Concert Royal
(Flute, Cello, Harpsichord)
Concert Royal is Rachel Gray (violoncello/bass viol), Peter Harrison (flute) and John Treherne (harpsichord). They are one of England’s longest established early music ensembles. For over 50 years they have given their programmes of Georgian music to music societies and other organisations throughout the length and breadth of the land and there have been memorable South Bank and Wigmore Hall concerts.
Presenting historically appropriate music Concert Royal has performed extensively for The National Trust. Stourhead, Wallington Hall, Beningbrough Hall and many more of our great country houses have welcomed the ensemble over the years. Abroad they have toured extensively in Europe and the USA and for the British Council in South America.
They aim to entertain and engage audiences with unique opportunities to travel back to the late eighteenth century to enjoy historically informed performances on instruments whose voices were first heard more than 250 years ago.
They gave three concerts for our society in the late 1990s and asked if they could visit Middlewich again in what will be their last touring season.
Here is a PDF of the Poster for this Concert (click to VIEW or right click to SAVE). Please feel free to print and display the poster to help publicise this concert.
Programme (announced 19th January)
Music for a Georgian Drawing Room
J. Oswald: The Ranunculus
(4 movements)
J. Gunn: Four Favourite Scotch Airs for a Flute and a Violoncello
E. Galliard: Violoncello Sonata
(4 movements)
Dr. E. Miller: Harpsichord Sonata
(3 movements)
J. Oswald: The Crocus
(2 movements)
INTERVAL
C. F. Abel: Viola da Gamba Sonata
(3 movements)
J C Bach: Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord
(2 movements)
G. F. Handel: Fantasia for Harpsichord
G. F. Handel: Musik for the Royal Fireworks
(5 movements)
3 Dances: The Waterloo Dance – Lady Hamilton’s Fancy – Spirit of the Dance
Brief Report “on the night”
A fascinating concert. Most of the music was new to us, but none the worse for that. The artists were obviously very keen to make sure that we understood the significance of the history of their instruments, taking in in turns to introduce their own instrument in the gaps between the various pieces they played. The concert started with a piece for all 3 players, then came pieces for Flute & Cello, Cello & Harpsichord, solo Harpsichord and then back to all 3 to finish the first half.
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| Rachel on Cello | Peter on Flute |
The second half began with a new instrument, a Bass Viol which gave a beautiful tone to the first piece (a duet with the Harpsichord). Next came pieces for Flute and Harpsichord and solo Harpsichord. Then came the first piece recognised by most of the audience, Handel’s “Musik for the Royal Fireworks” in a special period arrangement for just these 3 instruments. After much applause, we were then treated to a bonus piece, Handel’s “Halleluiah Chorus”, again in a period arrangement for solo Flute. Finally came 3 dances to close the concert.
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| Rachel playing Bass Viol in a duet with John on Harpsichord |
Press Report
The Concert Royal played in Middlewich in 1999. This season is likely to be their last on tour so the Middlewich and District Concerts Society was delighted to be able to welcome them back, with a programme entitled “Music for a Georgian Drawing Room”. The three musicians, Rachel Gray (violoncello and viola da gamba), Peter Harrison (flute) and John Treherne (harpsichord) all provided the audience with informative backgrounds to the music and their instruments.
Most of the music was unfamiliar, but none the worse for that. The first half opened and closed with pieces by James Oswald (The Ranunculus and The Crocus). Apparently he was a prolific composer, most of his pieces being named after plants. This was followed by John Gunn’s Four Favourite Scotch Airs for Flute and Cello. Both instruments dated from the 1790s and seemed to have deeper tones than their modern equivalents. Johann Ernst Galliard’s Violoncello Sonata was impressive, as was the Harpsichord Sonata by Dr. Edward Miller. John’s harpsichord was new when they last came to Middlewich.
Second half began with a Viola da Gamba Sonata by Carl Friedrich Abel. Rachel explained that the instrument was related to the guitar. It had a lighter tone, more like a modern cello. Abel worked with Johann Christian Bach in London and we heard the latter’s Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord. The most familiar music was a selection from Handel’s Musik for the Royal Fireworks. Peter said that arrangements of popular large scale pieces were made quite quickly for smaller groups of instruments. Handel’s Messiah for solo flute appeared monthly over several years and he illustrated this with a performance of the Halleluiah Chorus! The concert ended with three dance tunes. A fascinating evening!
For more information about Concert Royal visit their own website (in a new window), by clicking HERE.
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