Top orchestra in Norfolk for concert and workshop 

St Mary’s Church in Attleborough will be welcoming the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) on Saturday June 29, as part of the Attleborough Music Project (AMP), an inspiring venture that aims to create a centre of excellence for music in the region.

The London-based group is the UK’s leading period instrument orchestra and will be visiting for a special ‘Baroquebusters’ concert on Saturday 29 June at 7pm, bringing an exciting programme of tunes you’ll almost certainly know. The concert will be a fun and informative way to hear these classics afresh with friends and family, and discover why this music became instantly popular and has remained so to this day. The musicians of the OAE will guide you through why they love these pieces.

As double bass Cecelia Bruggemeyer explains, “It’s always wonderful for the OAE to play in historic buildings, on our historic ‘period’ instruments - the instruments (some original, some copies) that would have been available at the time. Performing on these 18th century instruments (modern by St Mary’s standards, I know!) tells us a lot about how the music might have been played. Just like the colours of an old painting are newly revealed after a restoration, our instruments shine a different light on these familiar works. This Baroquebusters programme is made up of pieces that have stood the test of time over several centuries, and still speak to audiences today. We look forward to sharing it with you in the vibrant musical centre that is St Mary’s”.

Presented from the stage, music to be performed includes Spring from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, ‘Air on the G String’ by Bach, Pachelbel’s Canon and more. Expect thrilling performances and plenty of earworms! The concert will be suitable for everyone aged 7 and over.

As part of the visit, the OAE will also be giving two workshops for children from local primary schools, with songs (and actions!) that the children will be able to join in with. AMP music outreach worker, Judith Williams, will be teaching the children these songs over the coming weeks so they can be ready to sing along in full voice. Judith said, “We’re all really looking forward to working with the OAE on this project, and the children in particular are very excited to be singing with a top London orchestra”.

Rev Matthew Jackson, Rector of St Mary’s Church, said: “This concert is our biggest yet and is part of our programme of summer concerts. It’s absolutely fantastic that we’re able to bring world-class music to Norfolk and inspire so many local children in music making”.

The wider work of AMP involves the reordering of church buildings to provide a purpose-built music centre. Creating this flexible space will offer an ideal venue for community events including concerts and recitals. The rebuilding of the 100 year-old church pipe organ is also in the plan. This critical attention will provide the well-used organ with a new lease of life and hopefully 100 further years of spectacular sound. Enormous efforts are underway to raise funds for this project, with the hymn marathon in August 2022 raising just over £10,000 towards the cause.

To find out more and for tickets, please visit www.attleboroughchurch.org.uk/concerts

Pictured above is the OAE workshop in action.