The Silver Birch tree, symbolising renewal and purification in Celtic mythology, plays a central role in an intriguing January concert entitled ‘Birch Tales.’ Composer and keyboard player James Batty and his ensemble The Picardy Players provide a rare glimpse into life in Kyivan Rus’ in the Middle Ages through a programme of old and new music inspired by fascinating personal letters written on strips of birch bark, unearthed in recent decades.
Using an otherworldly 16th-century musical language from Renaissance Italy with 31 notes to the octave, the new compositions are written for period instruments, to bridge the gap historically between the protagonists’ world and our own. The programme is framed by microtonal gems written 400 years apart by Nicola Vicentino (1511-1576) and György Ligeti (1923–2006).
In a recent article exploring the context of this project, James recounts to Continuo Connect how his fascination with period instruments began and explains his inspiration for rediscovering this original Renaissance repertoire.
We hope you will enjoy exploring further January concert ideas below. There is a full listing of upcoming events on Continuo Connect which can be searched by repertoire, location or date. We have also created a curated page highlighting some of the exciting early music festivals and concert series coming up in the new year.
We wish you a fantastic start to 2024.
January Concert Ideas
18 January 12:45pm, St Mary the Virgin, Aylesbury
Join the Flutes & Frets Duo on a journey through the centuries as they present a chronological programme that showcases the way music and instruments have transformed over time. Performing works on flutes and fretted instruments, the duo explore a variety of music from the past 500 years, including works by Dowland, Boismortier, Rossini, Piazzolla & Chick Corea. Find out more
19 January 12pm, Jubilee Hall, Britten Pears Arts, Aldeburgh
Described as ‘Early Music’s very own Spice Girls’, the recorder quartet Palisander will present its ‘Double, Double, Toil & Trouble’ programme, exploring the theme ‘magic and music’ in repertoire spanning 900 years performed on recorders ranging from 6 inches to 6 feet tall. Palisander blend spoken word, poetry and singing, movement and choreography, to create a unique concert presentation. Find out more
21 January 6pm, Heath Street Baptist Church, London
1039 is an exploration of the creative meeting point between baroque music and jazz. Liturina collaborates with jazz musician and composer Jonny Mansfield to produce a new work based on JS Bach’s trio sonata BWV 1039, making use of historical instruments in surprising and innovative ways. This project, supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation, follows another inspired by BWV 1038. Find out more
24 January 7:30pm, West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge
Hearing all six Brandenburg Concertos, six controlled explosions of fantasy, melody and exuberant joy in one concert, is what the Academy of Ancient Music are offering in their January concerts. When performed with the period instruments and historically-informed playing techniques of the AAM, under the direction of Laurence Cummings OBE, Bach’s inspiration and vitality shine through. The programme will also be performed at Milton Court, London on 25 & 26 January. Find out more
January Spotify Playlist
Check out our curated Spotify playlist with a selection of recordings by ensembles with UK concerts in January. Have a listen — and then hear them live. You will find all their concert dates listed on www.continuoconnect.com