French Baroque Masterworks

The Lute Society's autumn meeting has an international flavour exploring the music of France, Italy and Scotland. Francesca Torelli will talk about Giovanni Battista Granata and Madame Bocquet and will give the day's main recital of 11-course D minor lute music by the great luthistes, with some transcriptions of harpsichord music.

Earlier in the day, Tom Knight will talk about the Skene mandora manuscript, whose music will be unlocked for lute players in his forthcoming edition, to include lute transcriptions. Dowland is also celebrated in his quatercentenary year, with mini-recitals from Philip Turner and from Michael Fields with Ensemble Tramontana.

Full timetable of events:
11:00 Arrival and coffee
11:30 Giovanni Battista Granata, life and music, and Madame Bocquet – talk by Francesca Torelli
12:30 Mini-recital: Philip Turner – music from Francesco da Milano to Robert de Visée, via John Dowland
13:15 Lunch
14:15 Mini-recital: Michael Fields with Ensemble Tramontana (Timea Gazdag soprano, Esha Neogy and Amanda Seaborn viols) – songs from Dowland's Pilgrimes Solace
15:00 Lecture recital: The Skene mandore manuscript – music and a new edition, Tom Knight
16:00 Tea, wine and home-made cake
16:30 The Lute Society Recital: Francesca Torelli plays French Baroque masterworks on 11-course D minor lute – music and transcriptions by de Visée, Couperin, Mouton, Gallot, Rameau and others