Historical instruments such as the Baroque violin, viols or the harpsichord offer an incredibly wide palette of musical possibilities, explored over centuries by composers both familiar and unfamiliar. Indeed, to provoke your thoughts: have we perhaps lost more historical music than we still have…?

In recent decades, however, an increasing number of living composers have turned their attention to these instruments, exploring new sound worlds that resonate with contemporary audiences. (Read our feature about Roxanna Panufnik here.)

Listen to their inspirations and new creations on our playlist, including works by Purcell and Panufnik, Handel and Nyman, and Bach and Thorvaldsdottir, performed by many of your favourite ensembles and soloists. This playlist is also available on Spotify.

William Byrd: Pavane Lachrymae

Patrick Ayrton

Roxanna Panufnik: Kyrie after Byrd

Ora Singers

Henry Purcell: Music for a while

Barokksolistene

Michael Nyman: Music after a while

Fretwork, Iestyn Davies

William Hamilton Bird: The Oriental Miscellany

Jane Chapman

Mera Mutchelli

Mutru

GF Handel: German Arias

Mary Bevan, Davina Clarke and friends

Meine Seele hört im Sehen

In den angenehmen Büschen

Singe, Seele, Gott zum Preise

J.S. Bach: Trio Sonata in G Major BWV 1039 - Presto

Florilegium

Errollyn Wallen: Louis's Loops

Luca Quintavalle

J.S. Bach: Jesu, meine Freude

The Monteverdi Choir

Michael Gordon: Observations on Air

Peter Whelan, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Electricity

Dephlogisticated Air

Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Impressions

Luca Quintavalle

Nico Muhly: Nowheresville

Teitur Lassen, Holland Baroque