Here for your convenience you can find a list of events in our region not related to 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
NOVEMBER
Sat 18: Radiant Choral Masterpieces: Bach(Fürchte dich nicht),Liszt(Missa Choralis)and D.Scarlatti (Stabat Mater) – Birmingham Bach choir. 7pm in St Paul’s Church, Birmingham. www.birminghambachchoir.com
Sat 18: Byrdsong: celebrating Byrd (Ave Verum and Ne Iscaris Domine) and other birds (Lark ascending, Blue Bird, Le chant des Oyseaux) – Derwent Singers. 7.30 in Broadway Baptist Church, Darley Abbey, Derby. www.derwentsingers.org.uk
Sun 19: # Recorder Workshop: Articulation Mastery given by Michael Piraner and Lobke Sprenkeling. Online 5-6.30pm. For players of all abilities. Details at https://www.michaelpiraner.com/workshops/
Tues 21: Byrd to Bacharach–and Bach – Ex Cathedra and RBC Scholars Ensemble. 7pm in the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. www.excathedra.co.uk
Fri 24: Tales from Sherwood Forest – Amarylli Duo (soprano & lute/guitar). 11.30 – 12.30. at the Lion Ballroom, off Broad Street, Leominster. Tickets £14 include a ploughman’s lunch. www.courtyard.org.uk
Thurs 23: The Byrd Fancyer’s Delight – Sounds Historical (Recorders and strings). 7pm in Abington Park Museum, Northampton NN1 5LW. Tickets on the door.
Fri 24: The Byrd Fancyer’s Delight – Sounds Historical (Recorders and strings). 2pm in St Mary’s Church, Merevale, Atherstone, Tickets from 01827 825701 or on the door.
Sat 25: Come and sing Messiah with the Derby Bach Choir in Ticknall (south of Derby). Rehearse from 3pm, performance at 3pm. www.derbybachchoir.com
Sat 25: Handel’s Messiah – Kidderminster Choral Society. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Kidderminster. Book online (cheaper) at www.kidderminsterchoralsociety.co.uk or on the door.
Sat 25: The Byrd Fancyer’s Delight – Sounds Historical (Recorders and strings).7.30 in St Michael’s Church, Aynho. Tickets from 01869 819896 or on the door.
DECEMBER
Sun 03: Handel’s Messiah – Ex Cathedra choir & Baroque Orchestra. 4pm in Symphony Hall www.excathedra.co.uk
Sat 02: Christmas music by Candlelight – Ex Cathedra consort. 7.30 in St James the Greater, Leicester. www.excathedra.co.uk
7pm in All Saints Church, Cheltenham. Tickets from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/standish-consort
Sat 02 – Thurs 07: York Early Music Festival includes Flutes and Frets, Gesualdo Six with Fretwork, Fiddlesticks, The Marian Consort and Ceruleo. www.ncem.co.uk
Mon 04: # First Live from London Concert (JS Bach) available to download. See details in online music below.
Tues 05: Sing we Yule: traditional carols and wassails from round the British Isles on Fidel, harp, bells and voices – Joglaresa. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. www.leamingtonmusic.org
Tues 05: # More Live from London concerts available – see online music below.
Weds 06: In Dulci Jubilo! Baroque Christmas by Candlelight – Armonico. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. Book at 01926 334418 or through website www.armonic.org.uk
Weds 06: Christmas music by Candlelight – Ex Cathedra consort. 7.30 in Hereford Cathedral. www.excathedra.co.uk
Thurs 07: Christmas music by Candlelight – Ex Cathedra consort. 7pm in Lichfield Cathedral. www.excathedra.co.uk
Fri 08: Prelude to Christmas – songs music and poems with Ayres and Graces (voice and lute). 7-9 pm in the 1620’s House, Donington le Heath. Prebooking required; ring 01455 290429 between 10 and 4 or go to website www.1620shouse.org.uk
Fri 08: Handel’s Messiah – City of Birmingham Choir. 7pm in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. www.citychoir.org.uk
Fri 08: Handel’s Messiah – Eboracum Baroque. 7pm in Great Malvern Priory
Sat 09: In Dulci Jubilo! Baroque Christmas – Armonico & players with the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble. 7.30 at Malvern Theatres. Book at 01684 892277 or through website www.armonico.org.uk
Sat 09: Christmas music by Candlelight – Ex Cathedra consort. 7pm in St Peter’s Wolverhampton. www.excathedra.co.uk
Sat 09: Handel’s Messiah – Worcester Festival Choral Society. 7.30 in Worcester Cathedral. 0333 666 3366 or https://www.wfcs.online
Sat 09: Handel’s Messiah – Orchestra of the Swan Chamber Orchestra. 7pm in Holy Trinity church, Stratford-upon-Avon. www.orchestraoftheswan.org
Sun 10: Christmas Concert: Torelli, Bach, Corelli, VW Popper Anderson – Orchestra Pro Anima. 6pm in Berkley Castle.01684 295074 or www.rosestheatre.org
Tues 12: A Baroque Christmas – London Handel Players. 7.30 at Hellens, Much Marcle, Nr Ledbury. 01432 340555 or www.hellensmanor.com
Tues 12: Handel’s Messiah – Warwick and Kenilworth Choral Society. 7.30 in St Nicholas Church, Kenilworth. www.wkcs.org.uk
Thurs 14: Christmas music by Candlelight – Ex Cathedra consort.7.30 in Coventry Cathedral. www.excathedra.co.uk
Fri 15 – Weds 20 (except Sun): Christmas music by Candlelight – Ex Cathedra consort. 7.30 in St Paul’s, Birmingham. www.excathedra.co.uk
Fri 15: # York Early Music Festival concerts available to download (see details in online section above)
Sun 17: # Recorder workshop: Rhetoric in Baroque Music. Online 5 – 6.30pm. Details at https://www.michaelpiraner.com/workshops/
Mon 18: Handel’s Messiah – Coventry Cathedra Chorus with Orchestra Pro Anima. 7pm in Coventry Cathedral. www.coventrycathedralchorus.com
Thurs 21: Carols by Candlelight – Armonico. 7.30 in St Mary’s church, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
Sat 23: Final Live from London concert available to download – see online music above.
JANUARY 2024
Sat 27: Handel Dixit Dominus & Francesco Scarlatti’s Daniele – Armonico. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
Thurs 25: # ZOOM talk by David Allinson – see www.semf.org.uk for details.
Tues 30: Dante: a Divine Hope: Renaissance madrigals and sacred music by such as Victoria, Palestrina, Morales and Gabrieli inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy – Stile Antico. 7.30 in St Mary’s church, Warwick. www.leamingtonmusic.org
FEBRUARY
Sat 03: Handel Dixit Dominus & Francesco Scarlatti’s Daniele – Armonico. 7.30 in Malvern Theatres. Box Office: 01684 892277 or www.armonico.org.uk
Sun 11: Baroque Passion-Music of Heartbreak and Healing – Ex Cathedra consort and continuo.4pm in Birmingham Town Hall. www.excathedra.co.uk
Mon 12: The Forgotten Scarlatti (Franceso) – Rachel Podger and Armonico play concertos by Bach and Vivaldi + forgotten choral works by F. Scarlatti. 7.30 in Birmingham Town Hall. www.bmusic.co.uk
Sun 18: Love’s Sweet Passion – Amarylli Duo(soprano and lute/theorbo). 3.30 in the Angel Centre, Worcester. www.earlymusicworcs.org
MARCH
Sat 09: JS Bach: St Matthew Passion – Birmingham Bach Choir with the Musical and Amicable Society. 7pm in Lichfield Cathedral. www.birmingham.bachchoir.com
Tues 19: The King’s Playlist: French baroque music (Charpentier, Lully, etc) – Ensemble Molière (flute, violin, bassoon, viola da gamba and harpsichord). 7.30 in St Mary’s Church Warwick. www.leamingtonmusic.org
Fri 29: J S Bach: St John Passion – Ex Cathedra Choir and Orchestra. 2pm in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. www.excathedra.co.uk
Fri 29: Motets for Holy Week and Good Friday: music by Lotti, Purcell, Bruckner, Stainer & Palestrina – Coventry Cathedral Chorus. 0844 477 1000 or www.ticketweb.co.uk
#Online Music and Talks
Live from London is back for Christmas at https://www.livefromlondon.org/tickets-christmas23 It starts on 4th December when Voces8 choir and orchestra present ‘Christmas with JS Bach’. Then from 5th December you can download concerts by the Gesualdo Six (Byrd to contemporary), Apollo 5 (Byrd Mass for 5 voices and Tudor to 21st century), Voces 8 – Messiah (2022 recording), and a narration of A Christmas Carol set to original music incorporating familiar carols by US ensemble Skylark. Finally on 23rd December Voces8 present ‘Silver Bells’ – music from Byrd to Sally Beamish, Jonathan Dove and Francis Pott. Not a lot of early music, but all superb performers. Season ticket £40, individual concerts £14.
The National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) is offering videos of all 10 concerts in the 2023 York Early Music Christmas Festival for £50 (no tickets for individual concerts). Available to watch from 15th December till 31st January. A fascinating collection of ensembles includes the Marian Consort, with well-known performers such as Carolyn Sampson, Stephen Devine and Rachel Podger, all concerts comprising early music except one. Details at www.ncem.co.uk/events/christmas-online-box-set/
I Fagiolini: If anyone sang the Benevoli Mass for four choirs (Tu Es Petrus) with Robert Hollingworth last December, the CD is out on October 6th. There is an introductory film at https://youtu.be/jLzLzlje9j0 and if you intend to buy it, Robert would be delighted if you would pre-order it before Oct 6th here or anywhere else!
This year is the 400th anniversary of Byrd’s death and his music is getting a lot of exposure during the year. David Allinson has recommended the book Byrd by Kerry McCarthy. If you prefer to listen and watch, Kerry has also done three illustrated Zoom talks called the Tudor Greats: Part 1 Tallis & Byrd – Introduction to the English Renaissance; Part 2 Thomas Tallis; and Part 3 William Byrd. Find part 1 on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfloOAW2Sxg&t=132s and the others will appear at the side.
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
Stile Antico – free concert on YouTube filmed in Columbia in 2018 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW0eRvLxrjs (51 mins)
Armonico Consort still have past concerts on demand at www.armonico.org.uk -accessed from the What’s On page.
The Following have many videos on YouTube:
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 is streaming three Byrd Masses performed by the Cardinall’s Musick on Tuesday 4th July at 1pm, 5pm and 7.30 pm which will be available for 30 days. Tickets from £14. It also has an archive of live streamed concerts at https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/watch-listen/forthcoming-live-streams 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.