Group of six diverse adults, mostly women, with musical instruments including a violin, drums, and an oud, smiling and posing for a photo.
Logo of the San Francisco Early Music Society with yellow background and orange banner, text reads 'The San Francisco Early Music Society presents'.
Red background with the title 'In Bocca al Lupo' in large white script font, subtitle 'Mundus Inversus' in gold, and the phrase 'The World Turned Upside Down' in white on black.

Virtual Program

Program Booklet (PDF)

Images of the Sibylline Prophecy

The Sibylline Prophecy manuscript, preserved in the Bibliothèque Interuniversitaire de Médecine in Montpellier, France, dates to the 13th century but is rooted in a tradition of prophetic texts that spans back to the 10th century and earlier. These writings, attributed to the Sibyls—ancient female prophets—blend classical pagan themes with emerging Christian ideas. The illuminated illustrations within the manuscript not only enhance its mystical appeal but also reflect the medieval fascination with prophecy and divination.

Illustration showing two figures, one sitting on a throne and the other standing nearby, with a fire between them, surrounded by handwritten medieval German text.

A 16th-century woodcut depicts the Cumaean Sibyl (Amalthea) burning some of the Sibylline books, with Tarquin observing the scene.

Roman de Fauvel: A Literary and Musical Milestone

Illuminated manuscript page featuring a central illustration of a seated figure with a lion's face and human body, wearing a crown, with two lions at the figure's sides. The page has decorative borders with some texts and sketches of birds around the illustration.

11r

Roman de Fauvel (French for "Romance of Fauvel") is a significant French poem by Gervais du Bus, valued for its literary quality and its importance in music history. The poem critiques contemporary political and religious abuses, centering on its protagonist, Fauvel, a fawn-colored stallion. The letters of his name represent the initials of the cardinal sins.

A manuscript of the poem, dated 1316 and lavishly illuminated, is preserved at the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. This manuscript includes 130 musical works interspersed within the narrative, forming a rich anthology that spans over 150 years. Some pieces are presented in their original form, others have been adapted for the poem, and some were likely composed specifically for it. Among these works are five pieces by the French composer Philippe de Vitry, which are among the earliest examples of music in the Ars Nova style, a movement that Vitry helped to establish.

Medieval illuminated manuscript with two illustrations. The left depicts a group of people with a donkey, and the right shows another group with a donkey, both scenes surrounded by decorative borders.

2r

Medieval illustration of a woman with long hair seated with three women, talking to a man with a horse head, dressed in medieval clothing.

14r

A medieval manuscript illustration depicting a seated figure with a lion's head, flanked by two men pointing at the figure.

26r

A medieval manuscript illumination depicting a humanoid lion dressed in purple robes, standing outdoors between two trees with birds, holding a scroll in one hand and a stick in the other, with decorative borders and text.
Medieval manuscript page with illuminated miniatures and handwritten music and text. Top right depicts a seated angel with wings and a crown, speaking to a kneeling figure with a crown. Bottom left shows two kneeling figures with crowns, one speaking to the other, all within decorative arches.

26v

28bis-v

Medieval illuminated manuscript illustration depicting four crowned figures, two kneeling on lion-like creatures, engaging in a religious scene, with decorative gothic arches and musical notes along the bottom.

28ter-v

A medieval manuscript illustration depicting a knight on horseback fighting an opponent, with other armored knights and figures inside gothic arches and decorated borders.

40r

Carmina Burana: A Glimpse into Medieval Poetry

Medieval manuscript illustration depicting a seated monarch at the center with a crown and scepter, surrounded by four smaller scenes featuring different figures, one riding a horse, another with a spear, and others engaged in various activities. The page has Latin text and decorative initials.

The Wheel of Fortune from Carmina Burana

Carmina Burana is a 13th-century manuscript, written in 1230 by two scribes in early gothic minuscule on 119 sheets of parchment. Bound into a small folder known as the Codex Buranus, the text was partially disordered during binding, with some pages likely lost.

The manuscript contains eight miniatures, including The Wheel of Fortune, symbolizing fate; The Forest, depicting nature's allure; a pair of lovers; scenes from the story of Dido and Aeneas; a scene of drinking beer; and three scenes of gaming with dice, tables, and chess. Each image reflects the vibrant spirit and themes of this significant medieval collection, now housed in the Bavarian State Library in Munich.

Colorful illustration of trees, animals, and plants in a stylized, decorative style with intricate patterns and vibrant colors.

The Forest from the Carmina Burana

Ad Mortem Festināmus: A Reflection on Death and Redemption

Ad Mortem Festināmus is a monodic song featured on folio 26v of the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, a manuscript dating back to 1399. The lyrics explore the inevitability of death and urge listeners to abandon sinful behaviors. Interestingly, the initial verses of this piece share similarities with “Scribere Proposui,” a song from the 1582 collection Piae Cantiones.

This haunting melody has been interpreted by various artists, notably the electronic neo-medieval group Qntal, which transformed the original lyrics into a club hit in 1992, merging medieval themes with modern musical styles. Below are images and recordings that highlight the significance and artistic impact of this powerful composition.

An illuminated historical manuscript featuring musical notation and Latin text on the left page, and a colored illustration of a human skeleton in a coffin on the right page.

Image from Ad Mortem Festināmus ("To Death We Hurry") manuscript.

Red background with white text reading 'Up Next'

One week—Two unforgettable ensembles you won't want to miss!

Group of seven people dressed in black, posing on stairs in front of a dark metal wall.

Special Event: Quicksilver • March 24

Early Moderns: Extravagant New Music from the Seventeenth Century

Experience Quicksilver's captivating "Early Moderns" program, showcasing the emotional depth and musical innovations of the early modern period in a special one-night performance.

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PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN TICKETS
A diverse group of musicians, including women and men, holding various musical instruments such as a violin and a cello, standing side by side.

Ensemble Affect • March 28–30

Home Away from Home

Discover "Home Away from Home," where Baroque composers blend cultures and reflect modern immigrant stories. Experience timeless music that transcends borders!

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PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN TICKETS

Explore the rest of the season!

Event poster for 'In Bocca al Lupo' with portraits of five musicians, details of the event from February 28 to March 2 in Palo Alto, Berkeley, and San Francisco.
A group of seven formally dressed people, six men and one woman, sitting and squatting on a white staircase in front of a metal door, promoting a special event for Quicksilver featuring early modern music from the seventeenth century, scheduled for M
Promotional poster for an ensemble music event featuring seven diverse musicians with various instruments. Title: Ensemble Affect, Subtitle: Home Away from Home, Dates: March 28-30, Locations: Palo Alto, Berkeley, San Francisco.
An advertisement for Ensemble Constantinople, a music group, shows three men holding traditional instruments, standing in a historic-looking corridor with arched ceilings. The event is scheduled for May 9-11 in Palo Alto, Berkeley, and San Francisco.