Music group to perform at Hampton Court

Bridget Hilton is group co-ordinator of Alte Musik, a 25-strong Early Music group. And thanks to her derring do, they will be playing in the London landmark later this month. 

Bridget, a retired music and French teacher, was struck by the lack of music on a visit to Hampton Court earlier this year.

She explained: “My husband and I went to one of those magnificent costumed interpretations by Henry VIII and one of his courtiers. It’s really brilliant, but what struck me was there was no music. 

"Given that Henry VIII was music personified, he was Mr Music, it seemed strange that there was no music, not even piped music. 

“On the way out there were some children going into perform and I thought ‘If they can, we can’. When I got home I put it to the music group and they were very excited.” 

And so Bridget, of Harrot Hill, returned to Hampton Court with a slightly nervous husband David in tow. 

She said: “Henry VIII came swaggering in and was surrounded by all these tourists. He asked ‘Has anyone got a petition to put to the king?’ 

“I thought ‘I have’ and looked at my husband. He said ‘no’. “Henry kept going on, being very dramatic. I could feel something welling up from within me, I could not walk away. 

“I said ‘Yes, I have’. “He asked: ‘Who are you, what’s your name? “I said ‘Bridget, Lady Bridget of Cumberland’."

By this time all eyes were on Bridget, apart from those of husband David, who had disappeared! 

“The king said ‘Well put your petition to me’. And so I said it’s from a group of musicians that would like to come and play to you.

“He agreed, mumbled a bit and moved on.” 

But Bridget was not going to leave it there and headed off in search of contact details for the manager. 

She recalled: “I emailed her explaining that I had put my petition to the king and he had agreed we could play before him. I got a letter back, to Lady Bridget of Cumbria, saying that we could play and asking for a recording.” 

The Cockermouth U3A group has since been invited to play in The Cartoon Gallery of the Baroque Palace at Hampton Court on Friday, September 18. 

“They’re thrilled, absolutely delighted,” said Bridget. 

Thirty players and partners will travel down to the capital. They have secured a Cumbria Community Foundation grant to cover the cost of the bus.

The group plays music from the 15th to 18th century on reproduction early instruments and meets every Tuesday at the Kirkgate Centre. Three of the 25 members are aged below 70, and one is over 90. 

There are seven different types of recorder, a sackbutt (ancestor of the trombone), serpent (serpent-shaped wind instrument with a brass mouthpiece), a selection of medieval reed instruments, contrabass and percussion. 

The group was set up 10 years ago by Bridget, who retired here from Yorkshire.

She said: “When I moved up here, I had no one to play with. I wanted to find four or five people that might like to play together and so I advertised through the U3A and it started with five of us playing together every week.

“We played at the U3A’s 10th anniversary, at which three people came up and said they would like to join, and more and more then followed."

While there are former professional musicians in the group, there are also beginners. 

“Even people who do not play instruments can join in, using a recorder. Each line can be very simple, depending on people’s ability,” said Bridget. "The music as such is carefully selected and arranged so we can accommodate all of that."

They have played at The Georgian Festival and Cockermouth Live! but Hampton Court is undoubtedly their biggest date and they have been practising hard for their half hour slot.

The oldest member, Margery Brunskill, 91, of The Parklands, Cockermouth, plays the tenor recorder. She loves being part of the group and said Bridget was an inspirational teacher. 

She said: "I have set my heart on going to Hampton Court. I want to be able to tell my great grandchildren that I have played there."