Santa Maria, Sacred and Profane

Directed by Ann Allen

Mediva burst upon the world with an outstanding concert in the Radio Three "Early Music day" at the Royal Academy of Music They have since converted people up and down the country to their unique brand of medieval music.

The ten musicians sing and play using a wide range of medieval and arabic instruments including oud, saz, shawm, rebec, saltery harp and dumbec.

Medieval Spain was a melting pot of cultures. Western and Arabic civilizations existed side by side creating a diverse and cosmopolitan world. Beneath the Christian veneer of this music there lies peasant dance tunes, Arabic rhythms and exoticism you would not expect.

Mediva is joined by Radio Three actress Patience Tomlinson to present a foray into the lives and loves of medieval Spain.

"Jubilant, direct and skilfully raucous" Hampstead and Highgate Express.

"Like the Medieval Babes but much, much better" Recorder Magazine.