Harmoniemusik

The core members of Harmoniemusik first performed together in 1991 when they were booked to give a concert each night after dinner on a ship cruising the Mediterranean between Istanbul and Venice. After working their way through most of the highlights of the wind and piano repertoire, the following year the group expanded to incorporate string players and organized the rebirth of a festival of chamber music in St Columb Major, Cornwall.

Harmoniemusik has given a series of ‘Classic Cornwall’ concerts in St Columb each August since then, besides touring in France and the Republic of Yemen, and performing regularly in Germany and around the UK. The ensemble has enjoyed playing in a wide variety of venues, including the Cologne Philharmonie, Regency Town House in Brighton, Doctor Johnson’s House, Goldsmiths’ and Fishmongers’ Hall in the City of London, the Pittville Pump Room in Cheltenham, barns and drawing rooms, theatres and gardens, tiny churches and magnificent cathedrals.

Harmoniemusik’s concerts are characterised by carefully designed programmes in which instrumentation, era and texture are contrasted. Works performed range from solos, duos, trios, quartets, quintets and sextets to early piano concertos by Mozart, symphonies by Haydn and chamber orchestra pieces by Elgar, Copland and Wagner. The ensemble’s repertoire spans the centuries, from baroque trio sonatas to brand new works written especially for the group.

About the musicians…

Paul Guinery (piano)
Paul studied the piano at the Royal College of Music and Modern Languages at Queen’s College, Oxford. As well as being Harmoniemusik’s regular pianist since 1997, Paul has made solo CD recordings of Rachmaninov, 20th century English piano music (Delius and his Circle) and two discs of light music classics. Paul is also co-author of an in-depth analysis of Delius’ works, Delius and His Music. As an announcer for BBC Radio 3 he has presented many classical music programmes, including the Proms.

Janna Hüneke (flute & recorder)
Janna was born in Germany and studied the flute in London. In the early 90s she played the piccolo in premieres of Stockhausen’s opera Dienstag aus Licht. Janna has played with Grange Park Opera, Pimlico Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra, Brighton Philharmonic and many other orchestras. As a soloist she has performed throughout Britain and Germany and she also co-founded and co-directs Flute School London.

Sarah Devonald (oboe & recorder)
Sarah studied music in London, Leeds, Cambridge and Germany, and has played principal oboe in many orchestras and opera companies. She has performed as a soloist in numerous concertos and recitals, as well as playing and directing chamber music. After many years producing for BBC Radio 3, she co-founded Tandem Productions which makes music and arts programmes and podcasts for the BBC and other organisations. Now happily based in Harrogate, Sarah is a regular contributor to Radio 3’s Record Review.

Mark Lacey (clarinet)
Mark studied the clarinet at the Royal Academy of Music. He has performed with English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, the National Theatre, English Touring Opera, Grange Park Opera, Carl Rosa Opera, Pimlico Opera, the BBC Concert Orchestra and many other orchestras and ensembles. He is a regular performer of the jewels of the clarinet chamber repertoire including the quintets of Mozart and Brahms. In his spare time, Mark is a keen sailor.

Alec Forshaw (bassoon & harpsichord)
Alec read music at Cambridge University. As both bassoonist and harpsichordist, he is a founder member of the London Woodwind Ensemble, The Galliard Trio and Harmoniemusik, and has also performed regularly with Lontano, the Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, the London Chamber Orchestra and with the National Theatre, both at home and on tour. He lives in London and pursues a varied career as bassoonist, harpsichordist, writer and arranger.

Harmoniemusik has a Website