Jordi Savall and the famed ensemble Hespèrion XXI—which this week on Saint Paul Sunday includes soprano Monsterrat Figueras, their two children Arianna and Ferran Savall, and percussionist Pedro Estevan—make a warmly anticipated return visit. Though playing instruments with ancient-sounding names like viol da gamba, arpa doppio and tiorba, the emotional immediacy of their performances makes them sound composed in the moment. (They often are.) “There can be no museum for ancient music,” notes Mr. Savall. "Music exists only when you play it."

Program Details:

The ancient Hesperia and the Diaspora Sefardí

    * Anonymous Trecento manuscript: Lamento de Tristano

    * Jewish lullaby (Israel): Noumi, noum yaldatii

    * Traditional (Afghanistan): Nastaran

    * Sephardic (Turkey): La dama y el pastor

Poetry and Music

    * Arianna Savall (text: Miquel Martí i Pol): L'Amor

    * Traditional (Catalonian): La Cançó de Lladre

    * Traditional Bretagne (French): Gwerz

    * Traditional (Catalonian): El Testamen d’Amelia

Improvisations on Ostinato Songs and Dances

    * Santiago de Murcia (improvisation): Jota

    * Ferran Savall: Improvisation

    * Tarquinio Merula (1594-1665): Sentirete una canzonetta