Jonathan Hellyer Jones

I have spent much of my life in Cambridge where I read music at St John’s College. I was awarded a John Stewart of Rannoch Scholarship and in 1972 received the first Brian Runnett Memorial Prize for organ playing. In 1973 I became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. I have studied the harpsichord with Christopher Hogwood, the fortepiano and harpsichord with Christopher Kite and the organ with Gillian Weir. I have performed on BBC TV and radio and have given recitals at numerous festivals. I have also travelled extensively in Europe and North America, attending and assisting at Summer Schools specialising in performance on period instruments. In Cambridge, I teach at both universities, am Precentor and Organist at Magdalene College and am a Senior Member of Hughes Hall, a graduate college. I have also been organist at St Mark’s Church since 1974.

“The extended cadenza was given a quite stunning performance by the director of the Camerata, Jonathan Hellyer Jones” Cornish Times

Harpsichord

I specialise in the music of the baroque era and give frequent solo harpsichord recitals nationally. The short spoken introductions I provide for recital pieces have proved very popular with the Music Club and National Trust audiences. My repertoire emphasises the relationship between J S Bach and composers of his era.

“The harpsichord cadenza displayed the sensitive but firm musicianship of Mr Hellyer Jones” Essex Chronicle

Organ

My repertoire ranges from the 14^th to the 20^th centuries and is designed to suit the wide variety of organs to be found in the Cambridge Colleges, in which I regularly play public and conference recitals.

“The performance is good too - Jonathan Jones plays stylishly, knows when to believe the notation and when to stretch it and adds appropriate roulades on pauses ... there is much to enjoy” Early Music News

Lecture Recitals

I teach and perform on the harpsichord and organ in Cambridge and have taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. I can offer successful and informal lecture recital programmes based on my teaching experience; this has included lecturing and leading seminars on Baroque Performace Practice at Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge.

“Jonathan Jones - the excellent continuo player - offered two Scarlatti harpsichord sonatas, a pleasant diversion for the ear” Peterborough Evening Telegraph

The Cambridge Baroque Camerata

I am the founder and director of this ensemble which is devoted to the performance on period instruments of the chamber and orchestral works of the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

Recent Continuo Work

Monteverdi	Vespers
J S Bach	St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, St Mark Passion, B minor Mass, Magnificat, Cantatas, all 3 violin concertos
Handel	Israel in Egypt, Judas Maccabeus, Solomon, Jephtha, Messiah, Fireworks Music, Water Music
Mozart	Don Giovanni, Solemn Vespers, Coronation Mass
Haydn	Theresa Mass, Nelson Mass, Harmonie Mass, Creation

Concerto Repertoire includes

J S Bach	Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D, Harpsichord Concertos in A (BWV 1055) and D minor (BWV 1052), Concerto in C major for 2 harpsichords (BWV 1061), Concertos in C minor for 2 harpsichords (BWV 1060 and BWV 1062), Concerto for 3 harpsichords (BWV 1064), Concerto for 4 harpsichords (BWV 1065)
C P E Bach	Concerto in F
Handel	Organ Concertos

Recordings

I made my first recording, The Muse Delight’d (PLR037), in 1982. This is a collection of music by Handel, Nares, Haydn and J C Bach played on 18^th century instruments in the Castle Museum in York. In 1983, I recorded music of J S Bach and his era on the organ of Trinity College, Cambridge (PLCD059 and PLC059). For further details, please see our recordings page.

Between 1982 and 1984, I contributed to cassettes which accompanied books on General Musicianship, History of Music and Keyboard Instruments published by Cambridge University Press. Recordings were made of solos and chamber music played on harpsichord, virginals, spinet, clavichord, portative organ and fortepiano.

Programmes

I offer various solo (harpsichord or organ) and chamber programmes to suit all occasions. Prices start at £520 (£700 / €1120 abroad). If you have a special request, please ask! For further details, see our programmes page.

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Jonathan Hellyer Jones
The Cambridge Baroque Camerata
6 Dane Drive, Cambridge CB3 9LP, UK
Tel/Fax + 44 (0)1223 515688
E-mail us: Cambridge Baroque Camerata
E-mail our Agent: Neil Chaffey