Blackdown Early Music Festival

Blackdowns Early Music Festival has become a mainstream event in the musical calendar for lovers of early music. Every year since 2004 expert singers from all over the UK and Europe have gathered together for occasional weekends in Culmstock to work on programmes of mediaeval, renaissance and baroque vocal music. The weekends are directed by specialist conductors whose expertise and musicanship bring new insights for both the performers and audiences at the concerts which end each weekend in a Blackdowns Church venue.

The next concert will be in St Mary's Church, Hemyock on Sunday July 5 2009 at 6.00 pm. The concert is entitled 'Saints and Sinners' and the programme comprises well-crafted, dramatic and communicative music by Carissimi, Michna, Ciaia, Leonarda and Tolar, five truly formidable C17th composers whose music is rarely performed. The singers will be accompanied by the Blackdown Festival Players, comprising five professional period instrumentalists, Jeremy Barlow, Keith McGowan, Ben Sansom, Karen Raby and Kate Fawcett, all well known on UK and EU platforms, playing under the direction of acclaimed conductor Peter Leech.

Tickets for the concert cost £8 and are available now from Geoffrey & Catherine Bass on 01884-849172 or online from www.blackdownsearlymusic.co.uk. Please phone for details, advice, or group discounts (10 or more).