Yes it’s a humongous headline but it’s a perfect description of the concert I witnessed Saturday night at the Heliconian Hall, and the first time I’ve seen a performance by Diapente Renaissance Vocal Quintet.

Felix Deak joined Diapente for the event on Viola da Gamba.

It was truly a celebration of life right down to a beautiful program printed on a thicker card stock, that feels like a souvenir (and one I will keep for awhile).

The space was packed with an enthusiastic crowd. It felt like a happening, complete with buttons for the occasion.

This group knows how to have fun. We heard lots of beautiful music, one of the best concerts so far in 2026 as we were taught about John Dowland, a composer who died exactly 400 years ago.

Jonathan Stuchbery was our teacher & master of ceremonies, sometimes offering us background historical details about Dowland, his travels, the court of Elizabeth before seguing into performance as vocalist or in the occasional instrumentals.

Jonathan took us through Dowland’s life. We heard music that influenced him from abroad such as Claude le Jeune and Guillaume Tessier (the 3rd & 4th items) and then Italians Alessandro Orologio & Luca Marenzio (6th & 7th).

We were treated to a demonstration of a table book whereby four voices could all look on as they sang from the same page. Afterwards I asked to take a picture so that I could illustrate what they performed for us, around the table.

Notice that the alto is upside down and the bass sideways. In other words, the tenor and soprano would be on one side, opposite the alto and beside the bass.

In modern English, the piece is “Unquiet thoughts” rather than the “Nquiet thoughts” we see printed in this reproduction of the First Book of Songs or Ayres (1597).

Each of the members of the quintet had their moment to sing a solo. I was especially pleased by the ensemble singing of the quintet who blend wonderfully, staying in tune whether accompanied or not.

Towards the end we heard examples of Dowland’s influence, in pieces by Charles Tessier and Thomas Tomkins, before “Now O now I needs must past” as finale, with the well known “Come again” as their encore.

I was excited to hear that in November there is to be a further festival celebration of Dowland’s life to include other artists and a repeat of this concert “Time’s Eldest Son”. When I hear more I will share the details.