2023 marks the 400th anniversary of the deaths of two of England's greatest composers: William Byrd and Thomas Weelkes.

William Byrd was the finest composer of his age, known for his influential choral music and keyboard compositions, and admired for his melodic invention and sophisticated harmony. An undisputed musical genius, he was described by a late 16th-century music collector as 'a glory to our race, and a nightingale to our people'. Thomas Weelkes was known primarily as one of England’s greatest madrigal composers, but a good number of outstanding instrumental forms survive from both composers including the ‘In Nomine’, a development from the Benedictus section of the Mass.

Over 35 years, Fretwork have performed the core repertory of great English consort music and have recorded over 70 albums. Committed also to new music, they have commissioned nearly 50 new works by composers including George Benjamin, Michael Nyman, Sir John Tavener, Gavin Bryars and Thea Musgrave. Major projects have included a John Dowland tour in 2014 with tenor Ian Bostridge, a substantial USA tour in 2016; and Musick’s Monument, a series of Wigmore Hall concerts in 2019 presenting the greatest English consort music from the Golden Age from Taverner to Purcell.

'Fretwork is the finest viol consort on the planet'
Stephen Pettitt, The London Evening Standard