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Playford dancing master

Frontispiece from The English Dancing Master, published in 1651 by John Playford. Public domain via Wikimedia commons. 

Today's show features instrumental music from England, including dances, keyboard and consort music by Byrd, Bull, and Handel!

  • Estampie from the Robertsbridge Codex (c. 1360), performed by Guy Bovet at the world's oldest playable organ, located in Sion, Switzerland. 
  • Selections from 'The English Dancing Master', performed by The Folger Consort, and 'Faronell's Division', performed by Hesperion XXI. Both works were published in London by John Playford
  • Lady Carey's Dompe, from the soundtrack to 'Wolf Hall', performed  by the studio orchestra on period instruments. The Fairie Rownde by Anthony Holborne, performed by Lutz Kirchhof, lute. Selectios from The Mulliner Book, performed by The Folger Consort. 
  • William Byrd: Prelude and Ground, performed by Fretwork. John Bull: The King's Hunt, My Grief, My Self. Performed by Trevor Pinnock, harpsichord. 
  • George Frideric Handel: Organ Concerto, Op. 7, No. 5 in g minor. Performed by the Academy of Ancient Music, with Richard Egarr, organ. 
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