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STOUR 

MUSIC

FESTIVAL of 

EARLY MUSIC 

in EAST KENT

20-29 June 2025

Founded in 1962 by counter-tenor Alfred Deller, the festival takes place over two

weekends in late June in the beautiful medieval church of All Saints' Boughton Aluph,

set in the heart of the Kent countryside overlooking the Stour valley.


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PRIORITY BOOKING FOR FRIENDS FROM 31 MARCH — GENERAL BOOKING OPENS 11 APRIL

A pilgrim destination for connoisseurs of early music.’  BBC Music Magazine

Barokksolistene perform Alehouse — 2024

STOUR MUSIC 2025


What a line-up we have for you this year! Some big ideas, certainly: Solomon’s Knot with more Bach (after that astounding staged St Matthew in 2023); counter-tenor royalty Iestyn Davies with Fretwork in a Gibbons anniversary programme; sparkling and stylish Hilary Cronin and Sam Boden in a French Baroque spectacle.


But in a festival like this, it’s the smaller-scale that sometimes packs as much of a punch so I’m delighted to bring you four artists new to Stour. Apollo’s Cabinet I loved at the York Early Music Young Artists competition last year, similarly the German wind band, Hanse Pfeifferey, June 20-22, piping us into the concerts with rare to hear slide trumpet, shawm and more - see brochure front cover! The Gesualdo Six bring us the utter refinement and flamboyance of 200 years of English vocal music. There’s also jazz in the tent (vocal and instrumental this year).


My highest personal musical ecstasy last year was watching Apotropaïk - a young French ensemble that transports you back to medieval France. Mesdames et messieurs: this is the real thing, a nightingale of the middle ages centuries come to life in a Kent field. An engorged I Fagiolini is back with some completely unheard and jaw-dropping multi-choir music, and we finish with unknown Bachs, glorious Mendelssohn (and even S.S.Wesley) on the final afternoon. We so look forward to

seeing you again! 


Robert Hollingworth - Artistic Director

STOUR MUSIC


The Stour Music Festival is a festival of early music held in the Stour valley, Kent, England. It was founded by the countertenor Alfred Deller in 1962 and is now held over two consecutive weekends in June. The principal venue is a stunning medieval flint church, All Saints' Church, Boughton Aluph. The current Festival Director is Robert Hollingworth.


Watch 60th Anniversary Video

All Saints' Boughton Aluph — 2019

MAILING LISTS


If you would like to receive details of the next Festival programme by email when it is available and information about matters and events that are either related to Stour Music or in which you, as a supporter of Stour Music, might be interested*, please fill in the form

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If you would like to receive a hard copy of the next Festival brochure by post when it is available, please send your name and address to 

General Mailing Secretary, 87 Bridge Street,

Wye, Ashford, TN25 5ED 

(07976 354683; friends@stourmusic.org.uk).


* See our Privacy Statement

STOUR MUSIC 2024 — GALLERY



STOUR 

MUSIC

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