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Online Concert: Duo Hesperi

4 February 2021
19:00 - 20:00

Mary-Jannet Leith – recorders
Thomas Allery – harpsichord

Will be screened online on 4th of February at 7pm – https://youtu.be/73nqupNykxI

There Goes London’s Musical Coalman

Gottfried Finger
Op. 3, Sonata No. 1 in F major
Adagio – Vivace – Presto

Johann Christoph Pepusch
“Prelude” from The Division Flute

Georg Friedrich Händel
Chaconne in F Major HWV 485

Giuseppe Sammartini
Sonata in D minor
Allegro ma non tanto – Andante – Allegro

Francesco Geminiani
A Treatise of Good Taste in the Art of Musick
Auld Bob Maurice – Sleepy Body

William Babell
Op. 3, Concerto in D major (transposed to C Major)
Allegro – Adagio – Allegro

Philip Hart
Lesson in C minor
Almand

John Banister
“A Division on a Ground” from The Division Flute

James Paisible
Recorder Sonata in G minor from The Detroit Manuscript
Grave – Largo – Adagio – Presto

Duo Hesperi paint a picture of London’s vibrant musical scene in the early 1700s, through the lens of the extraordinary musical small-coal merchant Thomas Britton. For several decades until his death in 1714, Britton ran musical evenings, which he hosted in his small coal-loft in Clerkenwell, attracting the best performers of the day, including Handel himself on the chamber organ! Britton’s successful business enabled him to purchase an impressive book collection, which featured a huge number of musical manuscripts. The programme features music by several of the musicians who performed in Britton’s concert series, as well as some of the more unusual music featured in the catalogue of music listed by the historian John Hawkins at his death. Most of these composers were leading musicians in late 17th century London: Johann Pepusch, William Babell, John Banister, Gottfried Finger and James Paisible were all celebrated court and theatre musicians, organists, and teachers. At this time, musicians were pouring into London from Europe to enjoy the rich opportunities for work and private patronage: many hailed from France or Germany, and later Italy – so Britton’s coal-loft would have been home to a cornucopia of musical styles and cultures

Duo Hesperi is a young, innovative, Early Music duo based in London. It is dedicated to showcasing the infinite colours and possibilities of their instruments, presenting programmes through the lens of colourful characters from the musical past. They have a particular interest in promoting unpublished and previously undiscovered Scottish Baroque repertoire, and in exploring the fascinating links between Scotland, London, and the continent through Baroque music during the eighteenth century.

Thomas and Mary-Jannet formed Ensemble Hesperi (‘Evening Stars’) as a duo ensemble while studying on the Masters programme at the Royal College of Music, where they performed regularly as part of the Historical Performance Department. In this format, Ensemble Hesperi won the Audience Prize at the Fenton House Early Keyboard Ensemble Competition in 2012, and the Century Fund Prize at the RCM Early Music Competition in 2013.

More recently, they have appeared in the London Handel Festival, the inaugural St Marylebone Festival and the ‘Future Baroque’ series at the London Festival of Baroque Music 2017. Mary-Jannet and Thomas were delighted to have been selected for the Brighton Early Music Festival Live scheme for 2016-2017, and also to have been chosen to perform twice on the continent during 2017, at the Brugge and Utrecht Early Music Fringe Festivals. Their performance of their Scottish Baroque duo programme, ‘The Pheasant’s Eye’, won the Audience Prize from over 70 performances from European young ensembles. Mary-Jannet and Thomas were also delighted to be selected as Live Music Now musicians in November 2018.

Details

Date:
4 February 2021
Time:
19:00 - 20:00
Event Category:
Event Tags:
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Booking information

Online booking is available but if you prefer to book tickets by post please download our booking form, complete and send with SAE and a cheque

Lunchtime recitals

Last approximately one hour.

Evening concerts

Last approximately two hours with one interval
during which juice and wine are served.

Notices

Wheelchair access available. Please advise in advance.
Please note that tickets cannot be exchanged nor money refunded.
Tickets to recitals and concerts do not include free admittance to the house.
We reserve the right to refuse admission and change the programme and/or instrument without notice.
It may not always be possible to admit latecomers to the Music Room.

Stiletto heels should not be worn.