Benjamin Bayl director/harpsichord/organ George Crawford director/violin Camilla Scarlett violin Ylvali Zilliacus viola Malgosia Ziemkiewicz viola Natasha Kraemer cello Carina Cosgrave double bass Jørgen Skogmo theorbo

The Saraband Consort was founded in November 1998 by Benjamin Bayl. Originally a vocal and continuo group, the ensemble now features strings and continuo as its core, expanding with additional singers and players as programmes and music require. It specialises in one-to-a-part performances of music by German and Italian 17th and 18th century composers, including the Bach family, Schütz, Buxtehude, Biber, Monteverdi and others.

Recent performances include concerts in King’s College Chapel Cambridge, The Cambridge Festival, The Winchester Festival and in the Wigmore Hall, making their debut in The King’s Consort Young Artists Series. Last year they were the only musicians chosen to participate in the British Museum’s Michelangelo Exhibition. The Consort also regularly accompanies larger vocal ensembles and choral societies for mainstream oratorio.

Sample Programme:

Metamorphosis and Sacro-Profanum: Two programmes of string ensemble music from 17th and 18th century Germany, including composers such as Biber, Muffat, Furchheim and Rosenmüller, interspersed with new arrangements of JS Bach keyboard works.

Recordings:

Debut CD planned for late 2007/early 2008

Performances:

12 Jul 07 York Early Music Festival
Competition Finals
21 Aug 07 Bilbao Festival
18 Sep 07 City of London Music Society
19 Sep 07 Dubrovnik Festival (tbc)

Contact:

Benjamin Bayl, Flat 4, Tudor Mansions, Gondar Gardens

London NW6 1EY

Tel: 07866 631806

Email: benbayl@yahoo.com
Website: www.sarabandconsort.com