Passamezzo Early Music Ensemble – UK

Passamezzo Early Music Ensemble – UK

  1. What is it that you do or sell? Passamezzo Early music ensemble. We sell recordings (CD or download) and music books.
  2. Where are you located? London, England.

3 What got you interested in starting out in this business? I’ve been fascinated by history, particularly the Tudor period since childhood. I’m not sure what started me off, but possibly visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum with my parents from the age of 5. I come from a musical family, and discovered early music when I was 9 or 10, but mostly played classical music until I went to Kentwell Hall and found other people with the same passion.

Many of the original members of the ensemble met at Kentwell, playing at the recreations there, and then realised that we could make a living doing what we love. Researching appropriate English music for the Kentwell year (a specific year from 1487-1605, changing annually) helped me find material for my books.

Gather round the round table to do a round of music – Passamezzo – photo by Eric Richmond
  1. When did you start selling or performing? We formed Passamezzo in 2001. A combination of musicians and actors, playing in costume.
  2. What is your local faire or home faire? We don’t really have faires here, but I’ve been part of the Tudor reenactments at Kentwell Hall for nearly 30 years. Until the pandemic hit, many members of the ensemble also worked at Hampton Court and the Tower of London.
  3. Do you travel and if so, how far will you go? I mostly perform in the UK, but have played in Morocco and Latvia, and will go wherever the work is.
  4. What advice do you have to give to others that are just starting out in this business? Go for it!
  5. What would you say (nicely) to a faire manager or owner? To the owner of Kentwell, I would say thank you for providing a wonderful place for like minded history geeks and musicians to play together and discover new things.
  6. What is your set up for your booth/ or what do you have for a set (music/performance?)

Our standard lineup for concerts is: Eleanor Cramer: soprano/bass viol; Richard de Winter: actor/baritone; Robin Jeffrey: lute/guitar/cittern; Alison Kinder: viols, recorders; Tamsin Lewis: violin/viols/alto

We have a number of concert programmes in repertoire:

They that in ships unto the sea down go: music for the Mayflower

Old Christmas returned: Christmas celebrated, banned and restored in 17th Century England.

In Peascod Time: 16th and 17th Century music, words and song for Summer and the Harvest

The battle between Shrovetide and Lent

This merry pleasant Spring.

The King’s Delight: music, words and song for the Restoration

Passamezzo in Morocco – no credit
  1. Do you do this all year long or do you just do it once a year? All the time. A mixture of live performances, tv and film, heritage, research and teaching.
  2. Describe your first experience with us or your best experience (could be worst experience if you want to share that) So many. We somehow end up doing a lot of strange gigs. I think one of my favourite projects has been playing in Morocco on an intercultural project where we teamed up with Moroccan Sufi musicans Ensemble Mogador Chant et Musique Soufie, and combined English Renaissance music with Moroccan Sufi Chant. Playing in beautiful places and learning new skills.
  1. Plug your website or fan page here (or both)

Passamezzo http://www.passamezzo.co.uk/

Bandcamp https://passamezzo.bandcamp.com/

Books https://www.rondopublishing.co.uk/product-category/tamsin-lewis-passamezzo-editions/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Passamezzo

Youtube [please subscribe!] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpQK1ehIIykjVNE94Eu4Hqw

Passamezzo – Photo credit Eric Richmond

A/N I’d like to thank Passamezzo for letting me interview them. How interesting! I feel like I just saw royalty right in front of my eyes all the way from my little place here in New England. I hope you check them out!

If you, your troupe, your group or vending group would like to be featured, please reach out to us on http://www.facebook.com/renperfmerch and send us a message and we will get back to you with a document to fill out!

MERRY MEET, MERRY PART, and MERRY MEET AGAIN!

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