Here for your convenience you can find a list of events in our region not organised by MEMF which may be of interest to you. Whilst we have made every effort to be accurate, we suggest that you check details on the websites or phone numbers provided.
If you are aware of an event which is not listed here, please contact the Newsletter Editor
You might like to also visit the brilliant Early Music Website at https://earlymusicdiary.org.uk where you will find nationwide events organized into categories to assist your search.
And the Continuo Foundation’s new digital hub – a comprehensive concert finder of early music events (by region) across the UK – is at https://www.continuoconnect
Diary of Events in the Midlands
# Denotes an online event
Recent additions in Red
APRIL
Thurs 16 – Sat 18: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas: a vibrant new productionwith a new prologue by visionary director Seb Carrington – Castle Baroque Players. 7.30 – 9 at St Andrew’s Church, Jarram Street, Leicester. Tickets available at: www.ticketsource.com/castle-baroque-players, or on the door.
Thurs 16: The Choral Pilgrimage: Spanish renaissance, Macmillan and Briggs – the Sixteen. 7.30 in Southwell Minster. https://thesixteen.com
Fri 17: The Choral Pilgrimage: Spanish renaissance, Macmillan and Briggs – the Sixteen. 7.30 in Derby Cathedral. https://thesixteen.com
Fri 17: Of Angels and Avatars – launch of an exciting new Medieval music groupGreen Dragon Guild of London: David de Winter (tenor), Richard de Winter (baritone), Dr Leah Stuttard (medieval harps) Juliette Primrose (vielles) and David Yardley (countertenor & composer). Read about them here. 7.30 at Holy Sepulchre Church, Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1A 2DQ.
Sat 18: Handel’s Sampson – Southwell Choral Society with Musical & Amicable Society. 7.30 in Southwell Minster. https://www.amicables.co.uk Sat 18: Heaven and Earth – Northwick Baroque. 7pm at Linton St Mary, Herefordshire. Free with retiring collection. Details at https://www.facebook.com/northwickearlymusic
Sat 18: Harmonies of Heaven and Earth: a sequence of great music – Luminatus Ensemble. 7.30 in St Mary de Castro, Leicester. https://www.continuoconnect.com/artists/luminatus-ensemble
Sat 18: Purcell, the Musical: a concertplay in which past present and fantasy collide -The Telling. 7.30 in the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton.
https://www.thetelling.co.uk/purcell-the-musical
Sun 19: Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 3-6 – Musical and Amicable Society. 3.30 in Henry Sandon Hall, Worcester. www.earlymusicworcs.org
Mon 20 -Thurs 23: Shakespeare in Music Festival –songs,madrigals,opera,theatre,rap and lectures in Stratford-upon-Avon. Details at https://www.shakespeareinmusic.org/programme
Thurs 23: Shakespeare’s Music: lute songs, tunes and poems mentioned in his plays – Ayres and Graces. 7pm in the Anglican Chapel of the London Road Cemetery, Coventry – on Shakespeare’s birthday. .https://www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/…/shakespeare…/
Fri 24: Shakespeare’s Music as above. 7pm in Ticknall Church.
Sat 25: The Garden of Love – Le Jeune (C16th), Whitacre. Palestrina & a world premiere) – Ex Cathedra Scholars Ensemble. 7pm in St Peter’s Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton www.excathedra.co.uk
Sat 25: Hildegard & the Birds – Fiori Musicali. 6pm in Ashby St.Ledger’s Church, Rugby. https://fiori-musicali.com
Sat 25: Live Lute music played from 1pm by Nick Gravestock in the 1620’s House, Manor Road, Donnington le Heath, Coalville, LE67 2FW. Included with normal house admission. https://1620shouse.org.uk
Sat 25: Mid-Shires’ Quires’ Day – Byfield Village Hallhttps://immanuelsground.com
MAY
Sat 02: MEMF workshop for voices and instruments; ÌA La Battalla! with Greg Skidmore & Sue Addison in Lincoln.
Fri 08 – Sun 10: Bristol Early Music Festival includes concerts by the English WindConsort (Renaissance), Chelys + Fair Oriana, Leah Stuttard & Jeremy Avis (medieval) and Baroque Orchestra with Festival Chorus. Also a Loud Winds Bash, Workshops for Elementary Recorder Ensemble, Viols and Recorders and Baroque Dance. https://www.bristolearlymusicfestival.uk/
Sat 09: A concert of music by Handel, Telemann. Vivaldi and Eccles – Warwickshire Baroque with soloists: Jane Pudsey (soprano); Tim Bugg (violin); John Saunders (flute); Claire Horacek (cello). 3pm in St Peter ad Vincula Church, Church Street, Hampton Lucy, CV35 8BE. Free entry, with retiring collection. Refreshments available.
Sat 09: From Rome to Riga: a Choral Grand Tour from Monteverdi to Stravinsky – Ex Urbe Chamber Choir. 7pm in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. Interval refreshments. https://exurbe.org .
Sun 10: From Rome to Riga…. As above. 4pm in Dorridge Methodist Church Hall. https://exurbe.org
Sun 10: From Bohemia to Rome – Baroque music by Biber. Pachelbel & Corelli – Fiori Musicali. 6pm in St Mary the Virgin, Fawsley,NN11 3BA. https://fiori-musicali.com
Sun 10: Live Lute music played from 1pm by Nick Gravestock in the 1620’s House, Manor Road, Donnington le Heath, Coalville, LE67 2FW. Included with normal house admission. https://1620shouse.org.uk
Mon 11 – Sat 23: Chipping Campden Music Festival https://www.campdenmayfestivals.co.uk/music/events All in St James’Church
- Mon 11: Music of the Sistine Chapel – The Tallis Scholars. 7pm
- Fri 15: Benjamin Baker (violin) plays Bach.6.30 pm
- Sat 16 : Gibbons and contemporary music performed by Iestyn Davies and Fretwork Consort of Viols . 7pm
- Mon 18: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 performed by Florilegium. 6.30 pm
Fri 15: Baroque Alchemy – Red Priest (Piers Adams, recorders & Lyndy Mayle, keyboard). 7.30 in the Macready Theatre, Rugby. https://redpriest.com
Fri 15: Shakespeare’s Music: lute songs, tunes and poems mentioned in his plays – Ayres and Graces. 7pm at the 1620’s House, Manor Road, Donnington le Heath, Coalville, LE67 2FW. https://1620shouse.org.uk
Tues 19: POSTPONED TO THE AUTUMN Telemann’s Flute: includes music by Handel, Purcell and Bach – Armonico .
7.30 in the Court House, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
Weds 20: Spanish Renaissance lute songs – Jonathan Spencer (counter-tenor) and Mike Ashley (lute).1.10 pm in St Alphege Church, Church Hill Road, Solihull, B91 3RQ. Refreshments from 12.30.
Weds 20: POSTPONED TO THE AUTUMN Telemann’s Flute – as above.7.30 in Great Malvern Priory.
Tues 26: I Fagiolini 40th Anniversary Tour – mixed programme from Monteverdi & Victoria to Thea Musgrave & Elgar. 7pm in Pershore Abbey, Pershore,WR10 1BL Part of the Elgar Festival https://elgarfestival.org
Wed 27: JS Bach: Greatest Hits of 1726 – Solomon’s Knot. 7.30 in the Elgar Concert Hall. Bramall, Birmingham University. www.barber.org.uk
Sat 30: Monteverdi Vespers and music by Gabrieli – Cambridge Renaissance Voices + Musical and Amicable Society. 7.30 in Great Malvern Priory. www.ticketsource.co.uk/wessex-concerts
Sat 30 – 02 June: Handel’s Orlando. 4pm at the Longborough Festival Opera. Features the Academy of Ancient Music. www.lfo.org.uk
JUNE
Fri 05: In Echo Battaglia:16th/17th centurymusic for Cornetto (Gawain Glenton), Violin (Kinga Ujszászi) and organ (Silas Wollston). 1pm in the Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall www.barberr.org.uk
Thurs 11: Piping Down the Valleys Wild – a feast of early Baroque dance music by Praetorius and Susato – Fiori Musicali. 6pm in St Lawrence Church (with its stunning C15th wall paintings), Broughton, nr Milton Keynes, MK10 7LE. https://fiori-musicali.com
Weds 17: Elizabethan Consort Music – the Lachrimae Consort. 1pm in St Lawrence’s Church, 2 College Street, Ludlow, SY8 1AN
Thurs 18: Henry Purcell’s King Arthur – Armonico consort + baroque orchestra. 7.30 in St.Mary’s Church, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
Sat 20: The Colossal Baroque – MEMF workshop for voices and instruments with Dr Stephen Bullamore in St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark-on-Trent, Notts. Music, subject to confirmation, to include large scale works for voices, strings, wind and brass at pitch A=440 by Giovanni Gabrieli (Venice), Heinrich Schütz (Dresden), Orazio Benevoli (Rome), Heinrich Biber (Salzburg), M.A Charpentier (Paris)
Sat 20: Live Lute music played from 1pm by Nick Gravestock in the 1620’s House, Manor Road, Donnington le Heath, Coalville, LE67 2FW. Included with normal house admission. https://1620shouse.org.uk
Weds 24: Henry Purcell’s King Arthur – Armonico Consort + Baroque orchestra. 7.30 in Malvern Theatres. www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Thurs 25: Henry Purcell’s King Arthur – Armonico Consort + Baroque orchestra. 7.30 in Wyke Manor, Pershore. www.armonico.org.uk
Sat 27: Coffee Concert – Northwick Consort. 11am in St Michael and All Angels, Ledbury (coffee and cakes from 10.30). Details at https://www.facebook.com/northwickearlymusic
Sat 27: Red Priest baroque Quartet. 7pm in Dore Abbey, Abbeydore, Herefordshire. : https://concertsforcraswall.org/product/red-priest/
Sat 27: Handel Dixit Dominus & CPE Bach Magnificat – Sinfonia Chorale & the Baroque Ensemble.7.30 in St John’s Parish Church, Beeston, NG9 1EJ. Tickets from 0115 9606236 or https://www.sinfoniachorale.uk/
Sun 28: Dufay’s Missa Se La Face Ay Pale – Fiori Musicali. 6pm in St Peter’s Church, Wolfhamcote, CV23 8AR https://fiori-musicali.com
Dufay –Palettps://concertsforcraswall.org/product/red-priest///concertsforcraswall.org/product/red-priest/
JULY
Weds 01: Chancel Concert – Northwick Consort.1pm in St Laurence’s Ludlow. Details at https://www.facebook.com/northwickearlymusic
Sat 04: A Date with Shakespeare: a summer concert with Songs and Readings – Birmingham Bach Choir. 3.30 in St Magdalene Church, Bridgnorth. www.birmingham.bachchoir.com
Sun 05: JS Bach: Cello suites 1,3 & 5 played by Andrew Skidmore. 3.30 in the Old Baptist Chapel, off Church Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5RZ. Details from 01684 850112 or oldchapelcourt@btinternet.com Tickets from Eventbrite.
Sun 05: Live Lute music played from 1pm by Nick Gravestock in the 1620’s House, Manor Road, Donnington le Heath, Coalville, LE67 2FW. Included with normal house admission. https://1620shouse.org.uk
Tues 14: Cries of London – Pallisander Recorder Ensemble. 2.30 in St Michsel’s Church, Lichfield (part of the Festival) https://lichfieldfestival.org
Sat 11 – Sun 12: Northwick Baroque perform at Stockton on Teme Flower Festival at noon.
Sat 11: Vivaldi’s Gloria + Bob Chilcott et al – Wombourne Choral Society .7.30 at Beckminster Methodist Church, Wolverhampton. https://www.wombournechoralsociety.org
Thurs 23 – Sun 26: Dowland 400th Anniversary Festival at the Octagon in Norwich includes talks, concerts. master-classes and participatory events. A full list of Dowland events this year can be found at https://www.lutesociety.org/pages/dowland-400
Sat 25: MEMF workshop for voices with Patrick Allies in St Faith and St Laurence Church, Harborne, Birmingham.
Sat 25: This Holy Place: music by Byrd, Tallis,MacMillan, Palestrina, Bruckner & Arvo Pärt, sung by Apollo5 (Voces8 Foundation). 6.30 in St Mary’s Church, Harvington opposite Harvington Hall. Tickets from www.harvingtonhall.co.uk or Tel: 01562 777846 and going fast.
Sun 26: Fiori Musicali concert in St Mary Magdalene Church, Castle Ashby, NN7 1LQ. https://fiori-musicali.com
AUGUST
Sat 08: Newe Vialles – Old Viols – Henrik Persson and Caroline Ritchie play fantasias, dances, and divisions including Playford on spectacular and historically important viola da Gambas. 4pm in the Old Baptist Chapel, off Church Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5RZ. Details from 01684 850112 or oldchapelcourt@btinternet.com Tickets from Eventbrite.
Sat 09 – Sun 09: Early sacred music Singing Weekend in Coventry Cathedral with the Willan Singers. Contact Andrew.holtan@gmail.com
Sun 30: Mozart for strings and flute – the Musical and Amicable Society. 3.30 in the Old Baptist Chapel, off Church Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5RZ. Details from 01684 850112 or oldchapelcourt@btinternet.com Tickets from Eventbrite.
Sun 30: Live Lute music played from 1pm by Nick Gravestock in the 1620’s House, Manor Road, Donnington le Heath, Coalville, LE67 2FW. Included with normal house admission. https://1620shouse.org.uk
#Online Music and Talks
Continuo Connect is the Continuo Foundation‘s digital initiative, and along with early music concert listings round the country and artist profiles, it has editorial features on early music and musicians. On their website, click on Features for interviews, playlists and insightful essays and sign up for the twice monthly Newsletter
A reminder about Jamulus, first set up during Covid Lockdown for singing and playing together over the internet. A small group still sing regularly on line using Jamulus software which synchronises the delay times and where one can balance the volumes of all the others singing.
They usually meet on Monday and Friday evenings and sing Renaissance sacred and secular music from their own Drive or from CPDL and sing one to a part selecting music to suit their voices at the time. Reasonable sight reading ability and a good internet connection are essential. At present they are SSATTB so another Alto and Bass would be particularly welcome. If you are interested please contact Keith Hitchcock: keith.hitchcock1@gmail.com or ring 0121 355 8247
There is more about Jamulus, including links to further information, on the early music online page. Click here and scroll down to Technology.
Early Music Sources – a reminder of the wonderful series of illustrated talks by Elam Rotem, the latest being about Early Basso Continuo, to be found on YouTube at https://www.earlymusicsources.com/youtube
Sands Film studio is a Theatre, Cinema and Music Room. They developed live streaming during the Pandemic and have continued with a mixture of live and online concerts, many of them Early Music, films and theatre. All performances are free, but donations are requested. Sign up to their mailing list at https://www.sandsfilms.co.uk/cinema-club.html
The Following have many videos on YouTube:
Stile Antico – https://www.youtube.com/user/stileantico
Armonico Consort https://ondemand.armonico.org.uk
The Gesualdo Six https://www.thegesualdosix.co.uk/videos/
I Fagiolini https://www.youtube.com/c/IFagiolini/videos
Fretwork Viol Consort https://www.fretwork.co.uk/audio-video
The Academy of Ancient Music https://aam.co.uk/watch/
Wigmore Hall has an archive of live streamed concerts at https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/watch-listen/forthcoming-live-streams Occasionally new ones appear on a Monday morning if you’re signed up. Free but donations requested.
City Lit offers an extensive programme of online music history and music appreciation courses with a focus on Western classical music, Folk, Jazz, Rock and Pop, also many singing courses, There are new topics each year, some of them Early Music: https://www.citylit.ac.uk
Choral Chihuahua regular new episodes since the last Newsletter of chats between Robert Hollingworth and Eamonn Dougan and recently Nicholas Mulroy, about an hour long. Find the latest (and previous) episodes at https://play.acast.com/s/choral-chihuahua. Free but donations requested.