Playing possibilities

At the time of setting up this website our numbers in Dorset were quite small so most of our playing was of trio sonatas, ie two "upper" instruments and basso continuo consisting of keyboard and cello. There is plenty of scope within that repertoire - we're never going to run out of "new" trio sonatas to play. To scale things up we don't need to go to large numbers but the nature of the music is such that the next natural step is to look for a string "band", with or without flutes and/or oboes, plus continuo. "Orchestral" music of the period mostly works well even with a minimal ripieno section of only one first violin, one second violin, one viola plus the continuo bass (cello) and keyboard, possibly plus featured wind or string. A characteristic feature of the period was flexibility - eg Corelli "sonatas" could be (and were)  performed by four strings or by over fifty strings, wind and continuo. (That doesn't mean that anything goes - we try to follow the precepts of the time.)

​

When this page was written our instruments included baroque flute, baroque violin, baroque oboe, baroque recorder, spinet and cello. If you would like to play with us, whether to play trio sonatas or with ambitions to build numbers up to enable us to play baroque overtures etc. here in Dorset, please go to the Contact page of this website. ( We can never have too many players of any one instrument - eg with two keyboard players we can have twice as many chances of getting together to play even if we only need one keyboard at a time.)

​

Why play baroque music with us? - it's a great joy playing chamber music (even orchestral music in the baroque is a "chamber music experience") and there is so much really excellent music easily on hand to discover. Why start now? - if not now, when?

​

If you already play baroque music, whether in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole area or out north towards Blandford and Sherborne, west to Weymouth, Dorchester or Lyme Regis and would like to get in touch, please do so.

​

Many examples of baroque orchestras can be seen and heard on Youtube. Based in Devon is the South West Baroque Orchestra      https://www.southwestbaroqueorchestra.com/       and they have several Youtube videos of concerts given in their first season - worth a look to see what can be achieved in one season with players many of whom were new to baroque playing (go online to Youtube and in their Search box put South West Baroque Orchestra).

(Some of us play with the South West Baroque Orchestra - it's quite a trek for us but well worth the effort with brilliant leaders and fellow players.)

​

Salisbury Baroque is a well-established group of baroque players with an ambitious scope. Their concerts are worth looking out for. You can find them at:  https://salisburybaroque.org.uk/

​

With a wider remit than the baroque period, the South West Early Music Forum organises workshops and other playing opportunities, including a Baroque Playing Day. Its website gives full details, a diary of events, concerts, courses (both SWEMF and other)  and (for members only) a membership list with contact details and instruments played etc if you want to get in touch to arrange your own events or playing possibilities. Find SWEMF online at https://swemf.org.uk/  , (Some of us belong to SWEMF and highly recommend it if you want to sing or play early music - the workshop days are often directed by wonderful professional early musicians. The cost of membership and workshops is incredibly low.)

​