HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

Musical instruments have changed significantly over the centuries, so mastery of period instruments, which vary greatly and lack the uniformity of their modern equivalents, requires virtuosity and versatility. The musicians who play these instruments are difficult to replace.

DISCOVER PERIOD INSTRUMENTS

Jan Couchet the Elder (Flemish)

Chordophone-Zither-plucked-harpsichord, circa 1650; Courtesy of The Met Museum

The rich array of excellent UK period-instrument ensembles – ranging in size from trios to full orchestras – perform in leading music venues and festivals across the country and abroad, bringing a freshness of approach and variety to the classical music landscape.

Piero di Cosimo's Perseus Frees Andromeda, 1510-1515 (Uffizi)

OAE INSTRUMENTS

Some musicians play the original instruments, or faithful replicas, for which the music was composed at the time. Discover some of the amazing instruments played by musicians from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.