Musical & Amicable Society:

Kate Fawcett violin      Catherine Martin violin     Anna Palmer violin

Jonathan Rees bass viol and bass violin     Lynda Sayce theorbo and guitar

Martin Perkins harpsichord and organ

At the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles I reappointed many of the court musicians who had served his father. Yet, years in exile in France had changed his own tastes and preferences and this influenced the reformed musical organisations and the music written for them. This period saw the decline in consorts of viols and winds, and the emergence of the violin as the instrument of choice. The arrival in England of German virtuoso violinist Thomas Baltzar had an undoubted impact on the direction of musical landscape and the flourishing of the unusual combination of three violins and continuo for court ensembles. His masterful Suite in C led to a small flourishing of works for the same forces, by Mattes, Finger, and (undoubtedly the crowning achievement of the genre) Purcell.