On Wednesday, the 23rd of October, the Church of the Convent of Santa Clara will be centre stage for the 13th International Organ Festival of Madeira. This event is promoted by the Regional Secretariat for Economy, Tourism, and Culture through the Regional Directorate for Culture.
In a press release, performers, André Ferreira (organ) and Maria Bayley (harp and voice) write:
“Tomorrow’s performance is set during the second half of the sixteenth century in the Iberian Peninsula where the harp gradually joins the organ – king of instruments – in the role of accompanist of both liturgical and secular music.
The harp, of which several original examples are still found and which was used in Spain and Portugal, maintained its importance until the beginning of the eighteenth century.
