Elemental Music

2024 marks the 250th anniversary of Joseph Priestley's discovery of oxygen – the breath of life. This milestone inspires four unique programmes centred around the ancient elements of Fire, Earth, Air, and Water, each focusing on our need to sustain the beauty of our world.

Fire | Renaissance at Edgcote: This programme features music by Hildegard of Bingen and cantigas by Alonso el Sabio, celebrating the 800th anniversary of a historic hidden-away church. It also includes rarely heard pieces by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani and fiery works for violin by Tartini.

Water | Bach & Tartini: Explore Venice, the Queen of the Sea, whose myriad canals attracted numerous musicians, including the great violin virtuosi Tartini and Veracini. The modest 'stream' of J.S. Bach (alias John 'Brook') inspires even greater heights of musical creativity.

Air | Handel & Bach at Fotheringhay: From the gentle breath of the spirit to the violent winds stilled by Handel in "Silete Venti," Fiori explore the potency of Air. The programme includes rare music by Isabella Leonarda for the Feast of the Assumption and Telemann’s humorous take on Don Quixote tilting at windmills.

Earth | Music at Fawsley: Harvest time and the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ inspire Fiori to perform opulent music from Telemann’s "Tafelmusik." Contemplation of Mother Earth suggests a cornucopia of pieces built over a ‘ground’ bass, including Telemann’s haunting Paris Quartet in E minor and excerpts from J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations.