Constantijn Huygens, secretary to three Princes of Orange, was one of Hollands most important poets and musicians. When he died at the age of 90, he had written thousands of poems, owned more than 50 musical instruments and had composed more than 800 pieces! Most of his poems and song texts are about love and from his letters we learn that also in real life he was an expert on the subject…
Although almost all of his music got lost during the last centuries, fortunately we still have a beautiful collection of songs: ‘Pathodia Sacra et Profana’, and one instrumental piece for the viola da gamba. Huygens could play five different instruments but his favorite ones were the theorbo and the viola da gamba. In this program the songs will be accompanied by these two instruments and alternated by the only serviving instrumental piece and instrumental compositions from contempories.