Weston Park Cello Music: by James Cervetto, Carlo Ferrari, Felice Giardini and others, from the Weston Park Music collection

In 2014 the music collection belonging to the family of Sir Henry Bridgeman, 1st Baron Bradford, was rediscovered after lying hidden for over 200 years at his ancestral home of Weston Park. Hundreds of pieces, both printed and in manuscript, make up the collection and show just how important music was to this family in the 18th century. Particularly exciting is the discovery of 25 pieces for cello (solos and duets), which belonged to Sir Henry’s eldest son, Henry Simpson Bridgeman. All but three of the pieces are by anonymous composers, and all are unique works, representing a significant contribution to the early cello repertoire and offering an eclectic window onto the tastes of the time.