Bath Spa musicians in historic museums event

On Saturday May 12th ten museums and galleries across Bath will host an evening of music and cultural celebration featuring Bath Spa University students and staff. Night at The Museums is a national initiative designed to highlight the treasures held by museums all over the country. The evening event will include torchlit tours, presentations and music performances in prestigious venues including the Victoria Art Gallery, the Holburne Museum and the Roman Baths.

Bath is the first British city to mount an event of this kind. Many of the participating museums are suspending their entry fees for the evening.

Head of Department of Music Joe Bennett said; "We're delighted that our students will be playing in such prestigious and unusual venues. The wonderful museums of Bath are an ideal setting for our ensembles because they bring together Bath's unique heritage and the city's long history of nurturing talented musicians. This is our first joint project with Bath Heritage Services, so it's great to see our students contributing directly to Bath's vibrant musical culture."

Visitors can set their own timetable from the full list of participating museums and events. Those featuring music include;


Victoria Art Gallery, by Pulteney Bridge: 5.30pm to 9pm, 12th May 2007. Free entry.
'Night at the Museums' will be launched here. A live jazz trio from Bath Spa University will perform and Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Councillor Loraine Morgan Brinkhurst, will officially open the event. Visitors can take part in portraiture workshops throughout the evening.
(Live music from 5.30pm)
Victoria Art Gallery website

Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road: 6.30pm to 10pm, 12th May 2007. Free entry.
Experience 'Coal Face', a GPO documentary made in 1936 about the living and working conditions of coal miners in Britain. This was one of several films made about industry in Britain and features music specially composed by Benjamin Britten which will be performed live by music students from Bath Spa University.
(Live music from 7pm)
Museum of Bath at Work website

Number 1, the Royal Crescent: 6.30pm to 8.30pm, 12th May 2007. Contact venue for admission details.
Classical music related to this magnificent building’s heritage will be played in the music room, starting at 6.30pm. Among the highlights of the programme are pieces by Handel, whose secretary lived in the neighbouring Brock Street. This is a great opportunity to see an original Georgian house which has not been fitted with electrical lighting - so arrive before it gets dark!
(Live music from 6.30pm)
No 1 Royal Crescent visitor information

Museum of East Asian Art, Bennett Street: 6.30pm to 10pm , 12th May 2007. Free entry.
Join the Museum as it enjoys an evening of East Asian Art with live music played by a member of the UK Chinese Ensemble. The recently-released Chinese documentary How far do leaves fall? presents topics of discussion including migration, generational changes, and Chinese identity within multi-cultural Britain and will be shown at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Professional musician Cheng Yu will perform traditional Chinese music on the pipa and the qin, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.
(Live music from 7.30pm)
Museum of East Asian Art website


The Holburne Museum: 6.30pm to 10pm, 12th May 2007. Free entry.
Dr Matthew Spring and the students of Bath Spa University perform music
by Chilcott, Herschel and Mozart in the Picture Gallery at 6.30pm and 9pm. Torch-lit tours and refreshments will also be available.
(Live music from 6.30pm)
Holburne Museum events page





Roman Baths, Stall Street, Bath: 8.30pm to 10pm; last admission, 9.30pm. Free entry for all Discovery Card holders.
Visitors can relax beside the torch-lit Great Bath with accompaniment from the Bath Spa clarinet quartet. Licensed bar available.
Roman Baths website





For more information about Bath Spa University's music activities please see BathSpaMusic.com or contact Joe Bennett on 01225 875 523.

For more information about Museums Month, see the official B&NES Museums Events and Exhibitions website or call Heritage Services on 01225 477785.