As part of the celebrations in 2009 for the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne, Historic Royal Palaces will present the first-ever Tudor Music Festival at Hampton Court Palace with concerts each evening from 7 to 10 May.   The concerts will feature leading performers of early music, including the King’s Singers, the lutenist, Elizabeth Kenny and countertenor, Robin Blaze, all of whom will be making their first appearance at the palace.

Festival-goers will enjoy a feast of music by the most eminent Tudor composers, including Byrd, Tallis and Taverner, several of whom were employed at Henry VIII’s and Elizabeth I’s courts.   Highlights include the stunning 40-part motet Spem in Alium by Tallis, as well as compositions written by King Henry VIII himself.    The concerts will all take place in the magnificent Great Hall, which would not only been the centre of Henry VIII’s court life with banquets, entertainments, theatre and dancing, but would also have been the very place where Henry VIII would have heard music performed

Doors open at 6.30pm and pre-concert and interval refreshments will be on sale in the Tudor Kitchens.

Details of the concerts follow:

Thursday 7 May 7.30pm
Part one: The Choir of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace, with Master of Music, Carl Jackson.  English sacred music of the Tudor period by John Taverner, William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, William Mundy and Robert Parsons.

Part two: Kingston University’s School of Performance and Screen Studies present poetry readings, music and other entertainment from the 16th century, including:
• The beautiful motet for four voices O Magnum Mysterium by another well-known English composer of the Tudor age, William Byrd
• Missa O Magnum Mysterium by Tomas Luis de Victoria
• Instrumental consorts and choral works by King Henry VIII himself: Oh My Heart, Pastime with Good Company, Green Groweth the Holly, Though Some Saith
performed by the Kingston University Chorus and Brass Ensemble, directed by Dr David Osbon.  

Friday 8 May, 7.30pm
The Brabant Ensemble, directed by Dr Stephen Rice
• A concert of unaccompanied sacred and secular music of Tudor composers: John Taverner; William Whytbroke, Thomas Tallis, Christopher Tye, Thomas Caustun, John Sheppard and Henry VIII’s own music - Quam pulchra es, The time of youth, Alas, what shall I do for love, and Helas, madame, celle que j’aime tant.

Saturday 9 May, 7.30pm
Robin Blaze, countertenor. with Elizabeth Kenny, one of the UK’s leading lute players
• Songs include settings by King Henry VIII
• Songs by Claudin de Sermisy, Crequillon, continental musicians whose music was cultivated at Henry's court
• Lute music by the great virtuoso Albert da Ripa who a popular performer at the English court in the 1520s.  
• French music will be set alongside traditional English tunes that were popular throughout the 16th century.

Sunday 10 May, 8.00pm
The finale of the Festival by the acclaimed King’s Singers. 
• A programme of vocal music by William Byrd, John Shepherd, William Cornsyhe, Thomas Ravenscroft and Henry VIII.