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A recently issued disc by the internationally renowned countertenor Lawrence Zazzo bears the title BYRDLAND. This is a wonderful disc [Landor Records CD LAN 280] in collaboration with the excellent young players of the Paragon Saxophone Quartet featuring music by William Byrd, John Dowland and Henry Purcell. This has received outstanding reviews – The Sunday Telegraph named it as their Record of the Month in July 2007. All the music on the disc was arranged and edited by Ian Gammie, drawn from Corda Music editions of early music. Further projects are being planned.
Hark, Hark each Tree its silence breaks, The Box and Fir to talk begin,
This in the sprightly Violin, that in the Flute distinctly speaks.
. . . . . from Purcell's Ode to St Cecilia, words by Nicholas Brady c.1690
The initially inscrutable title of this ensemble is easily understood when one sees the context from Purcell's setting of the famous Ode, flutes and violins being made from the eponymous woods. And wherefore Windsor? Because the ensemble have often performed in Windsor Castle, while two of its members have sung in the choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Indeed, the flautist Jenny Thomas and her husband Dr Derek McCulloch (see below) used to live in the castle itself (though not in the Queen's apartments) and still live in the shadows of its mighty walls (that is, the McCulloch's live in the shadow, - the Queen still lives inside).
Formed in 1994 by four musicians with wide-ranging experience of playing early music, the repertoire of the Windsor Box & Fir extends from Dowland and Purcell to Haydn, Mozart and Schubert. Because instrument technology evolved continuously through this time, the players use a range of instruments. They are particularly fortunate to own three original square pianos dating from c.1780 to c.1830, and also a fine copy of a Henri Hemsch two-manual harpsichord of 1756. They also use flutes, violins, recorders, bass viols, guitars and lutes appropriate to each period of music performed. The musicians involved are Jenny Thomas (flutes and recorders) Michael Sanderson (singer and violin) Katharine May (harpsichord and fortepiano) and Ian Gammie (bass viol, guitars and lute).
Amongst their most recent programmes they have featured domestic music from Georgian England, a kaleidoscope of songs and chamber music from salons and country houses in the period 1770 - 1810. The music is presented with witty accounts of the music and its social or historical background, which has enhanced the resounding success of their events up and down the country. Their programmes are built on research carried out by Dr Derek McCulloch and Ian Gammie, particularly their investigation into the music copied and collected by Jane Austen (herself an accompished pianist). They also draw from Dr McCulloch's important biographical work on Haydn's two visits to London in the 1790s and the associated patronage of the Earl of Abingdon, a keen amateur composer and flautist.
The Windsor Box and Fir Co have made a number of recordings of this repertoire Recordings, and are preparing music for a new CD this year. The following Corda editions have been recorded by them: CMP 435, CMP 437, CMP 443, CMP 451 Corda Editions.
Having played at many Festivals and Concert Societies in the UK in the last two years, including special events for the Jane Austen Society, as well as concerts in Germany (where they return again in 2001). For more details of this tour, plus other events and recordings, contact: WB&FCo
The Quartet have recorded CMP 371, written of course by one of the members of the Quartet, Andrew York. Individual members of the group (as well as the full Quartet) visit the UK and other destinations in Europe quite frequently. Details given at this site when available.
This is an ensemble that specialize in the late 18th century café music that would have been heard in the naughtier backstreets of Vienna and other great European cities. To call their entertainments 'concerts' would be a travesty - you are invited to sup wine, eat Sachertorte and generally carouse at your table (yes, you don't come to sit in concert stalls but at tables with your friends). Meanwhile you are regaled with rumbustious music and risqué anecdote. One of their regular musical dishes of the day is CMP 437. Contact Cafe Mozart . Concerts usually feature four or five performers, most often one singer and three or four instrumentalists, among whom are numbered the singers Rogers Covey-Crump, Sophie Bevan, Rachel Elliott, Grace Davidson, and the instrumentalists Jenny Thomas, Michael Sanderson, Oliver Sandig, Edwina Smith, Katharine May and Ian Gammie. Recent recordings have included Hail Windsor Crown'd With Lofty Towers [CD CM003 Danubia Discs], Haydn and The Earl of Abingdon [Naxos CD 8.570525], Goethe and the Guitar [Danubia Discs CD CM002].
This foursome have also recorded CMP 371. Details of the disc can be had from Arch Records, P.O.Box 512, Athens, Georgia, USA.
This English based group perform all sorts of well-known and not so well-known baroque masterpieces, at the drop of a lace handkerchief. Players can range from solo harpsichord (the maestro Jonathan Hellyer Jones), to an orchestra of 18, and any combination in between. The usual format is from 4 to 7 players in concert. Frequently led by violinist and violist Judy Tarling, they have recorded CMP 417, the 7th Brandenburg Concerto. (You didn't know there were seven, did you?) You might even get to hear the humble violone player Ian Gammie at some of their gigs.[except you won't any more as he has retired from playing the violone to devote himself to the bass viol and guitar]
These two ensembles are both directed by Dr Peter Holman Parley.
More details will be added to this site when we get the time . . . ( . . . when you get the time ? . . who are you kidding ? . . . I'll tip off Workaholics Anonymous if you don't pack up and get to bed . . . do you know what time it is? . . . )
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Last updated 1st September 2008