Past projects
England UnReformed
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Saturday 29 July 2023
Ever wondered what happened to English nuns after the Reformation? Wonder no more…
We began our journey with an evening of music and spoken word as we explored how Oxford’s Cathedral and cloisters might have sounded if it had remained a nunnery. Withrepertoire featuring newly discovered and re-constructed music from English Convents in exile during the 18th century, ‘England UnReformed’ was a unique opportunity to explore the nooks and crannies of the cathedral during a live music event. Guests strolled the space as we revealed the sound of repertoire for historical English women as sung by modern voices in a Cathedral with monastic roots and a uniquely monastic style of architecture.
Carols at the Convent
Wounding Harmonies
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Thursday 15th August 2024
In this concert, we explore how early modern English Catholic women understood the body and wounds of Christ through music and poetry.
Christ's body - physical and spiritual - is central to Christian theology, defining the sacrament of communion, and playing an essential role in Christian devotion. The importance of meditating on Christ's wounds was a particularly strong devotional theme in early modern Europe across Christian denominations, but held a special place in early modern English Catholic communities.
Join us on a sonic journey through history with a sublime programme of music from English Catholic women's communities, featuring new research on recusant household music and music at convents established expressly for English Catholic women in exile across France and the Low Countries. The programme features music by well-known composers such as Peter Philips, Richard Dering, and Jean-Baptiste Lully, alongside recently-discovered items which may not have been heard for hundreds of years.
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Saturday 9 December 2023
We return to Christ Church to reveal newly-discovered music for Advent and Christmas from Baroque English convents in Europe.
From the flashiest French masterpieces and virtuosic English motets to gentle Dutch lullabies – alongside some familiar favourites – enter a wonderful musical world and join us for a musical journey through early modern England, France, and the Low Countries at Christmas, all within the former priory of Christ Church Cathedral.
