Musica Secreta is a classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of music by female composers of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The ensemble was founded in 1990 by Deborah Roberts and Laurie Stras, both of whom are musicologists and performers. The group is based in the United Kingdom and has gained international recognition for its innovative and historically informed performances. The founding of Musica Secreta was inspired by the discovery of a manuscript in the British Library that contained music by a female composer named Raffaella Aleotti. This discovery led Roberts and Stras to investigate the role of women in music during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and they soon realized that there were many other female composers whose music had been overlooked or forgotten. The ensemble's name, Musica Secreta, is a reference to the fact that much of the music written by women during this time was performed in private, rather than in public. The group's mission is to bring this music to a wider audience and to challenge the traditional narrative of music history, which has often marginalized the contributions of women. The core members of Musica Secreta are Deborah Roberts (director, harpsichord, and organ), Laurie Stras (violin and voice), Tessa Bonner (soprano), and Caroline Trevor (viola da gamba). The ensemble also collaborates with a number of other musicians, depending on the repertoire being performed. One of the highlights of Musica Secreta's career was the release of their album Lucrezia Borgia's Daughter: Princess, Nun, Musician, which featured music by Raffaella Aleotti. The album received critical acclaim and was named one of the top classical albums of 2016 by The Guardian. The ensemble has also performed at a number of prestigious venues, including the Wigmore Hall in London and the Utrecht Early Music Festival in the Netherlands. In addition to their performances, Musica Secreta is also involved in research and scholarship related to women in music. The ensemble has published a number of articles and book chapters on the subject, and they have also collaborated with other scholars and musicians to organize conferences and workshops. Musica Secreta has received a number of awards and honors for their work, including the prestigious Noah Greenberg Award from the American Musicological Society. The award recognized the ensemble's contributions to the field of early music and their commitment to bringing the music of women composers to a wider audience. Overall, Musica Secreta is a pioneering ensemble that has made significant contributions to the field of early music and to the recognition of women composers. Through their performances, research, and advocacy, they have challenged traditional narratives of music history and helped to create a more inclusive and diverse understanding of the past.

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