THE University of York Baroque Day at the National Centre for Early Music, York, will open with Saturday's 12.30pm concert by Compagnia d’Istrumenti, Towards The String Quartet.

The theme of the day, The Century Lights, will focus on how the world of music was not immune from the enormous social and political upheavals of the 18th century, The series of concerts will highlight the changes in style and taste that marked the transition from the late Baroque to Classical period and the rise of the string quartet and the symphony.

Compagnia d’Istrumenti will explore the development and popularity of the string quartet, from its genesis in the Baroque period to fashionable and popular 18th century adaptations of Mozart’s operatic arias, culminating in the music of Haydn. Their early afternoon programme will feature works by Telemann, Richter and Mozart, concluding with Haydn's Quartet No. 2.

Kemp English's fortepiano concert at 3pm will turn the spotlight on Leopold Ko?eluch, a contemporary of Mozart, who was considered by many at the time to be the finer composer. An early champion of the fortepiano, his keyboard sonatas foreshadow those of Beethoven and Schubert and in this concert his Sonata in D and Sonata in F Minor will be placed alongside works by two of his better-known contemporaries: Mozart Fantasia in D minor and

Schubert's Moments Musicaux.

At 7pm, the University of York Baroque Ensemble will present Towards The Symphony, a celebration of Haydn, the "Father of the Symphony" lauded by Mozart, who was moved to say: "He alone has the secret of making me smile, and touching me to the bottom of my soul".

Mozart's Divertimento in D and W F Bach's Sinfonia in D minor will precede Haydn's Symphony No. 49 in F minor, La Passione. Tickets for the Baroque Day, for individual concerts or a day pass, can be booked on 01904 658338 or at ncem.co.uk.

SUNDAY'S Family Friendly show at the National Centre for Early Music will be The Empty Chair, a mischievous musical adventure for six year olds and upwards, at 11.30am.

When, out of nowhere, a mysterious empty chair appears bang in the middle of a house, its inhabitants are beyond bewildered. Why does it bring a strange, sizzling silence? Who is the tip-toeing creature full of songs and secrets that longs to help? What on earth is a black hole doing at the front door?

Exploring the ways in which people and friendships grow and change, The Empty Chair unfolds through playful storytelling and music for voice, cello and piano, drawn from across the ages, by Debussy, Couperin, Berio and Moondog, alongside new music by Troupe.

A workshop will follow at 1.30pm.

MUSIC composed by the 2018 NCEM Young Composers Award finalists will be performed by The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble at the National Centre for Early Music at Thursday's final at 7.30pm.

Presented in association with BBC Radio 3, the award is in its 11th year and attracts young composers from across Britain. Finalists will work with composer Christopher Fox and The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble to prepare their pieces for this public performance.

The winners will be announced on the night and the winning pieces will be performed by the group at Turner Sims, Southampton, on October 30 at a concert to be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show.

Charles Hutchinson