Gibbons 400 Festival

The festival, held from March 7th to 9th, was a spectacular tribute to the legacy of Orlando Gibbons. Partnering once again with Chelys, the college was home to a series of concerts, lectures, and masterclasses, drawing musicians, scholars, and enthusiasts together in celebration of one of England’s finest composers.

The celebration commenced on Friday with a masterclass for young organists led by Christian Wilson, Director of Music at Keble College. Using the college's two Aubertin organs, participants explored repertoire by Gibbons and his contemporaries, offering a hands-on experience in historically informed performance practice.

We were delighted to welcome such talented young people from across the city to St John's, and we'll be keeping an eye out for their names in future!

That evening, the first of the festival’s major concerts, The Best Hand in England, showcased Gibbons' masterful instrumental compositions. Performed by Chelys with David Bannister on keyboard, the programme spanned the composer's rich and varied consort music. The audience was treated to exquisite two-part works, intricate six-part fantasias, and the distinctive ‘great dooble bass.’

Saturday saw a gathering of the Viola da Gamba Society for a day of discussions and performances. Dr. Katie Bank led a talk on Beauty and Expression in Orlando Gibbons’ Recreational Song, followed by a visit to Christ Church Library to examine early printed sources of Gibbons’ music. Young performers Sarah Small and Tim Lin also took to the stage, showcasing the next generation of talented players.

The evening concert, A Heavenly Harmony, transported the audience through the key moments of Gibbons’ life and career. Featuring Chelys, Vespri Segreti, and the chapel choir of St John's College, the programme highlighted works that connected Gibbons to significant figures and places.

A special moment of the evening was a performance of This is the Record of John, a piece composed for St John’s Chapel at the request of William Laud.

On Sunday afternoon, we were treated to another concert for viols and voice with Dainty Fine Bird, a performance that explored the composer’s secular works. Soprano Emily Atkinson joined Chelys to bring Gibbons’ vocal music to life. The concert interwove madrigals ‘apt for viols and voices’ with some of his most celebrated consort pieces, highlighting the beauty and depth of his compositions.

The festival concluded with Music and Readings for Lent, featuring Chelys and the chapel choir of St John’s College. This contemplative hour in chapel combined Gibbons’ sacred music and the words of John Donne in a moving and intimate service, and was a perfect ending to our commemoration.

The weekend marked our fourth collaboration with Chelys, a partnership which brings huge benefits to our young singers. We hope to welcome them back to St John's in the future to build on the huge success of Gibbons 400.