William Lawes’ large collection of pieces composed ‘for the harpe, base violl, violin, and theorbo’ is unique in English consort music repertory in that each has a harp-accompaniment part. Containing some of Lawes’ finest compositional writing for virtuoso violin and viol, with theorbo continuo, these consorts are now performed using a gut-strung, Italian triple harp instead of the brass-wire-strung Irish harp that scholarship indicates was the more plausible instrument.

IT&T present a premiere modern performance using not only an early Irish harp but also a unique, 17th-century manuscript from the Christ Church Library as one of their sources for this glorious music that would have been heard in the rapidly disintegrating court of King Charles I.

Siobhán Armstrong - Irish harp

Bojan Cicic - Violin

Reiko Ichise - Bass viol

Liz Kenny - Theorbo

This concert is part of the Instruments of Time and Truth Summer Concert Series 2023, and is generously supported by John Osborn. 

Free tickets are available for audience members under 26 thanks to the support of the CAVATINA Chamber Music Foundation.