Georg Muffat (1653-1704) lived through a time of immense political and musical change in Europe, influencing future generations of musicians. He studied and worked in France during the early part of Louis XIV’s reign, worked in Rome, encountering Corelli, and then in various parts of central Europe. This was a time of transformation in the musical landscape, with rivalry between old and new factions. Muffat was the first person to bring French musical language and the fashion for dance idiom to Germany. His immense skill in fusing different musical styles, be it German, French or Italian made him a true trendsetter.

 

The Band explores his legacy in the form of chamber and orchestral music by composers including Bach and Handel, with four concerts (plus a dance-music workshop and illustrated pre-concert talks) providing a comprehensive musical survey, as well as a natural ebb and flow in terms of mood and scale, small chamber versus orchestral line-ups, and art music versus dance music.

Concerts include music from Muffat’s Armonico Tributo ‘chamber sonatas suitable for few or many instruments’) in varying church and chamber style, as well a selection from the two volumes of Muffat’s ground-breaking Florilegium.

 

Fri 23 February 7.30pm

The German Violin School

The emergence of a new style of violin writing in Germany in the 17th century (under composers including Biber, Muffat and Schmelzer) was to have a profound impact on the rise of the violin as a solo instrument in this region. Sensual music for 1 and 2 violins, 2 violas and continuo written by composers from the South of the country, is typified by its florid and ornate style.

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Sat 24 February 10.30am

Dance Workshop - An Introduction to Baroque Dance

Have you always wanted to know a little more about the relationship between baroque music and the dance steps that so often accompanied it, and were such an important part of courtly life in the 17th and 18th centuries?

Renowned Baroque dance teacher Philippa Waite leads a workshop suitable for all ages from 8 years upwards. No previous experience or partner required. The session will focus on basic steps found in typical dance types such as bourée, minuet, sarabande, gigue etc. as well as touching on the etiquette of the period.

Live music will be provided by members of The Brook Street Band.

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Sat 24 February 7.30pm

All About The Dance

Following on from the morning’s exhilarating dance workshop, experience some of the wonderfully rich and joyous orchestral music for strings, flutes and recorders that was such an important part of life at French Courts and further afield. 

Festival Talk -  5.30pm (free to ticket holders of the evening performance)

Muffat – his life, his music and his legacy
Tatty Theo presents an illustrated talk, exploring this rich period of political and musical change in 17th-century Europe that shaped and defined Muffat’s music.

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Sun 25 February 11.00am

The Italian Influence

An intimate chamber programme (for 1 and 2 violins and continuo) which explores the Italian influence on chamber music by Muffat and Handel, paired with works by Corelli, the pre-eminent Italian virtuoso violinist of the period.

Today we credit Corelli with providing the template for so many Italianate musical innovations in the baroque era. However, Muffat’s Italian-styled violin sonata of 1677 predates all of Corelli’s chamber music, and shows that Italian influence prevailed in Germany before Muffat even encountered Corelli.

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Sun 25 February 3.00pm

The Concerto

What better way to end a festival than with a glorious programme of solo and orchestral concertos!

Muffat’s influence stemmed far and wide, incorporating both French and Italian style, and his hugely important legacy is beautifully illustrated in these wonderful works by composers far better-known than Muffat today, but who each owe him a huge debt of gratitude.

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