The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio, Fiona Mitchell, Sarah Thurlow and Katherine Spencer, is part of the Vauxhall Band, a collective of musicians dedicated to performing original and unique 18th and 19th century repertoire on period instruments. 

The original Vauxhall Band performed at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in an ‘orchestra’ building, elevated above crowds of thousands of listeners, who would experience the music among the trees, illuminated by lanterns and moonlight, accompanied by the heady scent of flowers and shrubs.

When Czech musicians Messrs Dworschak, David and Springer came to London in 1791 and performed at Vauxhall Gardens as a Basset Horn Trio, the instrument was relatively new to London. These mysterious and unusual sounding instruments with their colourful, earthy tones created great interest.  The Vauxhall Band Basset Horn Trio will explore the repertoire that the original trio may have performed on their arrival in London.

PROGRAMME

W.A. Mozart (1756–1791) arr. Anon - Divertimento ‘The Marriage of Figaro’
Rondo - Al desio di chi t'adora
Arietta - Voi che sapete
Aria - Non piu andrai, farfallone amoroso
It is possible that these trios may have been arranged for Mozart’s friend Anton Stadler, the leading clarinettist of his time, who also wrote 18 basset horn trios.

Vojtěch Nudera (1748–1811) - Two Polonaises
Nudera worked in Prague throughout his life. He was a violinist, clarinettist and basset horn player, and teacher at the Vysehrad chapter school. He was a leading performer at Prague's popular chamber music circles, which were widespread at the time.

Christoph Graupner (1683–1750) – Suite No.1
Minuet - Air - Air - La Speranza - Gavotte
German composer Graupner is considered to be one of the most important composers of music for the chalumeau. The chalumeau, an ancestor of the clarinet, is thought to have been developed in the late seventeenth century by the Nuremberg instrument maker and inventor of the clarinet, Johann Christoph Denner.

Jiří Družecký (1745–1819) - Divertimenti
No.18 - Allegro
No.28 - Allegro
No.22 - Andante
No.30 - Allegro
Jiří Družecký (a.k.a. Georg Druschetzky) was a Czech composer, oboist and timpanist. He wrote operas, chamber and orchestral music including 27 symphonies and concertos for various instruments - including one for six timpani! These charming works are a brilliant showcase for the basset horns. 

W.A. Mozart - Divertimento No.1 in C
Allegro
Menuetto
Andante Grazioso
Adagio
Allegro
Anton David and Vincent Springer had lived in Vienna in the early 1780’s, along with the Stadler brothers Anton and Johann, Theodor Lotz, and Karl Franz Dworschak. It can be no coincidence that, during this time, their fellow Freemason W.A. Mozart composed numerous works for the basset horn, featuring it in large scale works such as the Gran Partita and Requiem, plus several of his operas, including La Clemenza di Tito, Die Zauberflöte, and Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Mozart also wrote numerous pieces for basset horn ensemble, including his set of Divertimenti for Basset Horn Trio.

SUPPER:

Suppers at Vauxhall Gardens were notoriously mean and expensive! Keen though we are on authenticity, we will aim to be somewhat more generous while still giving  you a flavour of the Gardens !  Included in the price of your ticket.

THE PERFORMERS

The Vauxhall Band is a collective of musicians dedicated to performing a wealth of original and unique 18th and 19th century repertoire on period instruments. The ensemble is a revival of the name which the group of musicians who played at Vauxhall Gardens were referred to historically.

Based on the findings of an ongoing research project, with a focus on music in London, concert programmes are inspired by music which was performed in a variety of social and cultural contexts: from Pleasure Gardens such as Vauxhall, Ranelagh, and Marylebone, to the King’s Theatre, to concert rooms.

Bringing together leading period instrument specialists, performing rare and largely unrepresented repertoire, The Vauxhall Band are here to showcase and reaffirm this once-popular glorious music.