Refiner's Fire: The Academy of Ancient Music and The Historical Performance Revolution

The Academy of Ancient Music was founded in 1973 by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood and record producer Peter Wadland to create Britain's first orchestra devoted to recording baroque and classical music on period instruments. This book chronicles fifty years of innovation, exploration, and musical adventure, from the early 1970s to new directions in the 21st century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2023
Publisher: Elliott & Thompson Limited

The Financial Times has released its list of the best books of 2023, and among them is "Presto Music - Best Books of the Year 2023." The book, written by Richard Bratby, chronicles the history of the Academy of Ancient Music, a pioneering orchestra founded in 1973 by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood and record producer Peter Wadland. The Academy's mission was to create Britain's first orchestra devoted to recording Baroque and classical music on period instruments.

Over the next fifty years, the Academy achieved remarkable success, bringing historically informed performance into the mainstream and putting Vivaldi into the pop charts. However, with success came a new challenge: reinventing itself to survive and thrive in the world its own success had created.

In "Refiners Fire," Bratby tells the story of this trailblazing orchestra and the people who shaped it. The book spans fifty years of innovation, exploration, and musical adventure, from the pioneering days of the early 1970s to new directions and new triumphs in the 21st century.

The book is praised for its uplifting and anecdote-packed account of the Academy of Ancient Music. Reviewers describe it as an illuminating account of a musical revolution. They also praise Bratby's use of archival material and many interviews to provide a lively account of the orchestra's history, of Christopher Hogwood himself, and of the other essential players (literal and figurative).

Overall, "Refiners Fire" is a must-read for anyone interested in music, history, or the power of innovation. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of the Academy of Ancient Music and the people who have shaped it over the past fifty years.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783967605