“It will be worthy of a free, enlightened and, at no distant period, a great nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too novel example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence”
– George Washington

“America, an immense territory, favour’d by nature with all advantages of climate, soil, great navigable rivers and lakes, etc, was destined to become a great country, populous and mighty; and would in a less time than was generally conceive’d be able to shake off any shackles that might be impos’d on her, and perhaps place them on the imposters”
– Benjamin Franklin

“If there be one principle more deeply rooted than any other in the mind of every American, it is, that we should have nothing to do with conquest”
– Thomas Jefferson

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
– John Adams

“They accomplished a revolution which has no parallel in the annals of human society. They reared the fabrics of governments which have no model on the face of the globe. They formed the design of a great Confederacy, which it is incumbent on their successors to improve and perpetuate”
James Madison

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”
– Benjamin Franklin

“It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force”
– Alexander Hamilton

“We have it in our power to begin the world over again”
– Thomas Paine

“Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people… it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other”
– John Quincy Adams

“Without virtue there can be no liberty”
– Benjamin Rush

“Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a free man, contending for liberty on his own ground, is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth”
– George Washington

“We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in”
– Thomas Paine

The 250th anniversary of American Independence, 4th July 2026

Ceruleo’s serves up summer baroque delights

LESSER-known baroque composers, including Barbara Strozzi, take centre place in Ceruleo’s programme for the July series of Concerts at Bridport Arts Centre for the coffee time concert at 11.30am on Friday 10th July, Ilminster Arts Centre at 7.30pm that evening and Saturday 11th at 7.30pm at Crewkerne Dance House.

Described as a group that “feels more like a Baroque chamber ensemble than voices and accompaniment,” Ceruleo are two sopranos, Jenni Harper and Emily Owen, and three instrumentalists, Kinga Gáborjáni, viola da gamba, Satoko Doi-Luck, harpsichord, and Toby Carr, lute and guitar.

Formed in 2014 at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Ceruleo create dramatic programmes using spoken text alongside music for two sopranos and continuo. Every member of the group performs as a soloist, and they use all available combinations of instruments and voices to create innovative and captivating performances. They specialise in the music of Restoration England and 17th century Italy.

The programme for their July series includes several pieces by Barbara Strozzi, and works by Girolamo Frescobaldi, Tarquinio Merula, Alessandro Piccinini and Biagio Marini.
ances.

Ceruleo’s most recent project, Burying the Dead, funded by Arts Council England, was a staged show about Henry Purcell, by scriptwriter Clare Norburn and directed by Thomas Guthrie. It was performed at several festivals including Buxton International, Lake District Summer Music, Baroque at the Edge at LSO St Luke’s, and early music festivals at Brighton and York.

They released their first album of the music of Henry Purcell, Love Restor’d, on Resonus Classics in 2022.

Photograph ©Helena Marion Photography