^{FIRST PUBLISHED 10 JAN 2026}

The Brook Street Band’s latest album features the violin sonatas of English composer Joseph Gibbs (1698-1788). Gibbs is one of the 18th century’s best-kept secrets; his music is characterful and individual, fusing the best of Italianate virtuosity with English and quirky Gibbsian humour. Despite the obvious brilliance of his compositions, the 8 Sonatas for violin and basso continuo, Op. 1 (c 1746) are one of only two published sets of music surviving, and there are scant references to Gibbs in the years after his death.

However, the re-emergence of his portrait (painted by Thomas Gainsborough) in the early years of the 20th century sparked a curiosity and interest in Gibbs’s music, which has been described as amongst ‘the finest English violin sonatas of the century’.

‘The three members of The Brook Street Band perform with admirable engagement and subtlety here – robust where necessary, deft elsewhere – and have been most attractively recorded. [. . .] This venturesome disc expands our appreciation of English instrumental music of the period in high style.’ Music Web International

‘The members of The Brook Street Band, Rachel Harris (violin), Tatty Theo (cello), and Carolyn Gibley (harpsichord) certainly seem to consider this music to be of high stature as they expose all of its finer stylistic details and help extricate this composer’s name from the shadows.’ Classical Music Sentinel

‘The Brook Street Band [. . .] presents the music [. . .] so that one can easily understand the composer’s role as a bridge between the Baroque and gallant styles in these tasteful interpretations.’ Pizzicato

▶

^{A preview of The Brook Street Band’s recording of Joseph Gibbs’s 8 Sonatas for violin and basso continuo}

Joseph Gibbs (1698–1788)
8 Sonatas for violin and basso continuo, Op. 1 (c. 1746)
Sonata No. 1 in D minor
Sonata No. 2 in A
Sonata No. 3 in G
Sonata No. 4 in B flat
Sonata No. 5 in E
Sonata No. 6 in F
Sonata No. 7 in A minor
Sonata No. 8 in E flat

The Brook Street Band
Rachel Harris violin
Tatty Theo cello
Carolyn Gibley harpsichord

Recorded at The Great Barn, Oxnead Hall, Norfolk, UK, 7-10 February 2025
Produced, recorded and edited by Robin Bigwood

Released in November 2025, the album is available to purchase from the Brook Street Band online shop and the First Hand Records label, and to listen on all major streaming platforms.