A group of young musicians is touring Devon this month telling the musical history of the county through some unusual seventeenth century music with local connections.

The Morley Consort is performing on historical instruments with narrations from first-hand accounts in Tavistock, Ashburton, Totnes, Exeter and finally on the Golden Hinde ship in London. The Morley Consort is supported by the Continuo Foundation.

The Morley Consort (referring to sixteenth-century English composer Thomas Morley’s penchant for mixing instrument families) is the term given by early German instrument expert Praetorius' to describe a ‘broken’ consort.

The musicians explore radical historical practices though early music, each member brings individual passion to create a holistic approach to their performances.

They reconstruct sixteenth and seventeenth-century instruments, using historical rehearsal methods and music as a medium for socialising and historical teaching.

They enjoy sharing the results of their research in concert settings, through musical and verbal engagement.

By combining applied research, craftsmanship and a desire to question established historical performance norms, the ensemble strives to be at the cutting edge of the next generation of the historical performance movement. They achieve this using techniques and practices gleaned from primary sources and academically research to bring exciting, unexplored sounds to life for their audiences.

Jude Chandler plays a small selection of eccentric and entirely unprofitable bass instruments. He is the youngest-ever recipient of an Honorary Fellowship of the Guild of Musicians and Singers.
Jude Chandler (violone) plays a small selection of eccentric and entirely ‘unprofitable’ bass instruments. He is the youngest-ever recipient of an Honorary Fellowship of the Guild of Musicians and Singers. (Morley Consort)
Tess Roberts (viol) has been exploring historical instruments since childhood. A collaborator at heart, she enjoys sharing the playful nature of early musical styles with audiences and students. She currently organises open viol playing sessions at the Royal Academy of Music.
Tess Roberts (viol) has been exploring historical instruments since childhood. A collaborator at heart, she enjoys sharing the playful nature of early musical styles with audiences and students. She organises open viol playing sessions at the Royal Academy of Music. (Morley Consort)
Madison Marshall (viola/violin) has a varied career as a chamber musician, researcher, and historical performance specialist. She is a PhD student at the Royal Academy of Music, researching seventeenth-century female composers and transcribing a selection of their works for viola.
Madison Marshall (viola/violin) has a varied career as a chamber musician, researcher, and historical performance specialist. She is a PhD student at the Royal Academy of Music, researching seventeenth-century female composers and transcribing their works for viola. (Morley Consort)

The Of Still and Loud Music Tour is supported by the Continuo Foundation and the Devon tour begins at St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock, on Thursday, September 17 at ​6pm; then the Chapel of St Lawrence, Ashburton, on Friday, September 18, at 5.30pm; St Mary's Church, Totnes, on Saturday, September 19, at 2pm, with an educational workshop at the Totnes Heritage Festival and the Totnes Trust, (free admission); at the Historic Guildhall, Totnes on Saturday, September 19, at 7.30pm. Finally they play at St Nicholas Priory, Exeter, on Sunday, September 20, at 5pm.

Further details at the Morley Consort website: https://www.morleyconsort.com/diary.html