To Baroque harpists, Luz y Norte is a detailed treatise on technique and fingering for the Spanish harp; to musicologists, a source of information on rhythmic interpretation and improvisatory practices that offers a completely new approach to continuo playing in Hispanic styles; to the CD listener, a 17th century compilation of dance-music from Spain, Italy, South America and Africa; and to the concert-goer, an exuberant stage-spectacle of song, dance, strumming guitars and percussion.

Luz y Norte was published by Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz in 1677 as a 'light and North Star' to guide you on a voyage of musical exploration. In the same way that Ribayaz instructs the musicians to improvise on the ground basses of the dance-music, dancer/guitarist Steve Player links together steps and figures from period dance-manuals in improvised choreographies ranging from the elegance of the Parisian 'Folies d'Espagne' to the exuberant 'Paradetas' and the mock heroic commedia dell'arte of the 'Torneo'.

Both the recording of Luz y Norte and the concert version of the programme combine detailed historical research with spontaneous improvisation, with the result that the stage-show changes constantly from one performance to another, giving Steve the flexibility to adapt his choreographies according to the possiblities of the venue. Current highlights include the dialogue between Pedro Estevan's drums and the stamps and slides of Steve's 'zapateado' footwork in the 'Canarios', as well as the tragicomic battle in which Steve simultaneously represents both sides of a duel to the death.

The Harp Consort's new Irish Baroque stage show, CAROLAN'S HARP, featuring dances, airs and laments by Turlough O'Carolan, is now on tour in Europe and the USA. See below for details.

FEB 97

11 Japan Tour: Gifu ALK La Harpe Royale
13 Japan Tour: Niigata ALK La Harpe Royale
14 Japan Tour: Tokyo ALK La Harpe Royale
15 Japan Tour: Chiba ALK La Harpe Royale

22 Edinbrugh THC A Spanish Humour

28 Bremen THC Carolan's Favourtie Jigg

28th Feb - Mar 2 Weekend Course
CAROLAN'S HARP
with Caitríona O'Leary, Steve Player and Andrew Lawrence-King
International Music Projects
Hochschule fuer Musik, BREMEN

MARCH 97

8  Teaching day at Boxgrove Priory, UK  ALK
9  Graz ALK La Harpe Royale

NORTH AMERICA  TOUR - CAROLAN'S HARP - THC
15 Boston
16 Colombia MD
17 Toronto
18 Mississippi
20 Morrow GA
21 Seattle
23 Los Angeles
24 Radio recording for St Paul Sunday Morning, Minnesota

APRIL 97

1  Boston, Apollo's Banquet (Douglass, O'Dette, ALK)
3 San Francisco, Apollo's Banquet
4-6 Apollo's Banquet recording

12 Vienna THC Exquisite Consorts
13-18 The Play of Daniel recording THC for DHM records
19 Aka ALK

22 Paris HXX

American tour HXX 'Arabic' programe
25 Boston
26 Washington
28 New York
30 Toronto

MAY 97

1 Milwaukee
3 Berkeley
4 La Jolla, San Diego
6 Mexico

10 Madrid THC Luz y Norte
13 Aka ALK
14 Lindau THC Luz y Norte
16 Stuttgart THC Luz y Norte
17 Berlin THC Luz y Norte
18 Regensburg THC Luz y Norte

21 Freiburg Han Tol & ALK
22 Munster HT/ALK
23 Oldenburg HT/ALK
24 Halle HT/ALK

28 Sydney Opera House, Australia THC Luz y Norte
29 Brisbane Biennial Festival ALK La Harpe Royale
30 Brisbane Biennial Festival THC Luz y Norte

JUNE 97

10-14 Bitter Ballads recording with Paul Hillier
15-21 Aston Magna Academy, Yale University
24-27 Leipzig, Joculatores medieval workshop

28 Leipzig THC Miracles

JULY 97

11 Cesky Krumlov THC Luz y Norte

Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Finland
14 ALK La Harpe Royale
15 THC Monteverdi 'Scherzi Musicale'
17 THC Monteverdi motets  'Il Ciel'
19 THC Monteverdi madrigals 'La Terra'
20 THC Monteverdi Ballo delle Ingrate 'L'Inferno'
21 THC Luz y Norte

Lacock Festival and Summer School
27 July - 1 August
Staged production:
Purcell DIDO & AENEAS
Continuo Workshop
ALK Concert: Carolan, Buxtehude, Bach



 

August: 
Dollart Festival
Medieval music in Florence
Utrecht Festival

September:
La Purpura de la Rosa (opera at the Utrecht festival)
Flanders Festival
US tour

October:
Berlin, Bremen, Utrecht, Helsinki

November:
ALK conducts Concerto Copenhagen
on debut UK tour

THC at the Wigmore Hall, London
19th November
LUZ Y NORTE

December:
Vivaldi Four Seasons 
THC/FBO

KEY to listings

ALK = Andrew Lawrence-King with ...

THC = The Harp Consort

Aka = Classes at the 
Akademie fuer Alte Musik,
Hochschule fuer Kunste, Bremen

HXX = Hesperion XX
ALK with Jordi Savall &  Montserrat Figueras