Celebrating Giovanni Gabrieli in 2012 Jeremy West Giovanni Gabrieli died 400 notably, for me, His Majestys Jeffrey’s superb singers for nearly years ago in August 1612 and Sagbutts & Cornetts. the full 30 years of HMS&C’s life, the musical world should, in my usually (although not always) opinion at least, stand up and HMS&C was born 30 years at concerts and broadcasts in take note with appreciation of, ago in 1982. We played some Birmingham. Brass groups, and gratitude for, his glorious of Gabrieli’s small-scale however, have a tendency not music. Surely there’s scarcely instrumental pieces at St to collaborate with one another a brass player anywhere who Martin in the Fields as a part often at all, or even ever - I did not, at some stage in their of our inaugural recital there suppose its the same with string musical pathway, sit down and in September that year and we quartets! Like His Majestys, play a little of this ground- have been playing his music Concerto Palatino has been breaking repertoire. Some of ever since. This year however, playing and recording for some Giovanni’s instrumental output with the ‘double celebration’ decades and, again like us, they is written for four or five players; of Gabrieli’s 400th and His have always been considered to most of the best-known pieces Majesty’s 30th anniversaries in be at the cutting edge of the field. are in eight parts; others require mind, we have concentrated on The two groups are comprised of 14, 15 or even 22 players, each his output with renewed joy, the same forces - two cornetts and on an independent part. Having energy and concentration and, three sackbutts - and so it seemed the opportunity to play many uniquely for us, in programmes like a wonderful opportunity (or of these pieces in modern brass devoted exclusively to his music. excuse perhaps) to join together groups is something that thrilled To this end we have collaborated for the first time. Now that we and inspired me from the age of with Jeffrey Skidmore’s choir are nearing the end of the year 13. And still it continues to thrill Ex Cathedra and with Bruce and with the collaboration all and inspire after more than 35 Dickey’s cornett and sackbutt but complete, we have a string of years of professional playing in ensemble Concerto Palatino. We wonderful concert performances historic brass ensembles, most have known and played with to remember, along with three 33 34.