Founded by Pedro Sousa Silva in 2011, Arte Minima is a project dedicated to the interpretation of music from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, with a particular focus on Portuguese music from this period. The ensemble’s working methods are based on models taken from academic research that seek to harness the Renaissance approach to study and musical interpretation and apply these tools to music-making in the 21st century. Our interpretative work is conducted directly from original source material without the mediation of modern transcriptions, and this philological perspective extends to all aspects of performance (theory, instruments, tuning, etc.) as part of an ongoing quest for a greater comprehension of the musical language of the past.
Arte Minima’s many concerts include participation at distinguished festivals including Festival Internacional de Música in Póvoa de Varzim, Temporada Música in São Roque, and Música na Primavera in Viseu, almost always with programmes featuring Portuguese works from the Renaissance, many of them in their first performance in modern times.
In 2021, the group completed the recording “In Splendoribus”containing 15 previously unpublished works associated with the musical activity at the cathedrals of Braga and Porto during the 16th century (with financial support from DRCN). Between 2022 and 2025 the group will produce three new recordings featuring music by Francisco de Santa Maria (with financial support from Fundação GDA and realised in association with CESEM-UNL) and the complete motets from Vicente Lusitano's Liber Primus Epigramatum (Rome 1551), with financial support from DGArtes and Caixa Cultura.
The group’s work has support from CESEM-P.Porto, ESMAE-IPP, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, PORTIC – Porto Research, Technology and Innovation Centre, Câmara Municipal do Porto, Fundação Caixa Geral de Depósitos and DRCN.
