"Fretwork is the finest viol consort on the planet" - Stephen Pettitt, The London Evening Standard.

In 2026, Fretwork celebrates its 40th anniversary. In these last decades, they have explored the core repertory of great English consort music from Taverner to Purcell, made classic recordings against which others are judged, and commissioned an entirely new repertory of music for viols.
The list of composers they have encouraged to create new works is like the role call of the most prominent writers of our time: George Benjamin, Michael Nyman, Sir John Tavener, Gavin Bryars, Elvis Costello, Alexander Goehr, John Woolrich, Orlando Gough, Sally Beamish, Tan Dun, Barry Guy, Thea Musgrave, John Paul Jones, Nico Muhly, Sir James MacMillan and many others.

They have expanded their repertory to include music from over 500 years, from the first printed consort music in Venice in 1501 to music written this year. And, in between, everything that can be played on a consort of viols - Byrd & Schubert, Purcell & Shostakovitch, Gibbons & Britten, Dowland & Grieg.

Recently they have performed in the Lammermuir Festival, in Wigmore Hall with Tenebrae, and in the Malling Festival. They also visit North America again, including concerts at Carnegie Hall with Iestyn Davies. In 2025 they commemorate the sudden and untimely death of Orlando Gibbons, and celebrate the 90th year of Arvo Pärt with concerts and recordings.

While they used to fly all over the globe, they have now committed to reducing their carbon footprint by travelling in Europe only by train or electric cars - recently, they have toured Germany, France, Spain, Austria & Slovenia in their two Teslas.

The future sees many exciting projects based on the thrilling juxtaposition of old and new; making the experience of old music new and bringing the sensibilities of past ages to bear on contemporary music.

Celebrating its 42nd birthday in 2024, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts continues in the same spirit as always: aiming to bring the sound of its noble instruments to the 21st century, through pan-European repertoire from 16th- and 17th-century composers, attracting new audiences via recordings, radio, television and (best of the lot!) live performance.
The group’s illustrious-sounding name is taken from Matthew Locke’s Five-part tthings for His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts that were probably played during the coronation celebrations for King Charles II in 1661. Recent collaborations include work with Fretwork Viols and the Magdalena Consort, Dunedin Consort, Alamire, Magnificat, the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and Ex Cathedra. It has more than thirty recordings to its credit, including several critically acclaimed discs of Venetian instrumental music from the turn of the 17th century by Giovanni Gabrieli, Giovanni Battista Grillo, and Gioseffo Guami. Programmes of English and Spanish music of the early baroque, Christmas music from around Europe, and the world premiere recording of Martin Harry’s 30th anniversary commission for HMSC At His Majesty’s Pleasure all feature on the group’s own record label, SFZ Records, and are available via the group website.