Gibbons 400 Festival
- Date 7 March 2025 - 9.00 a.m. - 9 March 2025 - 7.00 p.m.
- Location St John's College Chapel
We're delighted to be partnering with Chelys for the third time, for a programme of outreach activities and concerts for the 400th anniversary of the death of Orlando Gibbons.
Friday March 7th
Masterclass for young organists
with Christian Wilson (Director of Music at Keble College)
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Concert: The Best Hand In England
The masterful instrumental music of Gibbons
Chelys with David Bannister, Director of Music at St John's (keyboard)
Delve into the wonderfully diverse instrumental music of Orlando Gibbons. From intricate two-part gems, to sumptuous 6-part fantasias, via the trios and quartets including the ‘great dooble bass’, and the mesmerising in nomines. He crafted some of the best consort music in existence, so what better way to celebrate his 400th anniversary year than by enjoying all of it!
7.30pm, St John's College Chapel
Tickets here
Saturday March 8th
Viola da Gamba Society Meeting
A day of talks hosted by the VdGS, including a trip to Christ Church Library to see some of the original prints containing Gibbons' music.
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Concert: A Heavenly Harmony
Journey through the life of Orlando Gibbons
Chelys with Vespri Segreti and the chapel choir of St John's College
Chart Orlando Gibbons’s life from his birth in Oxford, his employment and travels with the Chapel Royal, to his untimely death in Canterbury in 1625. Gibbons wrote pieces that can be linked to specific people and places throughout his life, and he worked alongside some of the most influential musicians of the age.
This concert features 'This is the Record of John', a piece written specifically for the chapel at St John's at the request of William Laud.
7.30pm, St John's College Chapel
Tickets here
Sunday March 9th
Concert: Dainty Fine Bird
Featuring the wry humour and moralistic wit of the madrigal collection
Chelys with Emily Atkinson (soprano)
Interweaving the wry humour and moralistic wit of the madrigal collection that Gibbons himself described as ‘apt for viols and voices’, with some of the most expertly crafted instrumental repertoire for viols.
3pm, St John's College Chapel
Tickets here
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Music and Readings for Lent: Chelys and the chapel choir of St John's College
6pm
No tickets necessary, just turn up!
