It specialises in English music for viol consort from approximately the time of William Byrd to that of Henry Purcell, but also performs Renaissance and contemporary repertoire.
The group was formed in 1985 and received financial support from the Arts Council of Great Britain.
[1] In 2023 the members were listed on the website as Emily Ashton, Emilia Benjamin, Richard Boothby, Joanna Levine, Jonathan Rees and Sam Stadlen.
[2] Among those who have performed with the group are the singers Catherine Bott, James Bowman and Michael Chance, the instrumentalists Paul Nicholson and Christopher Wilson, and the Red Byrd vocal ensemble.
[1] The group has published a number of editions of music for consort of viols and also a book by David Pinto on the consort and dance music of William Lawes.