Georg Muffat festival at St John's Smith Square

Georg Muffat: Toccata Quinta

The Brook Street Band is following up its 2017 Handel Festival with another weekend devoted to a single Baroque composer. This time, 23-25 February 2018 at St John's Smith Square will be devoted to Georg Muffat. He was born in the Duchy of Savoy in 1653, his father was Scottish and he trained in Paris (possibly with Lully) and worked extensively in Germany and Austria as well as travelling it Italy.

Muffatt is best known for the performance directions which he printed in his collections of string pieces. Intended to help German musicians perform in the French style, they are invaluable to modern period performance practice.

The Brook Street Band's festival will explore a wide range of Muffatt's music, from chamber pieces to orchestral, in a series of concerts where Muffatt will be played alongside his contemporaries. There are also other events including a dance workshop, examining the steps which would have been used to dance to the music whose dance-forms find their way into Baroque music, and the Brook Street Band's artistic director Tatty Theo will be giving an illustrated talk on Muffatt.

Full details from the St John's Smith Square website.