A new series of summer evening concerts will fill the scenic setting of the University of Aberdeen’s King’s College Chapel with music throughout August.
The free, informal concerts will run each Thursday in August at 8pm and will begin this Thursday (August 5) with Jeremy West, one of Europe’s finest virtuoso Cornett players, and leader of the world renowned early brass group His Majesty’s Sackbutts & Cornetts.
He will perform Italian music from the seventeenth century and will be accompanied by Roger B. Williams, the Director of the series.
The Music at 8 concerts will be the final chapel series for Dr Williams, who retires as Master of Chapel and Ceremonial Music and Organist to the University at the end of the month.
The second concert, on August 12, will feature award winning flautist Kay Ritchie who will play sonatas by Handel. Dr Williams will also play Italian concertos for organ by Albinoni and Gentili.
This will be followed, on August 19, by the Assistant Music Director of St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge, London, Christian Wilson, who has made a study of Renaissance Organ Music in England and will play music by William Byrd, Scheidemann, Tunder and J.S.Bach.
The final concert of the series (on August 26) will be given by various members of the University., beginning with some Sinfonias by Ruggieri, a little known composer who was influential on Vivaldi’s development.
These have recently been discovered by Dr Jasmin Cameron of the Music Department and will be their first performance in recent times. The programme will be completed with a performance of Bach’s celebrated Brandenburg Concerto no.4 with soloists Nathalie Vanballenberghe (violin), and Ed Friday and David Smith (recorders).
Dr Williams said: “King’s College Chapel is a wonderful venue for concerts with fine acoustics.
"I am thrilled that the series of Music at 8 will be opened by such a celebrated artist. It will be a real pleasure to hear the mellow tones of the Cornett in our medieval Chapel.
“Jeremy West will set the tone for musical talent and each week will feature top calibre performers from different genres.
“I would urge everyone to come along and share this wonderful experience.”
Each concert will last around 50 minutes or so and admission will be free (donations welcome). They will be held at King’s College Chapel, off the High Street, Old Aberdeen.