Concert Royal, an ensemble of a soprano, harpsichord, flute and cello, will give a concert of 18th century British music, Under the Greenwood Tree, in Melrose Parish Church Hall on Sunday, December 9, at 2.30pm.
The programme includes the well-known title song together with Where the Bee Sucks, Rule Britannia! and instrumental music by Thomas Arne, in addition to pieces by Handel and Purcell and music by Galliard, Burgess, Miller, Stanley, Ranish and Boyce. Some of the works will be preceded by readings from A General History of Music by Charles Burney (1789).
Concert Royal was founded in 1974 by flautist Peter Harrison and harpsichordist John Treherne.
Together with soprano Margarette Ashton and cellist Rachel Gray, the ensemble aims to recreate the elegant worlds of the baroque and classical eras.
Concert Royal has developed a distinctive style, presenting unique performances of music from the 18th century drawing room in an entertaining and informative way.
The ensemble has given hundreds of recitals across the UK, performing extensively for the National Trust, in festivals and for music and arts societies, in churches, schools and arts centres. Concert Royal has toured in Europe, the US and in South America for the British Council.
Tickets at the door cost £12. Accompanied children enter free.