Programmes for 2008/9

Pavans, Galliards and Lusty Lute Songs:

music from the time of Shakespeare

sung and played on lutes, viols and recorders.

This programme includes songs and dances from the plays, with readings to put them in context, with Christine Jones, soprano

Music by John Dowland, William Byrd, and Robert Johnson

4 performers


‘Brittania Triumphans’: English music from Byrd to Handel

This programme includes music by William Byrd, John Dowland and Thomas Morley from the Renaissance, and Henry Purcell and Handel from the Baroque.

3 performers


‘All the instruments that ever there were’

This programme is designed to show off the range of instruments we play! : flutes, recorders, viols, guitars, mandore, lute, and theorbo

Part 1 – Renaissance


Part 2 – Baroque


3 performers


‘A Tale of Two Cities’: Music from the courts of Louis XIV in France and the English Kings in London

This concert explores the intertwining of English and French courtly culture and musical styles from the early 17th to the early 18th centuries. From the 17th century we play English lute music by John Dowland, solos for bass viol by Louis Grabu, ‘Frenchified’ dances by Playford and a suite by Henry Purcell. From the 18th century we include a suite by Montéclair for flute and continuo (theorbo and bass viol), a trio sonata by Boismortier, and a recorder sonata by James Paisible.

3 performers


À la mode de France : a concert of French music by Hotteterre, Marais, Boismortier, Gaultier and Corbetta performed on Baroque flute, theorbo, early guitar and bass viol, with witty and risqué readings!

3 performers


‘Green groweth the holly!’ : Christmas Music from Centuries Past Songs by William Byrd, Thomas Weelkes and Thomas Arne, mediaeval carols, extracts from Bach’s cantatas and Christmas Oratorio, and popular tunes by Playford and Purcell. This programme ends with a carol such as ‘In dulci jubilo’, for which the audience is invited to join in.

4 performers


This page last updated 24 December 2007