More Concert Information

Our baroque concerts are all performed using the period instruments and styles applicable to the later Baroque period in the eighteenth century.

 

For our first concert, we are again in the lovely setting of Bosham Church. We welcome for the first time the renowned period trumpet player Crispian Steele-Perkins, who will be performing three works: the Suite from Purcell's Indian Queen, a work for trumpet and eight solo strings by Alessandro Stradella, and a concerto by the English contemporary of Handel, Rev. Richard Mudge, whose concertos the Consort has championed over many years. The first half concentrates on the late seventeenth century in England and Italy, while the second half consists of repertoire in the high Baroque period of the next fifty years, and includes Bach's famous Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 for nine solo strings.

 

Handel's Acis and Galatea is a favourite. More well known as a secular 'oratorio' with four-part choir and four soloists in the version by Joseph Barnby made in the 1870s, Acis and Galatea is in fact a delightful miniature, a Pastoral Entertainment (as it was first described) rather than a choral work. We are performing it as it would have been done by Handel at Cannons in 1718, with just five soloists - Galatea (soprano), her lover Acis (tenor) and the jealous giant Polyphemus (bass); there two supporting tenor roles as the shepherds Damon and Corydon, who each advise Acis and Polyphemus respectively.

The Consort of Twelve Chamber Ensemble – Gerry McDonald (woodwind), Kirstie Robertson, Judy Taylor (violins), Lynden Cranham and Jean Graham-Jones (cellos), Ian Graham-Jones (harpsichord) – present a concert of music by Handel, Telemann and Corelli. In addition less well-known composers are Nicola Haym (a cellist in Handel's opera orchestra), Francois Couperin and Chichester-born John Weldon complete the programme.

 

Catherine Martin Catherine Martin

For our final concert of the season in Boxgrove Priory we welcome back guest leader and soloist Catherine Martin, who will be performing the stunning virtuoso Violin Concerto in D Minor by Bach, the reconstruction of his harpspichord concerto No. 1, BWV 1052. We have our full wind complement for this programme - Gerry McDonald (flute and oboe), Debby England (oboe), Sophie Middleditch (flute and recorder) and Helen Hooker (recorder and bassoon), who join the Consort for works by Bach, Telemann and Fasch.