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The Muiderkring

Catherine Bott explores the Muiderkring, a group of the leading figures of cultural life in the Netherlands in the 17th century, who supposedly met at a castle near Amsterdam.

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 investigates this mysterious cultural group.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 11 Nov 2012 13:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Carolus Hacquart

    Sonata X (from Harmonia Parnassia)

    Performers: Residentie Orchestra The Hague, Ton Koopman (conductor)

    • OLYMPIA.
    • OCD 500.

  • P.C. Hooft

    Rosemond, hoordij speelen noch singen?; Klaghte der Prinsesse van Oranjen: Schoon Prinseno

    Performers: Camerata Trajectina

    • GLOBE.
    • GLO 6026.

  • Constantijn Huygens

    Morte Dolce; Erravi, Domine

    Performers: Julia Gooding (soprano), Christopher Wilson (lute/theorbo)

    • METRONOME.
    • METCD1051.

  • Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

    Variations on 'Mein junges Leben hat ein End'

    Performer: Matteo Imbruno (on small organ of the Oude Kirk)

    • TOCCATA RECORDS.
    • TRR9907.

  • Jacob van Eyck

    Bockxvoetje; Questa dolce sirena (from Der Fluyten Lust-Hof)

    Performer: Marion Verbruggen (recorder)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMX 2907350.51.

  • Bredero

    Goddinne die de naam…;

    Performers: Camerata Trajectina

    • GLOBE.
    • GLO 6026.

  • Van Den Vondel

    Vechtzangk, voor Joffrouw…

    Performers: Camerata Trajectina

    • GLOBE.
    • GLO 6026.

  • Cornelis Schuyt

    from Dodeci Padovane et Altretante Gagliarde…

    Performers: Residentie Orchestra The Hague, Ton Koopman (conductor)

    • OLYMPIA.
    • OCD 500.

  • Anon.

    Gallarde Faraboscho

    Performers: Camerata Trajectina

    • GLOBE.
    • GLO 6026.

  • Carolus Hacquart

    Sonata No.10 from Harmonia Parnassia

  • PC Hooft

    Rosemond, hoordij speelen noch singen?

  • PC Hooft

    Klaghte der Prinsesse van Oranjen: Schoon Prinsenoogh gewoon te flonkren

  • Constantijn Huygens

    Morte Dolce

  • Constantijn Huygens

    Erravi, Domine

  • Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

    Variations on Mein junges Leben hat ein End

  • Jacob van Eyck

    Bockxvoetje; Questa dolce sirena (from 'Der Fluyten Lust-Hof')

  • Bredero

    Goddinne die de naam...

  • Van den Vondel

    VechtZangk, voor Joffrouw...

  • Cornelis Schuyt

    Excerpt from 'Dodeci Padovane et Altretante Gagliarde'

  • Anon.

    Gallarde Faraboscho

Credit

Producer Sam Phillips

Broadcasts

  • Sat 15 Nov 2008 13:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Sun 28 Feb 2010 00:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Sun 11 Nov 2012 13:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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