Delerium! (The Darker Side of Dancing)

Dancing, so often an effusive outpouring of joy and facilitator of social bonds, has a darker side into which Amyas delve in this performance. From hysterical epidemic of estampies sweeping Europe in the 14th C, the 13th C pied-piper luring away unsuspecting children, to the balletic balm for the bite of the despotic tarantula in the 15th C and the ubiquitous ‘dance of death’ in which humans are all entwined, this programme invites a different way of perceiving the often mesmerising and infectious nature of many surviving medieval dances. Featuring a spellbinding mix of spoken word, surviving dance melodies, and Amyas’s own constructed dance forms using other medieval musical sources.

Emily Baines - Recorders, Vocals, Simphonie, Bagpipes
Arngeir Hauksson - Gitterns, Lutes, Percussion, Vocals
Alexis Bennett - Vielle, Vocals
Ali Rafiee - Oud, Percussion

Amyas are a period instrument group specialising in exuberant performances of historical repertoire. All of the group members are specialists in the historically informed performance, with many leading the way in cutting-edge research into earlier practices. The group are committed to an understanding of history but also to embracing the 21st century and new possibilities for performance spaces and techniques. Similarly, they are passionate both about discovering unknown early sources and also improvisation and composition. Their performances range from the well-loved classics of the eighteenth century (imbued with their typical flair of course!) to electronic manipulation of medieval songs and dances - and everything in between.

Part 1: Frenzy
Spoken texts include our words and freely translated period sources including those of Nicolas Perotti (1429-80) and other historical annals. These describe the effects of the Dancing Mania of 1374 (the earliest outbreaks of which we have accounts) and Tarantism, the spider's bite which could only be cured by dancing!
Chominciamento di Gioia Anon (14th C Italian)
Ingrata Anon (15th C Italian)
La Manfredina/Rotta Anon (14th C Italian)
Salterello Anon (14th C Italian)

Part 2: Seduction and Deception
Spoken texts include extracts from The Wyf of Bath's Tale, by Geoffrey Chaucer and the earliest English translation of the Tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelyn, in 'A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence' by Richard Verstegan. The events in the story were recorded as taking place in 1376.
Ce Rondelet Johannes Reson
Bel Fiore Dança Anon (15th C Italian)
La Tierche Estampie Roial Anon (13th C French)
Dança Amoroso Anon (14th C Italian)

Part 3: The Dance of Death
Spoken and sung texts include poetry/lyrics connected with John Lydgate's 'Dance of Death' (c.1426), his version of the French 'Daunce Machabré' which he had written following his encounter with the mural in the Cimetière des Innocents in Paris, completed in 1425.
Ad Mortem Festinamus (+ Estampie) Anon (14th C Spanish)
Kyrie Eleison (Plainchant)
Dance of Death Lydgate
Belicha Anon (14th C Italian)