The Practitioners of Musick

On the weekend of October 14-16, 2022 for Brandywine Baroque under the direction of Karen Flint of Wilmington, Delaware, John Burkhalter, Practitioner of Musick and Independent  Scholar, presented the illustrated lecture “Gainsborough and His Circle of Musical Friends.” Gainsborough’s varied musical interests are reflected in both his correspondence and his paintings. His younger daughter, Margaret, once remarked that her father was… “led much into the company of musicians, with whom he often exceeded the bounds of temperance…being occasionally unable to work for a week afterwards.”

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) is considered one of the most important British artists of the 18th century and was himself an accomplished musician playing both the harpsichord and the bass viol. He entertained an illustrious group of musical friends including John Christian Bach, Charles Frederick Abel, members of the Linley family, and John Christian Fischer, amongst many others. Fischer, an acclaimed oboe virtuoso, was also Gainsborough’s son in law having married the artist’s elder daughter, Mary.

A fast friend, the actor David Garrick, described Gainsborough as … “being crammed with genius”.

For further information please visit the Brandywine Baroque website.

This program was featured on June 17, 2021 as part of the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Concert series.   

 In America throughout the 18^th century amateur music making was an accomplishment through which good manners, taste, and politeness could be displayed in the pursuit of refinement.  The ability to play a musical instrument as well as sing, dance, and draw were important fashionable skills to be cultivated under the tutelage of professional music tutors, masters of the dance, and artists. Since music making was a collaborative endeavor bringing players and listeners together, it was thought to be an important way to convey the felicities of social harmony.

THE CONCERT PROGRAM:

 A Chamber Solo composed by Mr. Handel in Giulio Cesare

The Scots Ground set by Mr. Robt. Bremner

Lesson taken from Corelli’s 10^th Concerto

A Pastorale as set by Domenico Zipoli from his Lessons

“Lovely Nancy” set by James Oswald

Minuet in Rodelinda as compos’d by Mr. Handel

The celebrat’d Gavotta in Love in a Village as set by Mr. Abel

Dr. Arne’s fam’d Air “Water Parted from the Sea” from Artaxerxes

“Generous Love” the Favourite Air by Mr. Henry Carey

Lord Kelly’s Minuet

Air Champêtre par M. Balbastre

Dances in Queen Mab composed by Mr. Dibdin

“The Flowers of the Forrest” as set by Mr. Bremner

Mr. Stanley’s Gavot taken from the Concertos

“Cibel” set by Mr. Bremner

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