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
OCTOBER
Thurs 02: More Than a Woman – Sounds Historical. 7pm in the Anglican Chapel, Coventry. www.historiccoventrytrust.org.uk/whats-on
Fri 03: The English in Europe – The Gesualdo Six. 1-1.50 in the Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall, Birmingham University. https://barber.org.uk
Fri 03: English Glories of the Sixteenth Century: Byrd, Tallis and White – Tenebrae. 7pm in Great Malvern Priory, Malvern. www.tenebrae-choir.com
Sat 04: More Than a Woman – Sounds Historical. 2.30 in Merevale, Warwickshire. www.soundshistorical.weebly.com
Sat 04: Medieval/Renaissance Workshop with Blondel presented by the International Guild of Town Pipers. 9.30 – 4.30 in Selly Oak Church, Birmingham. Followed by a concert at 6pm. See ad p? Details and booking at http://bit.ly/3Z6VYKG. £38 for workshop only, £54.88 for both. Student discount.
Sun 05: A Thousand Flexible Ways: music by Monteverdi, Caccini, Merula, etc, – Monteverdi String Band. 3.30pm in the Old Bishop’s palace, Worcester, WR1 2JD. https://www.earlymusicworcs.org
Thurs 09: [Hanse] Pfeyfferey (Renaissance wind band) perform improvised and rediscovered music from around 1500. 7.30 at Lakeside Arts, Nottingham. https://www.cambridgeearlymusic.org
Sun 12: Music by Handel for recorders, voice and continuo – Chase Baroque, featuring Tim Cranmore. 3pm at Elmslie House, 8 Avenue Road, Malvern, WR14 1LX. Tickets £10 on the door. https://fb.me/e/924mjJfM4
Sun 12: Angel Voices: music by Hildegard, Taverner, Bach and modern composers to celebrate the 90th birthday of Arvo Pärt – Fiori Musicali Chamber Choir & cellist Poppy Walshaw. 6pm in St Mary the Virgin Church, Fawsley, NN11 3BA. www.fiori-musicali.com
Mon 13: London Handel Players play music by Telemann, Rameau, JS Bach and Handel. 7.30 in Denstone College Chapel, Denstone, ST14 5HN. (near Alton Towers). www.abbotsholmeartssociety.co.uk
Fri 17: 600 Years! Hildegard to Haydn – Sounds Historical. 4pm in St Michael’s Church, Aynho, Northamptonshire OX17 3BG https://soundshistorical.weebly.com/diary.html
Sat 18: MEMF workshop – Vivaldi Gloria with Ben England in Dorridge,
Sat 18: Come and Sing with Stile Antico. 1.30 – 4.30 ending with an informal run-through at 5pm in King’s High School, Warwick. www.leamingtonmusic.org
Sat 18: Chaconne: music by Pachelbel and Barbara featuring the ground bass – Armonico. 5.15 in Malvern Theatres. www.armonico.org.uk
Sat 18: Harpsichord Recital (Handel, Berkley, Bach, Scarlatt)i by Mahan Esfahani. 7.30 in the Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall, Birmingham University. https://barber.org.uk
Sat 18: More than a Woman – Sounds Historical. 7.30 St Mary’s Church, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, OX7 5NA https://soundshistorical.weebly.com/diary.html
Tues 21: The Golden Renaissance: music by Byrd, Taverner, Guerrrero, Tallis, Victoria and more – Stile Antico. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church Warwick with pre-concert talk ‘Behind the Music’ at 6.45. www.leamingtonmusic.org
Tues 21: Chaconne: music by Pachelbel and Barbara featuring the ground bass – Armonico. 7.30 in the Courthouse, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
Thurs 23: The Four Seasons + – The Orchestra of the Swan. 7pm in Stratford Town Hall, Stratford-upon-Avon. Part of this year’s music festival. www.orchestraoftheswan.org
Fri 24 – Sun 26: Early Dance Circle Annual Festival for performers in Bury St Edmunds. www.earlydancecircle.co.uk
Sat 25: Heaven and Earth: a programme of sacred and secular Baroque music from Italy, Germany and England – Northwick Baroque. 10.30 in St Martin’s Church, London Road, Worcester. Free with retiring collection. https://fb.me/e/3CIMzr7sf
NOVEMBER
Sun 02: The Best Hand in England: Celebrating Orlando Gibbons 400 – Chelys Consort of Viols. 3.30pm in the Old Bishop’s Palace, Worcester, WR1 2JD . https://www.earlymusicworcs.org
Tues 04: Fortune My Foe: music and readings from the time of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 –the York Waits. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Warwick with a pre-concert talk ‘Behind the Music’ at 6.45. www.leamingtonmusic.org
Sat 08: MEMF workshop: Consumed with Sorrow with Angus Smith in St Nicholas Church, Warwick.
Sat 08: Handel’s Messiah – Derbyshire Singers with the Musical & Amicable Society. 7.30 in St John’s Church, Ashbourne. www.derbyshiresingers.org
Sat 08: A Goodnight – Music of Remembrance and Hope: music from Byrd and Bach to Macmillan– Ex Cathedra conducted by Eamonn Dougan. 7pm in All Saints Church, Kings Heath. www.excathedra,co,uk
Sat 08: NWEMF workshop (Stadlmayr) with Gawain Glenton in Sale, south of Manchester. www.nwemf.org
Sat 08: Autumn Concert – music includes Bach, Gibbons, Stanford, Parry and Owain Park – Sinfonia Chorale + organ solos. 7.30 in St Paul’s Church, Daybrook, Nottingham. www.sinfoniachorale.uk
London International Festival of Early Music www.lifem.org includes:
- Weds 12: 7pm Ensemble Danguy – Virtuoso Hurdy-Gurdy in C18th France
- Thurs 13: 2pm Polychroma – chamber music by Locatelli and Leclair
7.30 Dorothee Oberlinger & Peter Kofler – baroque sound cultures
- Fri 14: 2pm Zefira Valova plays Telemann Fantasias for solo violin
7.30 Guildhall Cantata Project & Academy of Ancient Music
- Sat 15: 11am Sarah Jeffery presents a family concert (aged 5+)
6pm: Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra & Erik Bosgraaf – Childhood Virtuosos of the 18th century.
- + daily Marketplace with instrument makers, retailers, publishers, record companies, societies and forums from all over the world.
Fri 14: Musicians Strike Up! Medieval music, songs and stories – de Mowbray’s Musicke. Hear all the instruments illustrated in the highly decorated margins of the 14th century Luttrell Psalter. 7.30 in Croxton Kerrial Village Hall, NG32 1QF with pre-concert presentation about the instruments at 6.15. Tickets from Cathy Tate 07809 122327.
Sat 15: Bach Magnificat and Ascension Oratorio – Derby Bach Choir with the Midland Baroque Players. 7.30 in Derby Cathedral. www.derbybachchoir.com
Sat 15: Coffee Concert: Theorbo and baroque guitar recital of music by Kapsberger, de Viséeand Santiago de Murcia by Peter Martin. 11am in St Mary’s Church, Stafford. Admission free.
Mon 24:1725 Music in Naples: recorder concertos and trio sonatas of the age – Annabel Knight (recorder), Georgia Hannant & Kelly McCusker(violins), Jacqueline Tyler (baroque cello) and Warwick Cole (harpsichord). 2pm in the CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, Birmingham. www.cbso.co.uk
Sat 29: Come and Sing (excerpts from) Handel’s Messiah with the Derby Bach Choir. 10.30 in St George’s Church, Ticknall with performance at 3pm after drinks and canapés. www.derbybachchoir.com
Fri 28: Aural Histories: Coventry 1451-1642 – Binchois Consort. 1-1.50 in the Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall, Birmingham University. https://barber.org.uk
Sat 29: SWEMF workshop with Ali Kinder in Leckhampton, Cheltenham. www.swemf.org.uk
Sat 29: Come and Sing West Gallery Carols with Immanuel’s Ground Quire.2-9.30 pm in Northgate Methodist Church Hall, Barrack Street, Warwick. www.immanuelsground.com
DECEMBER
Thurs 04: The Christmas Hearth: seasonal songs and readings – the Mellstock Band.7.30 in the Unitarian Chapel, 31 High Street, Warwick www.leamingtonmusic.org
Fri 05: Handel’s Fireworks – Armonico Consort and Baroque Orchestra. 7.30 in Malvern Theatres. 01684 892277 or www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Fri 05: Handel’s Messiah Part 1 and Festive Favourites – Eboracum Baroque. 7pm in Great Malvern Priory. www.eboracumbaroque.co.uk
Fri 05: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra. 7pm in Lichfield Cathedral (part of their Festival) www.excathedra.co.uk
Fri 05: Handel’s Messiah – City of Birmingham Choir with the CBSO. 7pm in Symphony Hall. www.citychoir.co.uk
Fri 05 – Sun 14: York Early Music Christmas Festival: includesApollo’s Cabinet, Helen Charlston, Haydn’s Creation, Dowland’s Foundry, The Marian Consort with the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, Apollo5, Lowe Ensemble, Fieri Consort singers with Camerata Øresund and Joglaresa. Also Sat 06: Choral Workshop with Rory McCleery featuring Bach, Schütz and Palestrina. 10.15 in Bedern Hall, York. York Early Music Christmas Festival – NCEM
Sat 06: Handel’s Messiah – Worcester Festival Choral Society and Meridian Sinfonia. 7.30 in Worcester Cathedral. www.wfcs.online or 0333 666 3366
Sat 06: Echoes of the Spanish Baroque – Lowe Ensemble. 1.30 in St Paul’s Curch, Birmingham. https://www.continuoconnect.com
Sun 07: J S Bach’s Christmas Oratorio – Ex Cathedra Choir and Baroque orchestra. Evangelist James Robinson. 4pm in Birmingham Town Hall. www.excathedra.co.uk
Sun 07: Shipwreck: music that was known to Henry VII and King Philip of France who were both shipwrecked in 1506– Linarol Consort. 3pm in Huntingdon Hall, Crowngate, Worcester. www.worcserenade.co.uk
Weds 10: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra Consort. 7pm in Hereford Cathedral. www.excathedra.co.uk
Thurs 11: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra. 7pm in Coventry Cathedral. www.excathedra.co.uk
Sat 13: Handel’s Messiah – Coventry Cathedral Chorus with Orchestra Pro Anima. 7pm in Coventry Cathedral. www.coventrycathedralchorus.com
Sat 13: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra Consort. 7pm in St Peter’s Church, Wolverhampton. www.excathedra.co.uk
Mon 15: Carols by Candlelight – Armonico. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
Tues 16: Here we Come a-Carolling! Medieval and traditional ‘caroles’ with audience participation – Joglaresa. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. Pre-concert workshop to learn the songs at 6.45, mulled wine and mince pies. www.leamingtonmusic.org
Tues 16: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra Consort. 7pm in St James the Greater, Leicester. www.excathedra.co.uk
Weds 17: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra. 7pm in St Mary’s Church, Moseley. www.excathedra.co.uk
Thursday 18: Handel’s Fireworks – Armonico Consort and Baroque Orchestra. 7.30 in Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry. www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
Fri 19 – Sun 21: Choral Workshop Weekend: Christmas with the Gesualdo Six at Hawkwood College, near Stroud. www.hawkwoodcollege.co.uk
Fri 19: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra. 7pm in St Paul’s Church, Birmingham. www.excathedra.co.uk
Sat 20: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra. 4pm in St Paul’s Church, Birmingham. www.excathedra.co.uk
Mon 22: Christmas Music by Candlelight (mixed) – Ex Cathedra. 7pm in St Paul’s Church, Birmingham. www.excathedra.co.uk
Tues 23: Carols by Candlelight – Armonico. 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
JANUARY
Sat 10: Play and Sing Handel’s Messiah with Spires Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus. 9.30 – 5.00 in the Baginton Road URC, Coventry, with informal performance to end the day. www.spiresmusic.org
Sun 11: Voce Uguali…Equal Voices: baroque music for recorders, bassoon and keyboard –– Ensemble La Notte. 3.30 in the Old Bishop’s Palace, Worcester, WR1 2JD. www.earlymusicworcs.org.uk
Sun 18: Biber 1681 Sonatas – Rachel Podger (violin) with Brecon Baroque. 3pm in Malvern Theatres. www.malvern-concert-club.co.uk
Fri 23: Fading: inspired by compline – Renaissance polyphony and contemporary reflections – The Gesualdo Six. 7.30 in Lichfield Cathedral. www.thegesualdosix.co.uk
Sat 24: Come and Sing/Play Handel Dixit Dominus and CPE Bach Magnificat with Sinfonia Chorale. 10 – 4.30 in Bramcote Parish Church, Nottingham, NG9 3HD. £25 (£30 with lunch) www.sinfoniachorale.uk
Sun 25: Pearls of the Baroque: Telemann, Handel, Rameau, Bach, etc. – London Handel Players. 3pm in Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. www.worcserenade.co.uk
Sat 31: A Moment of Calm: Hildegard of Bingen and16th century polyphony – Armonico. 8pm in St Mary’s Church, Warwick. www.armonico.org.uk
FEBRUARY
Sun 01: A Moment of Calm: Hildegard of Bingen and16th century polyphony – Armonico. 8pm in Malvern Theatres. www.armonico.org.uk
Sat 07: 600 years from Hildegard to Haydn – Sounds Historical with a multitude of early instruments. 2.30 in All Saints’ Church, Evesham. www.evesham-music-club.co.uk or 01386 761515.
Sat 07: Obrecht Scaramella Mass & Mater patris – Binchois Consort. 7’30 in the Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall, Birmingham University. https://barber.org.uk
Thurs 12: An exploration of Kurtág at 100 + music by Bach – Birmingham Contemporary Music Group + members of the CBSO. 7.30 in the CBSO Centre, Berkley Street, Birmingham. www.cbso.co.uk
Sun 15: The Sun King’s Favourite: music by Lalande and Corelli – Ex Cathedra Choir and Baroque Orchestra. 4pm in Birmingham Town Hall.
#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 MEMF website. 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.