Programmes for spring and summer

‘All in a Garden Green’ – a delightful evocation of summer in music and readings.

Bach and the Italian temperament

Handel and other visitors to London

Bach bites with Italian seasoning

The Mediterranean temperament

Fairest Isle - English music from Purcell to Handel

Ring-a-Ring o'Roses

(Promoters - to make the occasion really special, why not extend the interval to include wine or even a buffet, or end an afternoon performance with tea or a glass of wine? The audience could even bring a picnic!)

Programmes for autumn and winter

A coffee house concert from 18th-century Leipzig

All the World's a Stage

Jenny pluck pears

‘Nowell sing we!’ - Music from Christmas past

London welcomes the young Mozart: a snapshot of the year 1765

All in a Garden Green’ – a delightful evocation of summer in music and readings.

John Playford’s dance tune provides the title for this light-hearted celebration of birdsong, flowers and romance. Songs include ‘Sweeter than Roses’, and the Masque of the Seasons from The Fairy Queen by Purcell. We also perform the marvellous cantata Le berger by Montéclair with its evocative pastoral atmosphere, and tunes from The Bird Fancyer’s Delight played on a lovely golden sopranino recorder.
5 performers

Bach and the Italian temperament

This exciting concert features JS Bach at his most Italian – with music by real Italians for comparison! The centre-piece is Bach’s wonderful Italian Concerto for solo harpsichord, and we also include one of his unaccompanied cello suites, and arias with solo instruments. The programme ends with part of the well-known Advent cantata Wachet auf! The Italian pieces include a recorder concerto by Alessandro Scarlatti and the thrilling trio sonata La Follia by Vivaldi for two violins and continuo.
5 performers

Handel and other visitors to London

This varied and humorous programme brings alive the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Georgian England, and has strong audience appeal. It features tuneful cantatas and a flute solo by Handel, songs by Pepusch and De Fesch written for the Marylebone Gardens, a harpsichord solo by Dieupart, and a cello sonata by Bononcini. Readings illustrate the transformation of English attitudes to foreigners from suspicion to admiration.
6 performers

Bach bites with Italian seasoning

A variety of orchestral pieces by Bach and Vivaldi, including a Brandenburg Concerto, combine with glorious concertos for trumpet, flute or violin. These are balanced with a Corelli concerto grosso, songs and organ solos as appropriate. This provides a stunning and unique programme which has been well received by audiences.
8 performers (with extra soloists as required)

The Mediterranean temperament

This fascinating programme evokes the warmth and colour of the high baroque period from France, Italy and Spain. It includes part of Couperin’s famous ‘La Piémontoise’ from Les nations for flute and violin, a charming cantata by Montéclair, and songs by Carissimi and Marcello. Corelli’s La Follia variations, a cello sonata by Vivaldi and harpsichord sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti complete the programme.
5 or 6 performers (second violinist optional)

Fairest Isle - English music from Purcell to Handel

All the vigour of late 17th-century England comes to life in songs by Purcell and Locke, a suite from The Fairy Queen and a medley of Playford’s popular songs. After the interval, a cantata by Handel contrasts with flute and violin sonatas by Arne and Stanley. We conclude with Arne’s delightful settings of Shakespeare songs.
6 perfomers

Ring-a-Ring o'Roses

Lots of fun for all the family: a programme recreating the spirit of Old England on old instruments ... but in a new way! Nursery rhymes, popular songs, sea shanties, dances and 17th-century theatre tunes, with amusing stories and nonsense verses. Fast, furious and fun!

A Coffee House Concert from 18th-century Leipzig

In this concert we capture the spirit of a concert given in Zimmerman’s coffee house in Bach's own day. Join us for music by Telemann, Handel, Nicholas Bernier and JS Bach himself – with coffee and cakes, of course! (To be supplied at the discretion of the promoter)
5 performers : Baritone singer /violin, Baroque flute/ recorder, Baroque violin/viola, Baroque ‘cello, Harpsichord

All the World’s a Stage

with Clive Mendus or Peter Luke Kenny, actor
A programme exploring Shakespeare’s use of music and musical imagery. Settings of lyrics from the plays, and instrumental pieces, including music by Robert Johnson, Locke, Purcell, Arne and Dibdin. Speeches and dialogue place the music in its dramatic context – serious, lyrical and humorous by turns.
6 performers: Actor, Baritone singer /violin, Baroque flute/ recorder/viol, Baroque violin, Baroque ‘cello/viol, Harpsichord

Jenny pluck pears

A programme of music and readings for autumn, inspired by falling leaves, haymaking and Halloween! To include an exciting trio sonata for violins by Vivaldi, the Masque of the Seasons from Purcell’s The Fairy Queen and a lively recorder sonata by Telemann.
5 performers

Nowell sing we! - Music from Christmas past

This very popular programme includes baroque concertos, such as ‘Winter’ from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons or Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, mediaeval carols with viols, and original versions of well-known Christmas carols. Promoters may wish to offer mulled wine and mince pies, and to hold the concert by candlelight.
7/8 performers : Baritone singer /violin, Baroque flute/ recorder/viol, Baroque violin, Baroque violin/viola, Baroque ‘cello/viol, Bass, Harpsichord

London welcomes the young Mozart: a snapshot of the year 1765

A programme of works written by Mozart on his visit to London (1764-5) and by his contemporaries – Storace, Galuppi and Sammartini. We include works for string quartet, flute, tenor and continuo, and harpsichord solo a by Mozart himself, with some English works by Giardini and Thomas Linley for good measure.
6 performers: Baritone singer /violin, Baroque flute, Baroque violin, Baroque violin/viola, Baroque ‘cello, Harpsichord