Event Archives

The Contenance Angloise - BREMF Consort of Voices

A concert to mark the 650th anniversary of the deaths of both Walter Frye and Guillaume Dufay and to explore the ingenious and beautiful music of this late medieval period.

Baroque Gems from Versailles, Hamburg & London - BREMF 415 Workshop Orchestra

Wassail! - BREMF Community Choir

Join the BREMF Community Choir for a concert of seasonal music including Wassail songs, Medieval carols, and 15th century church music for the New Year.

Community Concert: A Heavenly Byrd -

A community event in aid of UNICEF, including carols for audience alongside some of the music from the previous day's Brighton concert.

Polyphony: Sacred Songs in the Chamber - BREMF Community Choir

An evening of polyphony with BREMF Community Choir including works by Sheppard, Tallis and Byrd.

A Heavenly Byrd in an Earthly Tree - BREMF Consort of Voices

Music for Advent and Christmas including medieval carols and works by Byrd, Cornysh and Sheppard.

Bach & Buxtehude - BREMF Players & Baroque Collective Singers

A choral and orchestral programme including Bach’s Cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden and Buxtehude’s beautiful Membra Jesu nostri. Prom tickets only.

Mother, Sister, Daughter - Musica Secreta

Music and intriguing stories of women across the ages, including newly discovered music, and a new commission by Joanna Marsh.

BREMF Live! Clubnight - BREMF Live! ensembles

Take in 500 years of music in short sets from up and coming ensembles over a pint at The Rose Hill.

BREMF Live! Showcase - BREMF Live! ensembles

500 years of music in 20-minute sets from the latest up and coming early music ensembles who are part of the Festival's young artist scheme BREMF Live!

Battle Cry: She Speaks - Helen Charlston & Toby Carr

A programme challenging the 17th-century obsession with female abandonment and lament.

Medieval Enigmas - La Fonte Musica

An extraordinary programme by a figure now emerging as the leading composer of 14th-century music, Antonio Zacara da Teramo.

The Whispering Dome - various artists

A large-scale multi-media event featuring a varied range of traditional and early music from Europe, Morocco and West Africa tracing routes followed by migrating birds.

The Excellence of Women - Fieri Consort

After 400 years, the Fieri Consort reveals the newly discovered madrigals of Maddalena Casulana alongside works by another of Italy’s greatest composers, Barbara Strozzi.

A New Dawn - Ensemble Hesperi

The Malcolm Rose Memorial Concert: Ensemble Hesperi performs early baroque gems for recorder and harpsichord.

Secret Byrd - The Gesualdo Six & Fretwork

An immersive staged Mass celebrating the 400-year legacy of William Byrd. A theatrical seance by candlelight that invites you inside the music like never before.

Freshly Ground Bass - Liturina & Ground Bass Jazz Trio

A spicy collaboration between baroque and jazz musicians on popular basslines across the centuries. This event is sold out but you may join the waiting list.

Festival Introduction -

Find out more about what’s on at BREMF this year, with talks, discussions, short performances and a chance to ask questions and meet the BREMF team. NB amended start time.

OAE TOTS: Pack your Bags - Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Bring your clapping hands, singing voices and stamping feet for this lively concert for 2-5 year olds and their parents & carers.

The Playford 400 Ceilidh -

With a band led by Emily Baines, fabulous music and a caller to teach the steps, this is going to be the liveliest ceilidh for all ages.

Playford 400 Workshop - Emily Baines

A workshop for early and folk instrumentalists celebrating the 400th anniversary of composer John Playford, playing music from The English Dancing Master.

The Byrd Crawl - BREMF Consort of Voices

Free short performances of music by William Byrd in four churches across Brighton.

Choral Workshop: Byrd & Cornysh - Andrew Carwood

A workshop for experienced choral singers on the music of two composers with anniversaries this year - William Byrd and William Cornysh.

Satellite Event: To the Northern Star - Flauguissimo

Satellite Event: Join Flauguissimo for the launch of their latest album 'To the Northern Star'.

Triumphant Days, Charming Nights - BREMF Community Choir

A programme of music by Henry Purcell including Come, Come Ye Sons of Art.

Songs of Divine Passion - Fair Oriana

Contemplative music for Holy Week from around Europe including the beautiful Couperin Leçons de Ténèbres.

Roses in Wild Weather - Victoria Couper

A singing afternoon of early and traditional songs, directed by Victoria Couper.

Byrd and Weelkes 400 - BREMF Consort of Voices

A one-hour concert of music by William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes, both of whom died in 1623.

A Musical Selection Box - BREMF 415 Workshop Orchestra with Horizon Voices

Music for voices and orchestra from the 16th – 18th centuries.

Wassail! - BREMF Community Choir

A concert of seasonal early music including wassailing songs with the BREMF Community Choir.

BREMF@home: Les Lullistes contre les Ramoneurs! -

Join us online for exquisite French vocal and instrumental music centred around the rivalry of the ‘Lullistes’ and the ‘Ramoneurs’.

BREMF@home: Over the Sea to Skye - Ensemble Hesperi

Join us online for the REAL music of the popular drama Outlander, including songs of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion and 18th-century melodies from the Highlands.

BREMF@home: The Daksha Yagna - Aradhana Arts

Join us online to explore a powerful mythological story from the ancient Hindu scriptures about Sati, who married the ascetic Lord Shiva much against the wishes of her father, King Daksh.

BREMF@home: BREMF Live! Showcase - Various ensembles

Join us online for 20-minute sets by emerging early music ensembles featuring instrumental and vocal music from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

BREMF@home: ¡Bailemos! - Joglaresa

Join us online for a concert to celebrate the legacy of Belinda Sykes. Come and join the party!

BREMF@home: Myths & Legends of Classical Antiquity - Canzona

Join us online for elegant French baroque music by Rameau, Clérambault, Marais and Leclair, performed by some of the finest musicians on the early music scene.

BREMF Live! Clubnight - BREMF Live! ensembles

Enjoy informal performances from five BREMF Live! ensembles over a pint at The Rose Hill.

Inspiring Bach - Spiritato with The Marian Consort

Profound and uplifting cantatas, collected and admired by JS Bach himself.

BREMF Live! Showcase - BREMF Live! ensembles

20-minute sets by emerging early music ensembles featuring instrumental and vocal music from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

In Rime Sparse il Suono - Carlotta Colombo & Michele Pasotti

Airs and laments by Sigismondo d’India for voice and theorbo.

Masterclass for Young Singers -

Masterclass for young singers and vocal ensembles with Michele Pasotti and Carlotta Colombo of La Fonte Musica.

Over the Sea to Skye - Ensemble Hesperi

The REAL music of the popular drama Outlander, including songs of the 1745 Jacobite rebellion and 18th-century melodies from the Highlands.

Choral Workshop: Évora, cradle of Portugal’s Golden Age - Dr David Allinson

A workshop exploring music by Manuel Cardoso, Felipe de Magalhães and Duarte Lobo.

Music for St Michael - BREMF Consort of Voices

A pre-festival concert with BREMF Consort of Voices, featuring music by Josquin, Taverner, Palestrina, Victoria, Praetorius and Vivanco.

La liberazione di Ruggiero film preview screening - BREMF Early Opera

A preview screening of our film of Francesca Caccini's 1625 opera La liberazione di Ruggiero, in the style of Georges Méliès.

Eliza is the Fairest Queen - Fair Oriana

EVENT OVER. Popular songs from the reigns of our two queen Elizabeths - a Jubilee event with a difference!

The Daksha Yagna - Aradhana Arts

EVENT OVER. A rich King. A grand ceremony. A sacrificial fire. A reincarnation. A powerful mythological story from the ancient Hindu scriptures about Sati, who married the ascetic Lord Shiva much against the wishes of her father, King Daksh.

Indian Music & Dance Workshop, Brighton - Aradhana Arts

EVENT OVER. Come and learn about the beautiful traditions of North Indian classical music and dance from three of the UK’s most distinguished performers.

Folk in Transition - Hope Cove

EVENT OVER. From the British Isles to the New World. Blending traditional ballads, Irish jigs, Scottish reels and Appalachian bluegrass, Hope Cove draw their repertoire from centuries of music on both sides of the Atlantic.

¡Bailemos! - Joglaresa

EVENT OVER. Get your dancing shoes on for a concert that will (literally) be electrifying as we celebrate the legacy of Belinda Sykes. Come and join the party!

Endo the Earthworm perf 2 - Rust & Stardust

EVENT OVER. Nature in transition: from below ground to above, from predator to prey, from nourishment to nutrients and from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. For primary-aged children and the young in spirit.

Endo the Earthworm perf 1 - Rust & Stardust

EVENT OVER. Nature in transition: from below ground to above, from predator to prey, from nourishment to nutrients and from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. For primary-aged children and the young in spirit.

Transiting the Night Hours - BREMF Consort of Voices

EVENT OVER. Sacred music and chant from the monastic night Offices of Compline and Matins fills the glorious spaces of St Bartholomew’s Church.

In Transit to the Baroque - In Echo

EVENT OVER. The tale of the birth of the baroque typically focuses on vocal music but this concert tells a parallel story from the point of view of instrumental music, featuring music by Arcadelt, Willaert, Marini and Bertali.

Indian Music & Dance Workshop, Crawley - Aradhana Arts

EVENT OVER. Come and learn about the beautiful traditions of North Indian classical music and dance from three of the UK’s most distinguished performers.

Magnificat! – A concert of baroque music - BREMF Community Choir

EVENT OVER. A concert of Baroque music including Vivaldi Magnificat

Five Marian Legends - Joglaresa

EVENT OVER. The legendary Joglaresa presents an evening of medieval cantigas telling of weird and wonderful miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, saving body and soul of many a hapless knight!

BREMF Live! Showcase - various young artists

EVENT OVER. BREMF’s ever-popular showcase of emerging talent features programmes from three exciting young early music ensembles who are part of the Festival’s young artist scheme.

Myths & Legends of Classical Antiquity - Canzona

EVENT OVER. Elegant French baroque music by Rameau, Clérambault, Marais and Leclair, performed by some of the finest musicians on the early music scene.

Josquin & Fayrfax 500 - BREMF Consort of Voices

EVENT OVER. An expanded version of our summer concert celebrating two renaissance 'legends', one English and one pan European, who both died in 1521; this time performed in a resonant church acoustic. Richly scored uplifting polyphony, worth a re-visit or to enjoy for the first time.

I, Spie - The Telling

EVENT OVER. The imagined story of John Dowland, as he combines his life as a court musician/composer with the Elizabethan espionage underworld. A new concert-play by Clare Norburn with Elizabethan tavern, street and courtly music.

Online Conference: Where now for ‘early’ music? -

EVENT OVER. Zoom conference for all involved in the UK early music sector, Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 June 2021

A Pastoral Journey: Highlights from BREMF@home 2020 - Ensemble Augelletti & Pocket Sinfonia

A special programme to celebrate Early Music Day 2021 - highlights from our 2020 Festival with Ensemble Augelletti and Pocket Sinfonia.

Con Arte e Maestria - Monteverdi String Band in focus: Oliver Webber (violin) and Steven Devine (keyboards)

EVENT OVER. Intricate and virtuosic ornamented works from the dawn of the Baroque by Rognoni, Giovanni Bovicelli, Michelangelo Rossi and Giovanni Gabrieli.

The Four Faces of Gaia - Various

EVENT OVER. Music from The Gambia, India, the Middle East and Europe, plus a new commission The Whispering Dome exploring musical connections around the globe.

Sweet Ayres of Arcadia - Musicke in the Ayre

EVENT OVER. Within the Arcadian landscape of the Sussex Downs, the house and gardens of St Mary’s Bramber provide the setting for songs on the beauty of nature.

Rebellion! - Joglaresa

EVENT OVER. Subversive artists Joglaresa perform medieval protest songs with some contemporary flavours and vivid animation.

Bird Charmer - Piers Adams (of Red Priest)

EVENT OVER. A virtuoso player and an enthusiastic naturalist meet in the woods to share knowledge of songbirds and some music inspired by them.

Introducing the Trumpet Marine - The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments

EVENT OVER. Meet the trumpet marine, a towering, single-stringed instrument with a host of resonating or sympathetic strings.

BREMF Live! Revisited - Apollo's Cabinet, Dramma per Musica, Ensemble Hesperi and Voice

EVENT OVER. Our annual showcase featuring ensembles selected for our BREMF Live! young artists programme.

Connections - Dirk & Adam Campbell

EVENT OVER. New and traditional music illustrates connections between living traditions and ancient antiquity.

Arcadian Wilderness - Ensemble Augelletti

EVENT OVER. Music inspired by Arcadia – an ancient, mythical space of unspoilt wilderness where the inhabitants lived in harmony with their natural surroundings.

Birds, Bugs & Other Beasts - Spiritato

EVENT OVER. Family programme including music by Biber: meet the beautiful animal puppets - made from things we usually throw away - and hear their important message about rubbish and recycling.

Pocket-Sized Classics - Pocket Sinfonia

EVENT OVER. Newly commissioned animation and film of the natural world accompany two of the best-loved classics of all times, each arranged and reduced to chamber proportions.