Few other ensembles can match the range of Fretwork’s repertory, spanning as it does the first printed music of 1501 in Venice, to music commissioned by the group this year. This extraordinary breadth of music has taken them all over the world since their debut in 1986; but they now prefer to travel by train and car. Their recordings of the classic English viol repertory – Purcell, Gibbons, Lawes, Dowland & Byrd – have become the benchmark by which others are judged, while their newly-commissioned music has included works by Sir George Benjamin, Nico Muhly, Elvis Costello, John Woolrich and many others. The consistently high standards they have achieved have brought music old and new to audiences hitherto unfamiliar with the inspiring sound-world of the viol.

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.