“Celestial Music did the Gods Inspire”, the launch event of the Hesperi Voices, celebrates the ‘Battle of the Organs’ at London’s Temple Church. In 1682, a competition was devised to choose a new organ for the church, in which the two leading organ builders of the day built two rival instruments, and hired famous players to showcase their craftsmanship!

In partnership with the Temple Music Foundation, we’ll present a sparkling programme of music by the winning organists, Henry Purcell and John Blow, weaved around Charles Burney’s historical narrative of the battle itself. Highlights include selections from Purcell’s posthumous works, published by his widow Frances at Temple Change, and Blow’s rarely performed verse anthems, performed by twelve singers and an expanded band of musicians.