Trunch Concerts 2011 – Music in an historic Norfolk Church

Concert Saturday 2nd April 2011, 7.30pm

MINSTRELS’ GALLERY

‘Tails from the Tower’

Jane & Tony Scheuregger (Norwich) and friends, all costumed, sing and play many rare instruments in a lively, tuneful medieval evening, exploring the relationship between man and nature.
www.minstrelsgallery.com

‘Tails From The Tower’ – It is a little known fact that in medieval times the Tower Of London housed the first ever collection of animals or “zoo” which continued in one form or another right up until the nineteenth century. This is the starting point for our concert entitled “Tails From The Tower”. Medieval man’s connection with both mythical and actual birds and animals has given rise to much music and verse. Examples such as the comic El Grillo by Josquin des Prez to the melancolic Silver Swan by Orlando Gibbons and dances like Horses Branle and Playford’s Chirping Of The Nightingale all illustrate very different connections between man and nature.

Minstrels Gallery is an experienced group of musicians performing medieval and renaissance music in historically accurate period costume. “We play on a very wide range of instruments and sing both solo and in consort. Our repertoire encompasses music from around 1100 through to the time of the restoration.”

Tony and Jane Scheuregger form the nucleus of the group, which is then augmented as required up to eight musicians. They both have many years experience teaching, publishing and performing music with a special interest in early music.

“We always aim to make our concerts fun and accessible to a wide audience who may not necessarily have had much experience of live early music. We will try to use most of our 40 different authentic period instruments and provide a running commentary on the music, historical setting and contemporary readings.”