The World Encompassed

By Orlando Gough
Narrated by Cosimo Boothby

On 25th September, we invited the Friends of Fretwork to an exclusive live performance of our unique programme, The World Encompassed. For this musical journey following Sir Francis Drake on his circumnavigation of the world (between 1577-1580), we commissioned Orlando Gough to compose a work that contrasted original Elizabethan consort music and hymns of the 1570s with an imagined music of the exotic countries and cultures that Drake encountered on his epic voyage. He has added a narrative derived from the original accounts of the voyage and the result is a 90 minute through-composed work full of contrasts, serious and silly, sacred and profane, new and old, that has won extravagant praise.

We understand that not everyone could attend the performance, so we’re proud to offer a full, 4K video recording to the Friends of Fretwork. We very much hope you enjoy it.