We offer the following performances. Enquiries are invited.
Concerts and Recitals
Full concerts, usually 90 minutes plus interval. We always introduce the music, often including illustrative readings.
A Miscellany drawn from the Musick Cabinet
A "show case" full concert encompassing a variety of styles, ensembles, and periods. The programme will depend on the repertoire currently in rehearsal.
Please note. We reserve the right to modify the programmes at very short notice subject to availability of people and instruments, and not least, the whim of the performers!
Short concerts
Lunchtime concerts, coffee morning concerts and informal concerts for open days, typically of one hour duration, can be arranged.
Usually involving from two to four players recent titles have included:
- Mediaeval to Mozart
- Henry the Eighth to Haydn
- Coffee Grounds
Demonstrations, illustrated talks and lectures.
Suitable for:
music clubs, local history societes, WIs, local interest groups,
public lecture series
supplements to educational courses (schools, colleges or adult education),
background for projects and "out-of-season" events for re-enactment societies' drama groups and Art clubs.
The talks can often be tailored to suit the overarching theme of a festival or lecture series.
A one-hour demonstration talk by Carl Willetts on wind instruments from the times of Henry the Eighth and Elizabeth the First, using instruments from his collection. These include the crumhorn, shawm, rauschpfiefe, kortholt, curtal, cornamuse, renaissance flutes, rackets, recorders, whittle & dub,
A Whistle-stop History tour.
A one-hour demonstration talk by Carl Willetts on the history of the recorder and related instruments. These include the Gemshorn, swannee whistle, double bass recorder, ocarina, flageolet, garklein floetlein plus traditional instruments from South America, Indonesia, India, China, England and France.
The Gentleman Flautist.
A one-hour demonstration talk by Carl Willetts on the history of the flute and related instruments. Examples range from the six holed flutes of Henry the Eighth's time, through one keyed baroque flutes to the modern silver boehm flute. There are also traditional instruments from many different countries.
Popular Music from Eight Centuries
A one hour presentation by Carl Willetts and Mike Alexander of popular tunes from the 13th to 20th centuries played on a range of insruments from mediaeval to modern. Instruments include shawms, crumhorns, recorders, and flutes both ancient and modern. The tunes will be accompanied by an electronic keyboard for which a power supply is needed.
The Cabinet of Musical Curiosities.
A one hour presentation of some of the more excentric instruments from Carl Willetts' collection. What will appear? Perhaps the Serpent? Bagpipes? Anklung? Pico pipe? Rote? Wait and see!
Music for functions
Live background music to enhance a variety of events.
Please discuss your event in detail to ensure that what we can offer does match what you envisge and your audience expects.
Flute Salad
Flute duos (possibly trios) ideal for garden parties, cocktail and wedding receptions. Instruments may be either Baroque or modern flutes depending on the venue or event.
The Early Flute Consort
Three to six players of renaissance and baroque flutes. A programme especially suited to the ambience of historic houses. We have provided background music during "open days".
The Flute Digest
A flute and piano recital of easily digestible light classical music designed as background music at lunchtime.
The Breittreppen Serenaders.
A trio of two flutes and bassoon play pieces by Mozart, Haydn, Devienne plus eighteenth cetury miniatures. Suitable as background music for coffee mornings.
Other groups and performances.
Our eclectic interests mean that there is music in preparation besides the above. We would be please to discuss your ideas for a performance.