The original Musical and Amicable Society was founded in 1762 by James Kempson, an enthusiastic Birmingham-based musician, who directed the chapel choir at St Bartholomew’s Church.  Together with musicians from St Philip’s Church (now Birmingham Cathedral) they met at Cooke’s in the Cherry Orchard, a local tavern situated in Cherry Street.  Here they gathered on a regular basis “for practice and recreation”.

 In 2003, Kate Fawcett and Martin Perkins decided to revive this historic society as a collective of young professional period-instrument specialists, performing in combinations ranging from small chamber ensembles to full orchestra.  They perform throughout the country and are resident in Ross on Wye for the Ross Live! festival.

 The Society has a flexible line-up, depending on programme requirements.  A special feature is the democratic nature of the group, with no one fixed ‘leader’– as you will see tonight.  This policy is central to the philosophy of an ensemble in which the presiding ethos is one of chamber music - however large or small the formation - where each and every performer has a significant role to play. 

 In its eighteenth-century incarnation the Musical and Amicable Society issued a printed code of rules for its members, embellished by an elaborate frontispiece, bearing the following motto - which today's Society heartily endorses!

"To our Musical Club Here's long Life and Prosperity
May it flourish with us, and so on to posterity
May Concord and Harmony always abound
And Divisions here only in our Music be found.
May the Catch and the Glass go about and about
And another succeed to the Bottle that's out."