top of page
ROUND TEN GRANT APPLICATIONS
The H Ensemble
ENSEMBLE INFO
Ensemble Contact:
Holly Harman
Email:
Ensemble Connect URL
UK Registered Charity No:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Echoes of the Mind is a recording project by The H Ensemble, featuring renowned soprano Anna Dennis as guest artist. Through the lens of Baroque music, the project will explore historical understandings of Dementia and other neurological conditions as reflected in the music and visual art of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The programme features repertoire by composers whose works or biographies reflect altered states of mind—whether due to age, trauma, or other neurological phenomena—including Purcell, Corelli, and rarely heard pieces by Barbara Strozzi and Johann Christoph Bach. Exploration of historical Folk song will also be a part of the programme, sung and played by Sid Goldsmith, a renowned traditional musician.
Recording would take place in February 2026, at The Ascension Church in Plumstead, London, with a release date in May 2026 with 2 launch concerts at Christchurch, Hastings and at Stone Nest, London. Echoes of the Mind will be released on Penny Fiddle Records, and the record label would support the release with promotional activity and distribution including BBC Radio, print journalism and social media activity.
The grant would support the ensemble's second studio album ahead of more extensive tour of the Programme planned for later in Summer/Autumn 2026, engaging audiences through pre-concert talks, and partnerships with memory care & musical organisations. Alzheimer’s Disease is the second-most common condition in the UK, even though it’s a relatively recent medical discovery. Paired with spoken interludes drawn from contemporary medical writings and historical case studies, the project illuminates how the Baroque period encoded cognitive decline, confusion, and emotional intensity in sound.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
The H Ensemble is a dynamic group of early music specialists committed to breathing new life into historically informed performance through fresh artistic interpretation and inclusive programming. The group champions both well-known and lesser-heard repertoire from the Baroque, engaging contemporary audiences with cross-genre programming.
We believe The H Ensemble aligns closely with the Continuo Foundation’s core mission to support early music in the UK, particularly projects that enable artistic growth and expand access to historically informed performance. Our ensemble demonstrates a high level of excellence and a strong commitment to collaboration, education, and research-led performance. Our first disc, Ground, was generously supported by Arts Council England and launched in April 2025 with 2 concerts in Hastings and at London’s Stone Nest. Inhabiting some of the UK’s most well-known orchestras including OAE, AAM, and Gabrieli Consort & Players, ensemble members include Holly Harman (Baroque Violin), Oliver John Ruthven (Harpsichord), Carina Cosgrave (Violone), Kristiina Watt (Theorbo), Sid Goldsmith (Cittern/Vocals) and with the inclusion of Anna Dennis in this project, we aspire to tour and bring our music-making to wider audiences, both in the UK and abroad. Anna’s award-winning performance experience in cross-genre and contemporary programming also aligns with the Ensemble’s foundations.
In Echoes of the Mind, we explore the multi-faceted realms of neurological conditions that affect thousands of people around the world today. Two ensemble members have family affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia and this project aspires to align this body of work with memory care foundations and groups to create a larger performance-based project in the future with touring and festival-programming.
PROJECT COSTS
Number of performers:
Instrumentalists:
Vocalists:
Other:
5
2
Project Income (£):
Ticketing/Fees:
Public Funding:
Other trusts/foundations - confirmed
Other trusts/foundations - pending
Other
Income - Total sources
1010
3500
4500
Project Expenses (£):
Artists' fees
Artists' travel/accommodation
Venue - Rehearsal/Concert:
Recording/Filming:
Marketing/Publicity:
Management/Contingency:
8100
400
400
3000
500
810
Total Project Costs:
13210.07
Amount (£) of Grant Requested:
8000
Detailed Budget (Download):
IMPACT OF GRANT
A Continuo Foundation grant would be instrumental in in helping to realise a professionally recorded album that extends the project's legacy. With Foundation support, we aim to bring this unique and compelling repertoire to life, showcasing exceptional talent covering a heart-breaking and intense subject in a sensitive and artistic manner and preserving it in a recording that will continue to inspire both audiences and performers for years to come.
bottom of page