clergyman and musician
the Surrey Hills International Festival hosts the Portrait Players at 12:30pm on 7th May with music from Italian Women composers of the 17th century
Handel and Hendrix House in London hosts regular recital matinees at 1pm
Bellot Ensemble takes to the stage with Dido & Aeneas at 2pm on 6th April in Northrepps (part of the Overstrand Festival of Early Music)
Plumstead welcomes the Consone Quartet together with French horn player Anneke Scott for a programme of Mozart at 4pm on 21st April
Fretwork’s concert My Days at Saffron Hall will start at 7:30pm with music by Orlando Gibbons and Nico Muhly
We are spoiled for choice with all the glorious music to be discovered through Continuo Connect - what will you add to your personal ‘soundtrack’?
Through the Day - playlist on Continuo Connect (also available on Spotify)
Until the next time,
Kirsten and the Continuo Team