Greenwich International Early Music Festival & Exhibition 2008
Miranda Harris
23 September 2008
On the 13th - 16th November the Greenwich International Early Music Festival & Exhibition returns to the exquisite Wren designed Old Royal Naval College in historic Greenwich for its seventh year. A celebration of all things early music, the event – the largest festival of its kind - includes a diverse programme of exciting early music performance and a fascinating early music exhibitors fair featuring over 100 international instrument makers.
Renowned artists performing in the festival include the award winning vocal ensemble Stile Antico who specialise in undirected consort singing. The group will be performing Song of Songs - a luscious musical exploration of Marian devotion. Other performances include groundbreaking early and traditional music instrumental duo Horses Brawl and the spirited improvisational medieval music-makers Joglaresa. The Royal Wind Music, directed by Paul Leenhouts, will be performing The Gods’ Flute-Heaven – consort music after the 17th century collections of Jacob van Eyck. The group, whose members hail from the UK, Germany, Estonia, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, have received wide acclaim for their spirit, precision and expressiveness. Their repertoire includes ensemble works written by the most celebrated composers of the period including Brade, Tallis, Parsons, Dowland, Holborne, Schein, Scheidt, de Cabezón, Guerrero, da Palestrina and di Lasso.
Students from Trinity College of Music, which hosts the performance festival, will open the event with Music for the Chapels Royal. Devised and directed by Philip Thorby, the performance is inspired by the Old Royal Naval College site; specifically the Palace of Placentia chapel, previously on this site, and will include works by composers who would have written music for performance in the chapels.
Other events include free masterclasses with Walter Reiter (Baroque Violin), John Henry (Harpsichord) and Sue Sheppard (Baroque Cello). Plus recitals by Chris Orton, winner of the 2007 Moeck/SRP Solo Recorder competition, baroque ensemble Passacaglia, James Johnstone (harpsichord) and recorder quintet Consortium5, and performances by Greenwich Baroque and students from Junior Trinity.
Meanwhile, in the magnificent historic Painted Hall, The Early Music Shop celebrates its 40th anniversary with the world’s largest exhibition of early musical instruments. The exhibition provides direct access to instrument makers from around the globe, as well as shops, music publishers, recording companies, societies and forums. Expect expert advice on, and demonstrations of, the widest range of instruments imaginable - from lutes, viols and sackbuts to hurdy gurdies, crumhorns and harpsichords.
Ticket prices start at just £2 so there’s no reason to miss out. For more information on the event, which is jointly hosted by the Early Music Shop, Trinity College of Music and The Greenwich Foundation, please see www.earlymusicfestival.com email enquiries@earlymusicfestival.com or call 01274 288100.
-ends-
For further information and images please contact:
Miranda Harris, Trinity Laban PR Manager on 020 8305 4439 or at mharris@trinitylaban.ac.uk
CONCERT PROGRAMME
Thursday 13 November
Festival Opening Concert
Trinity College of Music Early Music Faculty
Music for the Chapels Royal
Devised and directed by Philip Thorby
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 7.30pm
£10 (concs £7)
Friday 14 November
Baroque Violin Masterclass with Walter Reiter
Peacock Room, King Charles Court, 11.30am – 2pm
Admission free (limited numbers)
James Johnstone (harpsichord)
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 12midday – 1pm
Admission £2 on the door. No pre-booking of tickets
Harpsichord Masterclass with John Henry
Theatre Studio, King Charles Court, 12.30pm – 3pm
Admission free (limited numbers)
Ella Kidney Prize-winners Concert
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 2pm – 2.45pm
Admission £2 on the door. No pre-booking of tickets
Baroque Cello Masterclass with Sue Sheppard
Peacock Room, King Charles Court, 3.30pm – 6pm
Admission free (limited numbers)
Greenwich Baroque
Buxtehude’s Jesu Membra Nostri
St Alfege Church, 5.45 – 7pm
£10 (concs £7)
The Royal Winds
Directed by Paul Leenhouts
The Gods’ Flute-Heaven Consort music after the 17th- century collections of Jacob van Eyck
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 7.45pm
£16 (concs £12)
Saturday 15 November
Junior Trinity concert with guest performers from the Warwickshire Music Services Viol Consort
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 10.30am – 11.30am
Admission £2 on the door. No pre-booking of tickets
Consortium5
Recorder Quintet
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 12.15pm – 1.00pm
Admission £2 on the door. No pre-booking of tickets
Joglaresa
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 2.15pm – 3.15pm
Admission £2 on the door. No pre-booking of tickets
Passacaglia
St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, 5.45pm – 7.00pm
Admission £10 (concs £7)
Stile Antico
Song of Songs - A musical exploration of Marian devotion
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 7.45pm – 9.15pm
£16 (concs £12)
Sunday 16 November
Horses Brawl
Recital Room, Blackheath Halls, SE3 9RQ, 11.30am
£13.50 (concs £11)
Chris Orton (recorder)
Winner of the 2007 Moeck/SRP Solo Recorder Playing Competition
Old Royal Naval College Chapel, 4pm – 5.30pm
£10 (concs £7)
