In the early eighteenth century a repertory of music for two harpsichords developed in northern Germany, exploiting the large and sonorous instruments made in that area at the time. J. S. Bach’s great Concerto in C major BWV1061 is normally played today with string accompaniment, though the original version seems to have been for harpsichords alone.

In this programme it is contrasted with Handel’s Suite in C minor HWV446, probably written in Hamburg in about 1705, and the Suite in G minor by Handel’s friend Johann Mattheson, written at about the same time for his pupil Cyril Wich, the son of the English ambassador in Hamburg.

The two harpsichords used in this concert are copies of instruments by the Hamburg maker Johann Christoph Fleischer and the Hanover maker Christian Vater. They were made by Colin Booth, who combines a career playing and teaching the harpsichord with making instruments near Wells in Somerset. Steven Devine plays and directs regularly at the Festival. He is one of the foremost harpsichordists of the younger generation, and spends much of his time directing ensembles from the keyboard. Colin and Steven will introduce the music and the instruments during the concert.