The Early Music Show - Dimitrie Cantemir

Lucie Skeaping profiles the extraordinary life and work of the polyglot Dimitrie Cantemir. Born in Moldavia in 1673, he became one of the foremost intellectuals of Eastern Europe. Scholar, Orientalist, composer, theorist, historian, and fleetingly Prince of Moldavia, he also was a virtuoso played of the tanbur, a long-necked lute. In 1710 Cantemir compiled 'The Book of the Science of Music', a collection of about 355 compositions, 9 of which were by Cantemir himself. This collection charted the theory and forms of 17th century Ottoman music, and was written in a notation also devised by Cantemir. The music in the programme includes several works form this book, and traditional music from the Ottoman world during this time, including recordings by Hesperion XXI.