The Night Shift at The National Centre for Early Music

Bach and his fellow 18th Century composers were nothing if not practical musicians. They would often re-invent their own material for changing performance situations.

In this same spirit of discovery, during lockdown our leader Margaret Faultless took the opportunity to arrange Bach’s so-called ‘orchestral’ suites for string quartet. Realising that it may be a while before large-scale concert giving would return she thought that both players and audiences might enjoy this incredible music in more intimate settings.

Which handily means we can fit it in the upstairs room of a pub! Tonight’s gig is compiled around the Orchestral Suite No. 1 (BWV 1066) along with the Adagio from Organ Sonata No. 3, an assortment of two- and three-part Inventions, a ‘The Night Shift Suite’ and a few other surprises! Think of it as a chocolate box of Bach.

The Night Shift is our series of informal chamber music gigs – literally music for smaller rooms, in the home or other places where people socialise.  They’re a chance to hear the members of the OAE playing music that they’re passionate about and bringing in a wide range of musical influences. So come along, grab a drink with friends (or meet some new ones) and enjoy the music.