Repertoire

Songs: our constantly growing repertoire includes:

A Lieta Vita (Giovanni Gastoldi)
Amarilli (Guilio Caccini)
Amor Ch'Attendi (Caccini)
Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie (Thoinot Arbeau)
Canto, Canto, Festa, Festa (Andrea Gabrieli)
Come Again, Sweet Love (John Dowland)
Donna da Vostri Sguardi (Luca Marenzio)
Fuggi, Fuggi, Fuggi (Giuseppino)
Gush Forth
La Sirena (Giovanni Gastoldi)
Now Is the Month of Maying
O Occhi, Manza Mia (Orlando di Lasso)
Si J'yame
So Ben Mi Ch'Ha Bon Tempo (Orazio Vecchi)
Sweet Nymphe, Come to Thy Lover (Thomas Morley)
This Love Is But a Wanton Fit (Morley)
Three Country Dances (Thomas Ravenscroft)
Ti Partir Cor Mio Caro (Filippo Azzaiolo)
Tutto Lo Mal Che Va Facendo Amore (Giovanni de Antiquis)
Wie Schon Bluht uns der Maien
Instrumental Renaissance pieces

Stage show:

musical pieces (primarily sung in Italian and English, both a cappella and accompanied)
witty dialogue including a short, humorous poetry duel between two courtesans
lively period dancing

Music: our members include an accomplished harper, talented singers, and percussion players. We often perform with the New Queens Ha'Penny Consort, a 16th century musical ensemble.

Improvisational street theater in character with participants and customers. We are experienced in gigging and performing with a number of different faire groups, from court to peasant, including focused experience performing with the Guild of St. George (English court).

Research background in:

Italian accent and language
16th c. Italian, English, and French Renaissance music
16th c. Venetian clothing of courtesans and noblewomen
Female poets of 16th c. Italy
Classical texts with which an educated courtesan would have been familiar
Languages a courtesan might have spoken or studied (French, Latin, etc.)
Sumptuary laws in Venice and England (as they relate to foreign visitors)

Costumes: our costumes (made by Bella Donna members), historically accurate reproductions of 1560s-70s upper class Venetian clothing, have won numerous awards:

Kendra Van Cleave's Caterina costume was featured in the Italian Showcase at the Realm of Venus, where it run the runner-up award, 2009.
Kendra Van Cleave's Angelica costume was featured in the Italian Showcase at the Realm of Venus, where it won the Golden Rose Award (1st place) in the Italian Showcase of the Year Awards' post-1550 category, 2006.
Jennifer Erlichman's Lucrezia costume was featured in the Italian Showcase at the Realm of Venus, where it won the Copper Rose Award (3rd place) in the Italian Showcase of the Year Awards' post-1550 category, 2006.
Jwlhyfer de Winter's Seresina costume won Best in Class, Master, Interpretation in the historical masquerade at Costume Con 22; and was featured in the Italian Showcase at the Realm of Venus, where it won the Golden Rose Award (1st place) in the Italian Showcase of the Year Awards, 2003.

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All text and images (C) Bella Donna Venetian Courtesans

Last updated 23 August 2011