Historical Performance

Key features

• Study with the important collection of instruments in the RCM Museum
• Weekly one-to-one lessons by principal players in major period instrument orchestras as well as soloists and members of well-known ensembles
• Masterclasses given each year by distinguished visiting international musicians including Dame Emma Kirkby, Michael Chance, Peter Harvey, Jordi Savall, Christopher Coin, Andrew Manze, Rachel Podger, Walter van Hauwe and Kenneth Gilbert
• Outstanding research opportunities with the RCM Library’s extensive collection of manuscripts and early printed editions
• A large collection of period instruments (string, wind and brass) which students are able to borrow, and one of the largest collections of early keyboards in any institution  

Practical classes and lectures (project-based culminating in assessed public performances and presentation classes) include:

• medieval classes with William Lyons (Dufay Collective)
• stylus phantasticus – 17th-century
• Austrian and Italian repertoire with Terence Charlston
• early 18th-century French repertoire with Lisa Beznosiuk
• baroque dance workshops with Mary Collins cello continuo classes with Richard Tunnicliffe

Non-assessed regular classes include:

• lute song with Jakob Lindberg
• tuning and temperament (16th-18th centuries) with Claire Hammett
• keyboard continuo with Terence Charlston
• ornamentation and cadenza classes with Rachel Brown
• chamber music and continuo techniques with Robert Woolley
• baroque and classical taster sessions for modern woodwind players take place in the RCM Museum with Rachel Brown (flute), Anthony Robson (oboe), Professor Colin Lawson (clarinet), Jane Gower (bassoon)

Orchestral opportunities include:

• termly performances by the RCM Baroque Orchestra within the College plus external performances at festivals in London and around the UK
• historically informed performances of Classical and Romantic repertoire directed by Sir Roger Norrington
• Bach Cantata projects directed by Ashley Solomon

Chamber music opportunities include:

• high-profile internal and external chamber music opportunities including the Handel Festival, Guildford Festival, Tilford Bach Society, Hatchlands Concert Series, London Organ Forum, St Martin-in-the-Fields and the British Library
• coaching of 18th-century repertoire available from professors and Florilegium – the RCM’s Ensemble in Association the RCM Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble are regularly directed by David Staff (from HMSC)  

Historical keyboard studies include:

• performance on and study of historical keyboard instruments and their playing styles within the College and in collaboration with other institutions
• access to unique collections of instruments and primary source materials through the RCM Library, RCM Museum of Musical Instruments and the Centres for Performance History and Performance Science, guided by internationally recognised experts in their field
• concerts, workshops, conferences and other events