Classical Artists Worldwide - Concert Royal: Georgian English Music Group

Concert Royal recreates the elegant sound worlds of the baroque and classical eras through historically informed performance. For over thirty years the ensemble has delighted audiences with enthusiastic and informative presentations. All four musicians hold masters degrees in music performance and John Treherne was awarded the MBE for services to music education.

Concert Royal has toured in Europe, the USA and for the British Council in South America and has given concerts in every corner of the UK, performing for festivals, music and arts societies, theatres, churches, schools, arts centres and in country houses.

Concert Royal's 2007-8 schedule included concerts for the Roseland, Faversham, Hinckley, Bideford, Hoylake, Totnes and Matlock music societies and festival appearances in Amersham and Church Stretton. The ensemble entertained in the splendid settings of Chenies Manor House and Sledmere Hall and for the National Trust in the magnificently restored Georgian Theatre in Bury St Edmunds.

Concert Royal is actively involved in education initiatives, visiting more than 50 schools in 2007. Young people participate in informative and entertaining workshops, learning about their musical heritage through singing, playing, composing and dancing.

Programmes for 2009/10

Musick for Awhile

For 2009 this programme celebrates the 350th anniversary of the birth in 1659 of Henry Purcell, England's greatest baroque composer. Songs, cantatas and instrumental pieces by Henry, his brother Daniel and contemporary English musicians are linked with short readings from Samuel Pepys' diary.

Under the Greenwood Tree

A delightful evening of music from the Georgian drawing room celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth in 1710 of Thomas Arne. The ever-popular Where the Bee Sucks, When Daisies Pied and Under the Greenwood Tree are contrasted with lesser known masterpieces by Arne and his English contemporaries. Short readings from Dr Burney's celebrated General History of Music place the music in context.

Jane Austen’s Musical England

Jane Austen was a keen amateur musician with a large collection of music. Our programme includes songs and instrumental music drawn from Jane's collection and from contemporary sources. Brief extracts from letters and novels provide a fascinating glimpse into Jane Austen's musical world.

"The audience was transported into the elegance of the 18th century and the England of Jane Austen's time" Horsham Music Circle

Education Programme for children, families and primary schools

In this fast moving, interactive presentation Concert Royal's musicians share the simple pleasures of making music with their young audiences. The programme features flutes, recorders and whistles, 'cello and harpsichord in a wide variety of approachable popular music from Saint Saens' 'The Swan' to 'Greensleeves'.

"Many thanks for a wonderful concert. The children obviously enjoyed your playing, singing and musical activities" - Newton Abbot Primary School

News

Blow the Wind Southerly

Concert Royal has been awarded significant Heritage Lottery funding to promote the rich but neglected heritage of vocal music from the north east of England. There will be more than 100 workshops, concerts and residencies over a three year period and Divine Art Records will release Concert Royal's historically informed recording of Bobby Shaftoe, The Keel Row, The Water of Tyne and other Tyneside favourites.

Recordings

The London Trios (DA24117)

Concert Royal's Peter Harrison and Rachel Gray are joined by flautist Lesley Holliday in a new recording performed on historic instruments of Haydn's 'London' trios for two flutes and 'cello. These charming works demonstrate the composer's supreme craftsmanship and mastery of instrumentation.

The Jane Austen Collection (DA 2-4107)

Click on the CD cover to hear a sample from The Highland Laddie - Trad. arr Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) From "The Jane Austen Collection" - Divine Art Ltd CD 2-4107 (in RealAudio format)

A representative selection from the Austen family’s extensive collection of hand written and printed music which has been carefully preserved by the Jane Austen Memorial Trust. Jane’s novels tell us much about well-to-do country life in early nineteenth century England and her music collection provides a snapshot of contemporary musical taste.