Roger Wilkes has been directing early music events in NW England, including in Hoole, Chester, and in Carnforth, Lancashire, now for many years. Most of these are organised by the North West Early Music Forum (NWEMF). The events in Chester cater for singers and players of Renaissance instruments (recorders, viols, lute, cornetts and sackbuts, etc.); the event in Carnforth is for competent singers only.

The early music day courses in Hoole, Chester, are a firmly-established feature of the calendar of early music events in Chester and the surrounding district. On 15 October we investigated a selection of sacred works by Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611). Future early music courses will take place in or around Hoole in 2012, for which details and booking forms may be obtained from North West Early Music Forum (NWEMF).

During the past few years NWEMF has established a warm friendship with the clergy and musicians of Carnforth Parish Church, in Lancashire, and, each February since 2003, a workshop has taken place which has culminated in a service. On 4 February 2012 we will be rehearsing and performing a variety of chorales and motets based on selected chorale preludes from J.S. Bach’s Orgelbüchlein. The service will include pieces from this collection, and accompanied and unaccompanied choral items. Music by composers from the 16th to the 18th century both well-known (e.g., Bach, Pachelbel, M. Praetorius) and less so (e.g., Gesius) will be featured. As always, full details and application forms may be obtained from the NWEMF web site, or from Mostly Music.

This web site last updated: 30 October 2011