The Early Music Show - The Muiderkring

The Muiderkring or Muider Circle was a group of contributors to the arts and sciences in the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, when Dutch trade, science and art was among the most important in the world. Chief among this group was the historian, poet and playwright Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, who was appointed as Sheriff and Bailiff for the Gooiland, the area around Hilversum, in 1609, and was given a medieval moated castle to live in, the Muiderslot. Over the next four decades, he spent his summers there, entertaining house parties of distinguished friends from the worlds of art, music and philosophy. They discussed current affairs, read their poetry to each other, debated philosophical and moral issues and of course, made music. Hooft seems to have had impeccable taste and his guestlist reads like a who's who of the Dutch cultural elite: with the poets Caspar Barlaeus and Hooft's great friend Joost van den Vondel, the wealthy merchant and poet Pieter Roemers Visscher and Constantijn Huygens among the castlist. In today's Early Music Show, Catherine Bott investiges this mysterious cultural group. including: CAROLUS HACQUART Sonata X (from Harmonia Parnassia) Residentie Orchestra The Hague/Ton Koopman (conductor) Olympia OCD500 Track 11 P.C. HOOFT Rosemond, hoordij speelen noch singen?; Klaghte der Prinsesse van Oranjen: Schoon Prinsenoogh gewoon te flonkren Camerata Trajectina Globe GLO6026 Tracks 13 & 16 CONSTANTIJN HUYGENS Morte Dolce; Erravi, Domine Julia Gooding (soprano) Christopher Wilson (lute/theorbo) Metier METCD1051 Tracks 7 & 22 JAN PIETERSZOON SWEELINCK Variations on 'Mein junges Leben hat ein End' (On Small organ of the Oude Kirk) Matteo Imbruno Toccata Records TRR9907 Track 5 JACOB VAN EYCK Bockxvoetje; Questa dolce sirena (from Der Fluyten Lust-Hof) Marion Verbruggen (recorder) Harmonia Mundi HMX 2907350.51 Tracks 1-2 Segue BREDERO Goddinne die de naam...; VAN DEN VONDEL Vechtzangk, voor Joffrouw... Camerata Trajectina Globe GLO6026 Tracks 8 & 11 CORNELIS SCHUYT from Dodeci Padovane et Altretante Gagliarde... Residentie Orchestra The Hague/Ton Koopman (conductor) Olympia OCD500 Track 1-4 ANON Gallarde Faraboscho Camerata Trajectina Globe GLO6026 Tracks 19.