Music from the musical underground, where English composers created their own unique sound in the shadow of the great masters.

Opera houses and concert halls flourished, new stars were born, and a burgeoning middle class embraced the music. But beneath the surface lay an almost forgotten musical underground—English composers who created their own unique sonic world in the shadow of the great masters. Welcome tothe London Underground!

In the first half of the 18th century, the importance of music grew exponentially in England. With the emergence of a new, affluent middle class, a thriving market for opera and entertainment developed, and music became an integral part of the fashion and identity of the time.

Two “foreigners” set the tone: the Italian violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli and the German immigrant Georg Friedrich Handel. Corelli’s works shaped a musical style that defined the entire century—even though he never set foot in England. Handel , became one of the country’s greatest musical icons as a composer, performer, and impresario.

But alongside the great masters was an overlooked group of English composers who did not merely imitate, but developed their own musical language. This program sheds light on London’s nearly forgotten “musical underground” and explores a rich but little-known repertoire. The audience will have the opportunity to experience recorder sonatas and concertos by Andrew Parcham and William Babell, as well as ensemble works by Michael Festing, Charles Avison, and Richard Mudge—music that still awaits rediscovery.