Event Archive
Mozart – Requiem K.626
Sunday 6th April 2025
The Vauxhall Band join the amazing all male voice Choir of St Philip’s, which includes Libera as their treble section, at their annual Passiontide service in London to perform Mozart’s Requiem.
Director – Sam Coates.
No advance booking. Payment for attending is in the form of a retiring collection/donations at the venue.
Venue: St Philip’s Church, Beech Road, Norbury, London SW16 4NW
Concert: 18.30
London Handel Festival
Garden Folk
Tuesday 1st April 2025 at 13.00
The Charterhouse
Join us at the London Handel Festival for a lunchtime concert which explores the influence of folk music on society music, song and dance from eighteenth-century London’s pleasure gardens.
The programme will include music by G.F. Handel, Thomas Arne and William Boyce, the folk who were resident composers at Vauxhall Gardens, and who sometimes drew on folk music as inspiration, along with The Myrtle by James Oswald, and more traditional folk music, including Chapel Keithack by renowned Scottish fiddler William Marshall, Farewell to Music by Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan, and Irish folk melody Der Arme Irische Junge (The Poor Irish Boy), noted down by Handel on his Messiah manuscript.
Laura Piras – Flute
Anna Brigham – Violin
Carina Drury – Cello
David Wright – Harpsichord
St Cecilia’s Hall, Edinburgh
Wednesday 21st August 2024 – 15.00
Sir Nicholas Shackleton Concert
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
A small pocket of creative activity by specialist instrument-makers such as the Stanesby, Potter and Urquhart families, led to a vast output of finely-crafted, unique flutes in London, examples of which are housed at St Cecilia’s Hall.
The Vauxhall Band perform music for the flute, violin, cello and harpsichord inspired by the stories of the people who made the flutes, performed on them, by composers associated with Vauxhall Gardens and London, including Thomas Arne, Handel, Lewis Granom, Carl Weiss and James Oswald.
Laura Piras – Flute
Anna Brigham – Violin
Carina Drury – Cello
David Wright – Harpsichord
Programme
Thomas Arne – Trio Sonata in G Major
Lewis Granom – Flute Sonata in G Major
James Oswald – Airs for the Seasons – ‘The Stock Gilliflower’
Carl Weiss – Trio Sonata in B flat Major
G. F. Handel – Trio Sonata in B Minor
Francesco Geminiani – The last Time I came o’er the Moor
This concert was generously supported by a grant award from Continuo Foundation and the Shackleton Fund.
Mc & Sons, Vauxhall
355 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QY
Sunday 28th July 2024 – 16.00
A small pocket of creative activity by specialist instrument-makers such as the Stanesby, Potter and Urquhart families, led to a vast output of finely-crafted, unique flutes in London.
In the spirit of the eighteenth century (where there was always a concert going on somewhere in a room above a pub!) The Vauxhall Band will perform at Mc & Sons, a historic pub in the heart of Vauxhall.
The Vauxhall Band perform music for the flute, violin, cello and harpsichord inspired by the stories of the people who made the flutes, performed on them, by composers associated with Vauxhall Gardens and London, including Thomas Arne, Handel, William Boyce, Lewis Granom, Carl Weiss and James Oswald. Plus some plus some Irish folk tunes by Turlough O’Carolan and others in both their original form and when they were woven into eighteenth-century London theatre music by composers such as Samuel Arnold for plays by John O’Keeffe.
Tickets £12. Drinks available from the bar.
Read programme notes for the concert here.
Laura Piras – Flute
Anna Brigham – Violin
Carina Drury – Cello
David Wright – Harpsichord
Programme
Thomas Arne – Trio Sonata in G Major
Carl Weiss – Trio Sonata in B flat Major
William Boyce – Trio Sonata in E Minor
Interval
Lewis Granom – Flute Sonata in G Major
James Oswald – Airs for the Seasons – ‘The Stock Gilliflower’
G. F. Handel – Trio Sonata in B Minor
Plus traditional Irish music by Turlough O’Carolan and others, both in original form
and as adapted by Samuel Arnold and William Shield.
This concert generously supported by grant awards from Continuo Foundation and Angel Early Music.
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
Canary Wharf, London E14 5AB
Tuesday 9th July 2024 – 19.00
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens was one of many such public spaces in London in the 17th-19th centuries. The original Vauxhall Band performed at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in an ‘orchestra’ building, elevated above crowds of thousands of listeners, who would experience the music among the trees, illuminated by lanterns and moonlight, accompanied by the heady scent of flowers and shrubs.
The Vauxhall Band perform in the amphitheatre at Crossrail Place Roof Garden, an amazing glass-covered space at Canary Wharf, which is home to many exotic plants and flowers.
A small pocket of creative activity by specialist instrument-makers such as the Stanesby, Potter and Urquhart families, led to a vast output of finely-crafted, unique flutes in London.
The Vauxhall Band perform music for the flute, violin, cello and harpsichord inspired by the stories of the people who made the flutes, performed on them, by composers associated with Vauxhall Gardens and London, including Thomas Arne, Handel, William Boyce, Lewis Granom, Carl Weiss and James Oswald.
Laura Piras – Flute
Anna Brigham – Violin
Carina Drury – Cello
David Wright – Harpsichord
Programme
Thomas Arne – Trio Sonata in G Major
Lewis Granom – Flute Sonata in G Major
James Oswald – Airs for the Seasons – ‘The Stock Gilliflower’
Carl Weiss – Trio Sonata in B flat Major
G. F. Handel – Trio Sonata in B Minor
Francesco Geminiani – The last Time I came o’er the Moor
Read the programme notes here.
This concert was generously supported by grant awards from Continuo Foundation and Angel Early Music.
Monday 8th April 2024
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio
Highgate Salon Music Concert & Supper
Basset Horns – Fiona Mitchell, Sarah Thurlow and Katherine Spencer
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio perform in the Salon Music concert series in Highgate, London. Enjoy an 18th-century themed supper after the concert, created by food historian Michelle Berriedale-Johnson, which is included in the ticket price.
A wooden, single reed wind instrument, closely related to the clarinet, the basset horn was mostly heard in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Austria and Germany, with historical evidence dating the earliest known instruments to the 1760’s.
When Czech musicians Messrs Dworschak, David and Springer came to London in 1789 and performed at Vauxhall Gardens as a Basset Horn Trio, the instrument was relatively new to London. These mysterious and unusual sounding instruments with their colourful, earthy tones created great interest. The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio will explore the repertoire that the original trio may have performed on their arrival in London.
W.A. Mozart arr. Anon – Divertimento ‘The Marriage of Figaro’
Vojtěch Nudera – Two Polonaises
Christoph Graupner – Suite No.1
Jiří Družecký – Divertimenti
W.A. Mozart – Divertimento No.1
Saturday 2nd March 2024
Classical Vauxhall Festival
Historic Dance Workshops
Led by historic dance expert Mary Collins
with music from The Vauxhall Band
Montgomery Hall, Kennington, London SE11 5SW
Workshops – 12pm and 3pm.
Join us in March to step back in time to the Georgian and Victorian dance halls. For those who want to learn a few new steps for the disco dance floor, this one’s for you!
Led by world-renowned historic dance expert Mary Collins, accompanied by The Vauxhall Band performing on period instruments, participants will learn about and experience the history of dance as a cultural form of expression, enjoyment, communication, social interaction and wellbeing.
Suitable for everyone aged 8+. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (18+) with whom they will dance. Adults may come with their chosen dance partner or alone; we will find suitable dance partners for those who need one on arrival. Participants are encouraged to wear historic costume, but this is not obligatory!
Tea House Theatre
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
Saturday 9th September 2023
Tea House Theatre, 139 Vauxhall Walk SE11 5HL | 19.30
The return of the Basset Horn Trio to Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.
Possibly for the first time in 232 years!
Basset Horns, Chalumeaux and Clarinets – Katherine Spencer, Sarah Thurlow and Fiona Mitchell
W.A. Mozart – Divertimento ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ arr. for three Basset Horns
Georg Druschetzky – Divertissement
Henry Purcell – Two in One on a Ground
Christoph Graupner – Suite No.1
Mozart – Aria arrangements
James Waterson – Second Grand Trio Concertante
Vojtěch Nudera – Polonaises
W.A. Mozart – Divertimento No.1 in C
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio perform basset horn, clarinet and chalumeaux works by W.A. Mozart, Georg Druschetzky, Vojtěch Nudera, Henry Purcell, Christoph Graupner and James Waterson.
A wooden, single reed wind instrument, closely related to the clarinet, the basset horn was mostly heard in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Austria and Germany, with historical evidence dating the earliest known instruments to the 1760’s.
When Czech musicians Messrs Dworschak, David and Springer first came to London in 1789 and performed at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens as a Basset Horn Trio, the instrument was relatively new to London. These mysterious and unusual sounding instruments with their colourful, earthy tones created great interest. The trio also performed in the Vauxhall Band on the clarinet.
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio will explore the repertoire that the original trio may have performed and the fascinating journey of the development of the instrument and its arrival into London.
Dinner and drinks available at the Tea House Theatre on the night.
This concert was generously supported by a grant award from Continuo Foundation
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio perform works by W.A. Mozart, Georg Druschetzky and Vojtěch Nudera.
A wooden, single reed wind instrument, closely related to the clarinet, the basset horn was mostly heard in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in Austria and Germany, with historical evidence dating the earliest known instruments to the 1760’s.
When Czech musicians Messrs Dworschak, David and Springer came to London in 1789 and performed at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens as a Basset Horn Trio, the instrument was relatively new to London. These mysterious and unusual sounding instruments with their colourful, earthy tones created great interest. The trio also performed in the Vauxhall Band on the clarinet.
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio will explore the repertoire that the original trio may have performed and the fascinating journey of the development of the instrument and its arrival into London.
Saint Anne’s Church, Kew
6th August 2023
Saint Anne’s Church, Kew, London TW9 3AA | 15.30
Free admission (40 minute concert)
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio perform works by Mozart, Georg Druschetzky and Vojtěch Nudera
Basset Horns – Katherine Spencer, Sarah Thurlow and Fiona Mitchell
St Cecilia’s Hall
4th August 2023 | 15.00
The Sir Nicholas Shackleton Memorial Concert
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Supported by the University of Edinburgh
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio perform works by Mozart, Georg Druschetzky and Vojtěch Nudera
Basset Horns – Katherine Spencer, Sarah Thurlow and Fiona Mitchell
W.A. Mozart – Divertimento ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ arr. for three Basset Horns
Georg Druschetzky – Divertissement
Vojtěch Nudera – Polonaise
W.A. Mozart – Divertimento No.1 in C
Lewes Baroquefest
20th July 2023 | 18.30
St Michael’s Church, Lewes, East Sussex
The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio perform works by Mozart, Georg Druschetzky and Vojtěch Nudera
Basset Horns – Katherine Spencer, Sarah Thurlow and Fiona Mitchell
W.A. Mozart – Divertimento ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ arr. for three Basset Horns
Georg Druschetzky – Divertissement
Vojtěch Nudera – Polonaise
W.A. Mozart – Divertimento No.1 in C
These concerts were generously supported by a grant award from Continuo Foundation
From the Pleasure Gardens to the Theatres
Saturday 18th February 2023 | 7pm
St Mary-at-Hill, Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EE
For this concert The Vauxhall Band will be collaborating with world-renowned historic dance specialists Mary Collins and Steven Player for a night out in London – 18th-century style!
This exciting and innovative project is inspired by the lives of the 18th-century celebrity musicians who performed at both Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens and London’s West End theatres and lived in Covent Garden.
The concert will bring back to life 18th-century London’s vibrant creative arts with an evening of music and dance typical of concerts which took place in public gardens and theatres, and were enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
Music from the Pleasure Gardens
Niccolò Jommelli – Sinfonia in E Flat ‘Periodical Overture’
Johann Christian Fischer – Oboe Concerto No. 1 in C. Soloist: Joel Raymond
Dances:
Ignatius Sancho – Minuet No.1
André Grétry – Ballet des Nymphes de Diane – Menuet de la Cour
Thomas Augustine Arne – Symphony No.2 in F
Dances:
Georg Frederic Handel – March from Scipione (The Queen Caroline dance steps)
Anon – L’Allemande
*** Interval ***
William Hamilton Bird – Airs from Hindoostan from The Oriental Miscellany – Harpsichord Soloist: David Wright
No.4 – Mutru be khoosh nuwa bego
No.20 – Rekhtah – Dill ne danne leea re
No.15 – Meera peeari ab ia re
No.16 – Tuppah – Kanja kia
Music from the Theatres
Dance:
Georg Frederic Handel – Vauxhall Hornpipe HWV 356.
Thomas Augustine Arne – Dr Arne’s Medley Overture
Samuel Arnold – Incidental Music to Macbeth: The Yellow-Hair’d Laddie
William Boyce – Symphony Op.2 No.4 – ‘The Shepherd’s Lottery’
Dances: Harlequinade
Chaconne
Music: Jean Baptiste Lully (1632–1637) – Chaconne Des Scaramouches, Trivelins et Arlequins from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme.
Gavotte: La Montpensier
Music: William Hamilton Bird – Airs from Hindoostan
No.29 – Rekhtah – Munni bibbi nocharee
No.30 – Rekhtah – Rewannah kisty
Jig
Music: Ignatius Sancho – Richmond Hill
Contredanse: Le Cotillon
Music: Johann Christoph Pepusch (1657–1752) – ‘Youth’s the Season Made for Joys’ from The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay
Dancers – Mary Collins and Steven Player
Violins – Davina Clarke, Anna Brigham
Viola – Clifton Harrison
Cello – Henrik Persson
Bass – Jan Zahourek
Oboes – Joel Raymond, Oonagh Lee
Bassoon – Chris Rawley
Horns – Richard Bayliss, Alice Kingham
Harpsichord – David Wright
Artistic Director – Laura Piras
This concert was generously supported by a grant award from Continuo Foundation
Historic Dance Schools Education Workshop
16th January 2023
We continued our education partnership with Graveney School, Tooting, London with a historic dance education workshop led by world-renowned historic dance experts Mary Collins and Steven Player.
Students aged 11-14 learned about, and experienced, the history of dance as a cultural form of expression, enjoyment, communication, social interaction and wellbeing. They danced a Minuet by Ignatius Sancho and the Schomberg Galop by Charles d’Albert.
See photos and videos from this event, and read feedback from the students here.
14th May 2022 – Tea House Theatre, Vauxhall
Launch Concert & Dinner
Songs, Marches, Dances & Symphonies
Performed on Historical Instruments
Music from the 18th and 19th Centuries, including:
18th Century arrangements by C.F. Eley of
popular songs and dances performed at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
Beethoven – Sonate Pathétique 2nd Mvt
Anonymous Harmonie Arrangement (1810)
Haydn – Symphony No.85 “La Reine”
Arranged For Wind and Brass ensemble
by Carl Bochsa (c.1800)
And other delightful rarities
Doors Open at 7.30pm, Music From 8pm
Welcome drinks on arrival
Bar Open Until Midnight
Dinner Tickets: £45 (music throughout dinner)
Music Only Tickets: £20
(Plus Booking Fee)
Tea House Theatre
139 Vauxhall Walk
London SE11 5HL
Doors open at 7.30pm, Carriages at midnight
This concert was generously supported by a grant award from Continuo Foundation