Reyk­javík Early Mu­sic Fest­ival: Sirens and Sol­diers - songs without words

Dive deep into the captivating sound of seventeenth-century music with Sirens and Soldiers, a program inspired by the newly released album by Concerto Scirocco. This concert invites you to discover a time when instruments were entrusted with the power to narrate, evoke emotions, and paint vivid images—just like the human voice.

Long before the Romantic era defined the Lied as a genre for voice and accompaniment, composers of the late Renaissance and early Baroque sought to "make the instrument speak." They created symphonies, canzonas, dances, fantasias, and diminutions, all with the goal of stirring the affections and moving the listener. As the Venetian theorist Silvestro Ganassi wrote in 1535, music can imitate the wonders of nature and mankind, reflecting the beauty of the world even in the absence of words.

In Sirens and Soldiers, Concerto Scirocco brings to life the rhetorical and virtuosic wonders of instrumental music from this flourishing period. The programme delves into the deep connections between music and the other arts—poetry, narrative, and painting—showcasing the ingenuity of composers who harnessed the expressive power of their instruments to captivate and inspire.

Join us for an unforgettable journey into the expressive heart of the seventeenth century, where the voices of sirens and soldiers echo through the strings and winds of masterful musicianship.

Duration of concert approx. 70 mins, and without intermission.