Galliarda performs a wide range of music from the 16th to the 18th centuries, offering programmes ranging from English, to French, Mediterranean, and in particular Spanish and South-American music. This speciality also forms the basis of our exciting Christmas programme. Galliarda is one of the most highly-competitive of all small Early Music groups. For information on prices and availability, please get in touch.
About our programmes
All our programmes are interspersed with short readings from historical sources, most of them humorous. We are also happy to describe and demonstrate our instruments if you wish.
All our programmes are designed to present a full-length concert of two hours, to include an interval, in which the promoter would normally offer refreshments. However, we are happy to present shorter versions of approximately one hour, suitable for lunchtime concerts.
We are also happy to design a new programme specially to suit you and your event.
Programmes 2016/17
‘The Mediterranean Temperament’ – a programme of Spanish, Italian and French music
This programme has it all: passion from Spain, virtuosity from Italy and lyricism from France – all countries bordering on the Mediterranean sea – and has been newly-devised by Galliarda for 2016-2017.
The programme was first inspired by a request for some Vivaldi; so we decided to include a selection of Italian music running from the early 17th century (Cima and Frescobaldi) right through to the 18th, and to balance this with our staple Spanish music – many pieces newly discovered by Ian Gammie and set by him (listen out for the Spanish guitar!). We also include music from France, including a lovely set of folk songs, at least one of which you will know – certainly ‘Plaisir d’Amour’.
The wonderful trio sonata by Leclair falls into both camps, since Leclair was born in Lyon, but left for Italy to study dance and the violin in Turin, and ended his days in Paris. The programme ends with three witty Spanish songs, the words of which are so crucial that Sara has decided to sing them in English. Enjoy the tale of the sofa which has had several naughty adventures…!
A Tale of Two Cities – a programme of English and French music
London and Paris, as dominant centres of culture over the centuries, attracted musicians from all parts of Europe. Highlighted here are both the native and foreign composers who contributed to the strikingly rich tapestry of music to be heard in each capital. In London, works by Nicolá Matteis, Handel and C.F. Abel could be enjoyed in the Pleasure Gardens, intermingled with songs by Purcell, Arne and Chilcott, while in Paris immigrés such as Corbetta and Glück glittered alongside native musicians like Robert de Visée, Montéclair, Rameau and members of the Philidor dynasty. The music is illustrated with readings from diarists and commentators of the period.
Britannia Triumphans – a programme of English music
With vocal and instrumental music ranging from the Elizabethan and Jacobean period through to the Georgian era, this programme covers some two hundred years of English Renaissance and Baroque music. Composers whose works are featured include John Dowland, Thomas Morley, Anthony Holborne, Thomas Campian, Henry Purcell, John Playford, George Frederick Handel and Thomas Arne. Here is a panorama of joyful English music!
Music from the Land of Don Quijote – a programme of mainly Spanish and Catalan music
The Iberian peninsula has a rich and distinctive musical heritage. This programme presents an intriguing panorama of both traditional and cultured music from the late 15th century up to 1800. In addition to traditional villancicos, romances and vigorous folk dances from Catalunya and Castille, courtly composers such as Juan del Encina, Juan Vasquez and the vihuelistas are well represented. These lead on to instrumental canzonas of the 17th-century organist/composers, and to songs drawn from the lighter compositions of 18th century tonadillas escenicas. As a further diversion, there are also songs by Purcell from the Restoration stage version of The Comical History of Don Quixote.
Dr Burney’s Journey’s
This concert presents a musical tour of Europe in the footsteps of the great 18th-century musician and historian Dr Charles Burney, who met interviewed or worked with many of the great musical figures of his day from Handel to CPE Bach and visited all the important musical centres of France, Italy, Germany and Austria. Naturally we include readings from Burney’s diaries!
‘Josep i Maria’ – programme of music for Christmas
The title of this celebratory programme, ‘Josep i Maria’, is taken from a Catalan Christmas carol. Traditional carols from the different regions of Spain are strongly featured in the first part of the programme, together with folk dance music and other Christmas songs from Germany and England. We end the first half with the magnificent cantata for soprano with obbligato flute ‘Ihr Völker hört’ by Telemann, celebrating the arrival at the manger of the three kings of the orient. After the interval we present more music from the baroque era, first with a set of French pieces of which La Sainte Marie is for flute and continuo, and Allemande La Dornel for solo viola da gamba, ending with that most typical of French Christmas genres, a noël. Festive works by Handel, ‘O had I Jubal’s lyre’, and by Arne, ‘When Icicles hang by the wall’ follow on. After a group of Playford dances with seasonal titles, we end with a set of lively Spanish and Catalan villancicos.
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