THE picturesque West Somerset village of Dunster, on the edge of Exmoor, is famous for several things, including its castle, its Yarn Market, the medieval Gallox (“Lovers”) packhorse bridge, the tithe barn and the beautiful late medieval Priory of St George. This church is the main venue for another important Dunster attraction, the music festival which runs from Saturday 24th to Monday 26th May.
Founded and directed by Rory McLeery, who lives locally with his harpist wife, Rachel Wick, this is a delightful weekend of small-scale concerts, many of them drawing on the repertoire of late medieval and Renaissance music for which Rory’s Marian Consort is particularly noted.
The festival events begin a few miles along the coast at Watchet, where the little coastal town’s East Quay arts centre is the venue for a free family concert on Saturday morning. Later in the day, there is a cream tea concert (complete with Somerset cream tea!) in the 14th century tithe barn, with Rachel Wick harp, and Tom Cox, flute, playing music including works by Saint-Saens and Faure.
The evening’s gala consort in St George’s Church, features the Marian Consort, with Rory McLeery, performing Treasures from the Sistine Chapel, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the greatest early Renaissance composer, Palestrina.
Sunday’s programme includes a festival service, a choral workshop with Rory McCleery, and two evening concerts, a chamber group with Exmoor-based violinist Jackie Shave, Clare Finnimore, viola, Robert Irvine, cello, and Thomas Hancox and Rachel Wick, playing works by Bach, Mozart, Berkeley and Jackie Shave; and a late-night recital with soprano Elspeth Piggott and theorbo player Kristiina Watt, performing music from 17th century Italy.
The Monday programme begins with a new event, a free festival fete, at the tithe barn and village gardens, with trumpeter Luis Martelo and children’s entertainment. The finale of this lovely weekend is an all-Bach concert in St George’s with the Marian Consort and Spiritato Baroque Orchestra.
For more information, visit www.dunsterfestival.co.uk