Historical Performance

An understanding of early performing styles, repertoire and technique can truly enhance your musical progression.

As such, all students are given the opportunity to develop skills on historical instruments during their time with us, benefitting from the expertise of our specialist tutors and visiting artists.

How You Will Learn

The Historical Performance Teaching Fellows coordinate and coach student groups in a wide variety of music, from Baroque cantatas and trio sonatas through to chamber music of the 18th and 19th centuries. Cross-school groups are encouraged to increase your experience of working with all instrumental and vocal disciplines. Repertoire is carefully chosen to match your specific interests and level of experience.

For keyboard players, the skills associated with continuo playing, figured and unfigured bass realisation, harmonisation, and sight reading are developed from the first year as these are crucial to understanding so much of the music-making of the 17th and 18th centuries. Singers can undertake classes in historical performance technique, style and repertoire. There are plenty of opportunities, both internal and external, for performances of the repertoire studied.

Our orchestra performances, chamber concerts and opera productions often feature early repertoire, and we have an extensive range of period instruments available for student loan, including a full range of keyboard instruments (harpsichord, chamber organ and fortepiano), Baroque and Classical woodwind and brass, and a complete Baroque string orchestra. We’re also home to a Baroque Orchestra and Ensemble, a Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, and provide additional coaching, masterclasses and performance opportunities via our partnership with the Academy of Ancient Music.

Principal Study in Recorder

Principal Study is  available in Recorder at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. Recorder students will receive one-to-one lessons from Chris Orton and a newly-appointed International Tutor in Recorder, as well as tuition from all Historical Performance tutors.