Compagnia d'Istrumenti

Dan Edgar & Nia Lewis violins, Ailsa Reed recorders, Tim Smedley cello, Peter Seymour harpsichord.

Les Goût Réunis–The Tastes Reunited.

Compagnia d'Istrumenti is a bit of a mouthful but is only Italian for a company of instruments suggesting a loose association or pool of players which is very much in the Baroque, style.

The tunes are played by the upper voices, whether they are recorders, violins (no violas then) singers or such exotica as baroque oboe, clarion and so on. The basic recorder is not capable of the huge range of expression of its modern counterpart the flute so it makes up for it with increasingly complicated flourishes and twiddles - as do the violin and voice.

Underneath you have a continuo department which is the bass line of a piece and fleshes out the harmonies. In our case this is the cello and harpsichord. It could just as well include chamber organ, theorbo, archlute or baroque harp but different nationalities, styles and availability of funds have, from the time that the music was written, dictated the make-up of the players.

Each nation developed along fairly distinct lines from the grandeur and sumptuousness of the French (Rameau) through the endless twiddling of the Italians (Vivaldi), the richness and complicated harmonies of the Germans (Bach) to the simpler but poignant British (Purcell).

With what our budget allows, you will hear a wonderful cross-section of all of these styles in the typically straight and uplifting sound that so suits St Oswald's. Muffat, Couperin, Purcell and Telemann form the basis of the programme which I know you will find highly enjoyable played by performers at the top of their game including Peter Seymour who has run the Yorkshire Bach Choir and the York Baroque Festival for years.

Do a bit of Googling and find out more about this style that lasted 100 or so years and which , in turn, bred the classical era.

This will be Baroque playing of the highest order.

Graham Barber — organist, pianist and lecturer

Since his debut in London at the Royal Festival Hall in 1979, Graham Barber has been recognised as one of the world’s leading concert organists. He has given concerts in major venues in Britain, Europe, the Far East, the States and Australia, and has been widely broadcast.

Recent concerts have been in Prague, Leipzig, Braga, Lisbon, Coimbra and Adelaide. Reviewing his first recording in 1975, the Sunday Times described him as a ‘technically brilliant, musically mature organist.’

He has made CDs on many English, German and Dutch organs and has been described in Gramophone magazine as ‘one of the organ world’s finest recording artists.’ The magnificent organ in the photograph is that of Saint Bartholomew’s, Armley for which Graham led the restoration campaign.

Directed by Penny Stirling

Yorkshire Young Musicians offer a showcase of the many talents within the organisation. Youngsters from the Yorkshire and Humber region attend this new Centre of Advanced Training (supported by the DCSF's Music and Dance Scheme) at centres in Leeds and Hull.

A partnership with Opera North, Leeds College of Music and the local Music Services ensures that some of the region's most talented young musicians have access to the highest quality teaching and support to ensure that their aspirations for a career in music bear fruit.

Today's concert will feature a wealth and variety of talent from these young musicians. Amongst many others Stephanie Libby, flute (one of our Peter Chase Awardholders) will be playing. Will you spot a star of the future?

YYM website

“Summer is a comin’ in”

A programme of light secular choral music from different periods inspired by the summer and directed by David Howard.

A very welcome return for this popular group.

The group sings mostly a capella (unacompanied) music from the sacred and secular repertoire from early music to the present day. During most concerts there will be items for one or more voices with piano/organ accompaniment. The male section enjoy singing male voice quartet music and most concerts feature a ‘barbershop’ section.

A tribute to Stefane Grappelli

John Etheridge acoustic and electric guitars
Christian Garrick violin
Malcolm Creese bass
Dave Kelbie rhythm guitar

This quartet is a working band. Since recording their first CD ‘Sweet Chorus’ they have chalked up nearly 150 live performances in a rhythmic cohesion and creative flow that is evident from the fiirst bar.

Dave Kelbie’s rhythm guitar is a joy in itself, firm but relaxed, clearly executed but never obtrusive.

Chris Garrick is simply the most accomplished and expressive jazz violinist on today's jazz scene. consistently inventive.

Malcolm Creese is one of the most in demand bass players around. A virtuoso who never overplays, his handsome broad bass sound underpins the quartet.

As an improviser John Etheridge will go fearlessly where he has never gone before bringing a constant sense of adventure and surprise to the music. As a solo guitar performer he gives a delicate reading.