Esperance et Croyance: Hope and Belief in the French Middle Ages

In their SoHIP debut, Duo Tarasque presents music centered on the idea of Esperance (Lady Hope) so prominent in French Medieval thought. The famed Chantilly Codex, with songs by Cordier, Senleches, and their contemporaries, forms the backbone of the program, with a focus on the “En attendant” song cycle. These works, written in the ars subtilior style popular in the late 14th century, are among the most complex, thoughtful, and beautiful pieces to emerge from the Middle Ages. Their meditative melodies and heartfelt texts seamlessly connect Medieval ideals and our own modern need for hope. They are paired with songs of croyance (faith) that state the speaker's alternating beliefs that the world is broken and that better things are yet to come.

Duo Tarasque:
Luce Burrell, vielle, plectrum lute
Howell Petty, voice, Gothic harp