Galliarda Baroque Music Ensemble

I am the soprano and harpsichordist of the Galliarda Baroque Ensemble, my name is Sara Stowe.  For a long time Galliarda has had an interest in the settings of Shakespeare songs - I sang the role of Juno in the masque scene of Shakespeare's The Tempest at the Tokyo Globe and our theorbo player, Matthew Spring, has written articles about John Wilson's settings of Shakespeare songs, which he has also edited.  It is this experience that shapes Galliarda's current project to record the works of John Wilson.  

Galliarda is an ensemble of musicians specialising in performing baroque music.  We made our first tour for Making Music in 2015.  Since then we have recorded a CD of 18th century music by little known female composers called `An Enlightened Heart'.  This CD was made with a grant from the Diane Ambache Foundation.  We then toured the programme with help from the Continuo Early Music Foundation.

John Wilson (1595-74) 

John Fletcher (1579-1625)

We are happy to be joined by three new generation singers in our latest project.  Soloists Catherine Chapman, Lewis Spring and Chris Murphy have appeared on tour in Britain, at festivals and most recently in the historical film `Firebrand'.  This experience gives them a historical awareness, perfect for the the music of our composer, actor, singer and Oxford Professor of Music, John Wilson.  

With your help we will be able to create an album of the music Wilson wrote for plays by Shakespeare and Fletcher, a text by Bacon and a rarely heard Lament of Charles 1st awaiting execution! Many of our pieces were not only composed, but also, performed by Wilson who worked for the King's Men Company with whom he toured throughout the country and, in London, at the Globe and Blackfriars Theatres.

Our CD of John Wilson's Music - Angell's Musicke in Mortall's Dresse

We have interest from Tremula Records to release our CD which will be called `Angell's Musicke in Mortall's Dresse'.  This is the title of our recent tour programme, which was funded by Angel Music Trust and the Continuo Foundation.  The recording will include John Wilson's music for Shakespeare's The Tempest,  a Winter's Tale, for Fletcher's  The Beggar's Bush and for Bacon's  Masque of Flowers. 

17th century Masque costumes

Galliarda asks for your help in donating to the recording of this charming and dramatic repertoire connected to the works of these major playwrights and writers at the close of the English Golden Age.