To Shorten Winter's Sadness: 16th and 17th Century music, words and song for Christmas and Winter.

The programme consists of ballads, lutesongs, carols, consort music, madrigals and readings and follows the religious calendar from Advent to the beginning of Lent. It also describes many of the festive customs of the time, with feasts and revels through the cold of winter, and fairs upon the frozen river.

Includes music by Byrd, Gibbons, Weelkes, Hume, Peerson and East and readings from Shakespeare, Stow, Herrick and Evelyn.

Performed in Elizabethan costume by Passamezzo

• Eleanor Cramer (Soprano, Bass Viol)
• Chris Goodwin (Lute, Gittern, Bass)
• Alison Kinder (Viols, Recorders)
• Tamsin Lewis (Violin, Viols, Alto)
• Michael Palmer (Actor, Baritone)