Early music in Oxford
Early and baroque music in Oxford, on period instruments
Oxford has one of the richest early music traditions in the country, from the choral foundations of its colleges to the Holywell Music Room, often described as the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Europe. Instruments of Time & Truth is the city’s own period instrument orchestra, bringing the music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to life in the buildings it was written for.
Our players live and work in and around Oxford, and many hold principal positions with ensembles such as the Academy of Ancient Music, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the English Baroque Soloists. Under our Principal Conductor, Edward Higginbottom, we perform Bach, Handel, Purcell and Monteverdi alongside rarely heard masterpieces by composers such as Zelenka, Caldara and Charpentier.
Coming up
Our next early music concerts in Oxford
- See What’s On for our upcoming concerts.
What we play
Baroque, early and classical music
Baroque orchestral and choral music
Handel oratorios, Bach Passions and cantatas, Purcell odes and anthems, and the great baroque concertos, played at the pitch and in the style their composers knew.
Seventeenth-century music
Monteverdi’s Vespers, Restoration verse anthems by Humfrey and Blow, and the French and Italian repertoire that shaped the baroque.
Rediscoveries
Works that are rarely performed today, from Zelenka’s Requiem to Caldara’s Maddalena ai piedi di Cristo, brought back to life in Oxford.
Where to hear it
Early music venues in Oxford
We perform in many of Oxford’s finest historic spaces, including the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Christ Church Cathedral, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Holywell Music Room and SJE Arts, and in the new Sohmen Concert Hall at the Schwarzman Centre. Each summer our Summer Concert Series brings chamber programmes of baroque music to Christ Church Cathedral.
We also work with Oxford’s college and community choirs, including New College, Merton, Keble and The Queen’s College, so you can hear us at many of the city’s Passiontide and Christmas performances. Our visitor guide explains how to find each venue.
Oxford’s early music scene
More early music in Oxford
Oxford is home to a lively early music community. Alongside our own concerts, these are well worth exploring.
- Keble Early Music FestivalAn annual festival in Keble College’s Butterfield Chapel, where IT&T has performed and led workshops for young string players. Festival listing
- The Bate CollectionThe University of Oxford’s remarkable collection of historical musical instruments, at the Faculty of Music. Visit the Bate
- Oxford Early Music WeekendA weekend of concerts at Magdalen and New College, presented by the Continuo Foundation and the Oxford Festival of the Arts. Find out more
Questions
Early music in Oxford: frequently asked questions
What is early music?
Early music usually means music from the medieval period to the end of the baroque, around 1750, and often the classical period too. Performers of early music use instruments and playing styles that the composers themselves would have known, to bring out the colour and character of the music as it was first heard.
What are period instruments?
Period instruments are original instruments, or faithful copies, of the kind used when the music was written: gut-strung violins and cellos played with baroque bows, natural trumpets and horns without valves, wooden flutes, and harpsichord and chamber organ. They are usually tuned lower than modern instruments, which gives a warmer, lighter sound.
Where can I hear baroque music in Oxford?
Instruments of Time & Truth performs baroque and early music throughout the year in venues such as the University Church, Christ Church Cathedral, the Schwarzman Centre and the Holywell Music Room. See What’s On for upcoming dates.
Do I need to know about early music to enjoy a concert?
Not at all. Our concerts are for everyone, and our programmes include notes on the music and the performers. Many people come to us first for Handel’s Messiah or a Bach Passion and return for the rarer repertoire.
How do I book tickets?
Each concert page has a Book Now button that takes you to the right box office. If you already know which concert you want, our Book Now page lists them all in one place.
Can I hire a period orchestra in Oxford?
Yes. We provide period instrument players, from a continuo team to a full baroque orchestra, for choirs, colleges, choral societies and festivals. See Hire IT&T.
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