Classical Preview: Here comes the hurdy gurdy man once more

It's a sign of old age when digging out the hurdy gurdy and gittern seems to come around all too quickly, but here we are again with the York Waits celebrating another Festive Season.

They form part of the York Early Music Christmas Festival that opens with a concert from Stile Antico, though you will certainly have to book your seats now, as they are selling out very fast. Coming to worldwide notice in York five years ago as prizewinners in the Early Music International Network competition, they are way ahead of other chamber vocal groups.

Here they perform the music on their recent disc (see today's Album Reviews) in the acoustically perfect Chapter House in York Minster. Last year's winner of the competition, the instrumental group, Ensemble Meridiana, return with a programme largely devoted to Telemann with a seasonal input from Corelli and Corrette (Dec 5).

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Always ready to bring a few raised audience eyebrows in their highly personal presentation, I Faglioni offer 'Christmas Dinner' in music from the ages (Dec 6), and it will be a musical experience matched by the foot-tapping rhythms of the vocal and period instrument group, The Burning Bush, who have on offer an evening of Early and Traditional Jewish Music (Dec 5).

More strange looking instruments appear with Joglaresa who take us to both sides of the Irish Sea with songs and echoes of winter pagan festivities, the ten days wrapped up with a concert by the European Union Baroque Orchestra (Dec 11).

York Early Music Christmas Festival, Dec 2-11. Various venues. 01904 658338.

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