Hespérion XXI has long been one of my favorite music ensemble. The group was formed in Basel, Switzerland in 1974 as Hespèrion XX by Catalan musical director Jordi Savall (bowed string instruments, particularly the viola da gamba), his wife Montserrat Figueras (soprano), Lorenzo Alpert (flute, percussion), and Hopkinson Smith (plucked string instruments). The ensemble is noted for its scholarship in early music, especially the music of 16th and 17th century of Spain and the Middle East. Their performance practice is noted for the liberal use of improvisation around the basic melodic and rhythmic structures of the early pieces, resulting in great emotional intimacy and immediacy. My aim of this project, was to broaden the target group of their audience to a younger one through the means of corporate design, and move away from the usual literary and acculturated preconception of early music through new visuals.
Alma, buscarte has en Mí,
y a Mí buscarme has en ti.De tal suerte pudo amor,
alma, en mí te retratar,
que ningún sabio pintor
supiera con tal primor
tal imagen estampar
Montserrat Figueras, “Alma, buscarte has en Mí”
