Divertissements Chinois, Duo Follia and Follia
DIVERTISSEMENTS CHINOIS:
Yeo Yat-Soon: harpsichord
Agnes Chin: guzheng
Philippa Hyde: soprano
William Summers: baroque flute
Diane Moore: baroque violin
Ibrahim Aziz: viola da gamba
This group was established in 2022 initially as a guzheng and harpsichord duo. It was based on research carried out by a number of scholars such as Joyce Lindorff (Temple University, Philadelphia), David Clark (University of HongKong), Kii-Ming Lo (National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei) and John Thompson (New York) who have revealed a wealth of material showing extraordinary historic links between musicians of China and Europe. These links began in the early 17th century with the arrival of the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci to Beijing in 1601. The ties flourished in the following two centuries, firstly through religion, with a significant number of Jesuit priests travelling from France, German and Italian states, and often staying in China for decades. Contact was further developed in the early 18th century when the southern port of Canton (Guangdong) was opened up to European trade in tea, porcelain and decorative artifacts. This leading countries in this trading were firstly the Netherlands and later, the British.
As a guzheng and harpsichord duo the group has gave a number of concerts in historic settings in 2022, including Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare, Fitzwilliam College Cambridge and the Horniman Museum (on the 1772 Jacob Kirckman harpsichord - see video below). In November 2022, I was invited to give a paper entitled "First Encounters - Musical Journeys between Europe and Asia at the Dawn of the Global Age" for the Conference of Music in Eighteenth-Century Briton at the Foundling Museum (see below for a recorded version of this paper). As part of this presentation the group Divertissements Chinois was expanded to include soprano, violin , flute and viola da gamba to give the performances more varied instrumentation. This expanded version of the group has now began giving concerts of this repertoire.
Yeo Yat-Soon: harpsichord
Agnes Chin: guzheng
Philippa Hyde: soprano
William Summers: baroque flute
Diane Moore: baroque violin
Ibrahim Aziz: viola da gamba
This group was established in 2022 initially as a guzheng and harpsichord duo. It was based on research carried out by a number of scholars such as Joyce Lindorff (Temple University, Philadelphia), David Clark (University of HongKong), Kii-Ming Lo (National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei) and John Thompson (New York) who have revealed a wealth of material showing extraordinary historic links between musicians of China and Europe. These links began in the early 17th century with the arrival of the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci to Beijing in 1601. The ties flourished in the following two centuries, firstly through religion, with a significant number of Jesuit priests travelling from France, German and Italian states, and often staying in China for decades. Contact was further developed in the early 18th century when the southern port of Canton (Guangdong) was opened up to European trade in tea, porcelain and decorative artifacts. This leading countries in this trading were firstly the Netherlands and later, the British.
As a guzheng and harpsichord duo the group has gave a number of concerts in historic settings in 2022, including Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare, Fitzwilliam College Cambridge and the Horniman Museum (on the 1772 Jacob Kirckman harpsichord - see video below). In November 2022, I was invited to give a paper entitled "First Encounters - Musical Journeys between Europe and Asia at the Dawn of the Global Age" for the Conference of Music in Eighteenth-Century Briton at the Foundling Museum (see below for a recorded version of this paper). As part of this presentation the group Divertissements Chinois was expanded to include soprano, violin , flute and viola da gamba to give the performances more varied instrumentation. This expanded version of the group has now began giving concerts of this repertoire.

DUO FOLLIA:
Diane Moore (baroque violin), Yeo Yat-Soon (harpsichord)
Duo Follia specializes in the rich repertoire of 17th and 18th century music for violin and basso continuo and, in particular, the pioneering repertoire for violin and obbligato harpsichord. Concert presentations include informative and entertaining introductions drawing on the diverse artistic, cultural and historic links with the music.
The ensemble specializes in performing in historic venues. Recent concerts have included Cembalo certato e violino - music J S Bach and his sons, In the Shadow of the Sun King - French music from the times of Louis XIV and Louis XV and Music for the House of Hanover - 18th century music from the Hanoverian court in London. Concerts have taken place in historically important buildings such as the Handel House Museum, the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court, Lovekyn Chapel and Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare.
Diane Moore (baroque violin), Yeo Yat-Soon (harpsichord)
Duo Follia specializes in the rich repertoire of 17th and 18th century music for violin and basso continuo and, in particular, the pioneering repertoire for violin and obbligato harpsichord. Concert presentations include informative and entertaining introductions drawing on the diverse artistic, cultural and historic links with the music.
The ensemble specializes in performing in historic venues. Recent concerts have included Cembalo certato e violino - music J S Bach and his sons, In the Shadow of the Sun King - French music from the times of Louis XIV and Louis XV and Music for the House of Hanover - 18th century music from the Hanoverian court in London. Concerts have taken place in historically important buildings such as the Handel House Museum, the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court, Lovekyn Chapel and Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare.

FOLLIA:
Philippa Hyde (soprano)
Elin Harries (soprano)
Latana Phoung (soprano)
William Summers (baroque flute/recorder)
Diane Moore (baroque violin)
Johannes Gebauer (baroque violin)
Ibrahim Aziz (viola da gamba)
Samuel Stadlen (viola da gamba/baroque cello)
Yeo Yat-Soon (harpsichord)
Follia is a flexible ensemble made up of the appropriate musicians for the repertoire being performed. It specializes in the rich and varied repertoire of 17th and 18th century chamber music. Concert presentations include informative and entertaining introductions drawing on the diverse artistic, cultural and historic links with the music.
The ensemble specializes in performing in historic venues. Recent and forthcoming concert series have included Récréation de Musique - music from 18th century Paris by Rameau, Leclair, Forqueray and Telemann to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the deaths of Rameau and Leclair, Evening in the Palace of Reason - music based on the visit of J S Bach to the court of Frederick in 1747 which led to the composition of Musical Offering, Into This Enchanted Place - music for the 18th century pleasure gardens of London and Young Mozart in London and Paris - music from the Grand Tour undertaken by the young Mozart and his family in 1764-5.
Performances have place in the wonderfully evocative architectural backdrops of Strawberry Hill House, the Wren church of St Mary-at-Hill, King Charles the Martyr Church in Tunbridge Wells, Burgh House in Hamsptead, St Michael's Church in Framlingham and Walpole Chapel in Suffolk.
Philippa Hyde (soprano)
Elin Harries (soprano)
Latana Phoung (soprano)
William Summers (baroque flute/recorder)
Diane Moore (baroque violin)
Johannes Gebauer (baroque violin)
Ibrahim Aziz (viola da gamba)
Samuel Stadlen (viola da gamba/baroque cello)
Yeo Yat-Soon (harpsichord)
Follia is a flexible ensemble made up of the appropriate musicians for the repertoire being performed. It specializes in the rich and varied repertoire of 17th and 18th century chamber music. Concert presentations include informative and entertaining introductions drawing on the diverse artistic, cultural and historic links with the music.
The ensemble specializes in performing in historic venues. Recent and forthcoming concert series have included Récréation de Musique - music from 18th century Paris by Rameau, Leclair, Forqueray and Telemann to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the deaths of Rameau and Leclair, Evening in the Palace of Reason - music based on the visit of J S Bach to the court of Frederick in 1747 which led to the composition of Musical Offering, Into This Enchanted Place - music for the 18th century pleasure gardens of London and Young Mozart in London and Paris - music from the Grand Tour undertaken by the young Mozart and his family in 1764-5.
Performances have place in the wonderfully evocative architectural backdrops of Strawberry Hill House, the Wren church of St Mary-at-Hill, King Charles the Martyr Church in Tunbridge Wells, Burgh House in Hamsptead, St Michael's Church in Framlingham and Walpole Chapel in Suffolk.
To see recent and forthcoming publicity for Duo Follia and Follia concerts, please click on the link below:

follia_concert_publicity_-_october_2015.pdf | |
File Size: | 1642 kb |
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To see sample programmes of Duo Follia and Follia concerts, please click on the appropriate link below

duo_follia_sample_programmes.pdf | |
File Size: | 237 kb |
File Type: |

follia_sample_programmes.pdf | |
File Size: | 238 kb |
File Type: |