Early Music Day 2021

In case you missed it, the 21^st March was Early Music Day where musicians all over the world come together to appreciate and celebrate the joys of early music. We have a selection of videos that were released on Early Music Day itself; some are recordings of past concerts, whilst others were created especially for the day. 

If you would like to know more about Early Music Day 2021, or find out how you might be able to participate in future years, take a look at the REMA/Early Music Day website.

Lucile Boulanger
Centre culturel de rencontre d’Ambronay

This is a lovely performance of some pieces by J.S. Bach transcribed by Lucile for the viola da gamba. Lucile is artist in residence at the abbey in Ambronay, France, where this recording takes place.

Italian Sinfonie for Cello
La Ritirata (Total Baroque)

Total Baroque is a wonderful YouTube channel that helps promote, support and share information about Baroque music. They shared a number of videos on Early Music Day 2021, including this concert by La Ritirata which was recorded in 2018 at the Monastery of Santa Mariá de El Paular in Madrid. The concert features two sinfonie, Sinfonia in C for Cello by Nicola Porpora and Sinfonia in D for Cello by Antonio Caldara.

Solitudine e Libertà, Che si può fare?
Fondazione Ghislieri (Total Baroque)

This is another concert promoted by Total Baroque. The concert, whose title translates as ‘Solitude and Freedom, What can be done?’, features Federico Toffano on cello, Michele Pasotti on lute and the mezzo soprano, Giuseppina Bridelli. It was recorded in 2020 during the Festival di Natale in Pavia, Italy and starts with Toffano performing J.S. Bach’s Suite No.3 in C major, BWV 1009. After Bach’s work, Bridelli and Pasotti take to the stage to perform a selection of arias by Luigi Rossi, Francesco Cavalli, Barbara Strozzi, Girolamo Frescobaldi and more.

Please note: This video is no longer available

William Byrd’s Diliges Dominum
The Sixteen

The Sixteen have released a recording of the performing William Byrd’s Diliges Dominum. The performance, taken from their recent series of programmes called A Choral Oddessy, was filmed in Hatfield House. If you would like to watch the series, it is available to view online until 1st April so you have a few days left to grab your tickets! To buy tickets, go to The Sixteen’s website.

A Pastoral Journey
Highlights from the Brighton Early Music Festival 2020

This video gives a wonderful feeling of being out in the countryside, something we have all craved over this last year when travelling has been so prohibited. The sumptuous performances are from Ensemble Augelletti and Pocket Rocket.

Please note: This video is no longer available