Philip Pickett

Career

Pickett played for the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the English Concert, the English Chamber Orchestra and the London Mozart Players. In 1976 he joined the Albion Band, a folk-rock band led by Ashley Hutchings that included John Sothcott. They played a mixture of traditional folk music and medieval tunes on a wide range of instruments – curtals, shawms, recorders, crumhorns, bagpipes, rackets, chalumeaux and synthesiser. In 1988 Pickett released his only solo album, called The Alchemist. A collaboration with Richard Thompson and members of Fairport Convention in 1998 resulted in the release of The Bones of All Men, consisting of early music tunes with a modern rock rhythm section and electric guitar.

In 1993 he became artistic director of the Purcell Room Early Music series, and in the same year was appointed director of Early Music at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. The Musicians of the Globe ensemble specialised in English music from the 16th and 17th centuries. Pickett simultaneously led the New London Consort, which had a wider repertoire covering English, Spanish, Italian and German medieval and Renaissance music. From 1994 to 1997 he was founder and director of the Aldeburgh Early Music Festival.

Pickett taught freelance, mainly at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, from 1972 to 1997. His time at Guildhall later came under scrutiny after his 2013 arrest. after which further victims came forward. His arrest was not part of the high-profile sex crime investigation Operation Yewtree. It was said at his trial that allegations against Pickett dated back to 1984, when a family complained to the school about him attacking their 17-year-old daughter; they were allegedly told by the school that she should have her lessons elsewhere as no one else had complained. Police discovered evidence within the archives of the school that in 1984 the principal John Hosier had written to Pickett, asking him to discuss the allegations. and ordered that two further indictments in relation to allegations by two women dating back to the 1970s lie on file. Pickett was cleared of six further counts of indecent assault.

Discography With the Albion Band Albums Dancing Days Are Here Again (2007, recorded 1976) The Prospect Before Us (1977) Rise up Like The Sun (1978) The BBC Sessions (1998, recorded 1973–1978) Stella Maris (1987)

Singles "Hopping Down in Kent"/"Merry Sherwood Rangers" (1976) "The Postman's Knock"/"La Sexte Estampie Real" (1977) "Poor Old Horse"/"Ragged Heroes" (1978) "Pain and Paradise"/"Lay Me Low" (1979)

With the New London Consort Elizabeth and Jacobean Concert Music from the Time of Columbus Ars Subtilior Llibre Vermell Biber and Schmelzer Trumpet Music Biber Requiem O Primavera Trionfi Las Ensaladas Mad Songs The Songs of Oswald von Wolkenstein Telemann Concertos Pilgrimage to Santiago Monteverdi Vespers (1610) L'Orfeo Tielman Susato, Dansereye 1551, Éditions de l'Oiseau-Lyre, 1993 Anonymous, Carmina Burana, Vols. 1–4 (L'Oiseau Lyre, 4 CD, 1994) John Blow: Venus & Adonis, A Masque for the entertainment of the King, 1994) Sinners and Saints (a compilation of previous recordings) Bach: Brandenburg Concerti (complete) The Feast of Fools Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore Vivaldi: Gloria RV 588 and Dixit Dominus RV 595 The Sylvan and Oceanic Delights of Posilipo Michael Praetorius, Nativitas – A Renaissance Christmas, Decca, 1 CD, 1998

With the Musicians of the Globe Music From Shakespeare's Plays Ben Jonson's 'The Masque Of Oberon'''A Shakespeare Ode On The Witches and FairiesPurcell's ShakespeareThe Enchanted IslandNutmegs and GingerSir Henry Rowley Bishop: Songs for Shakespeare productions at Covent GardenSoloThe Alchemist (1988) (London NL 425 209–2)The Alchemist (1998)

With Richard ThompsonRumor and Sigh (1991)The Bones of All Men'' (1998)