A LITTLE slice of 18th century life will add a Renaissance flavour to this year’s Worcester Festival.

The Worcester Early Music Weekend, which starts today, gives residents a chance to revel in period costumes, learn Elizabethan dances, listen to authentic early music and discover what life was life 300 years ago.

Tomorrow there is a Pride and Prejudice Ball at the Guildhall. There will be a costumed demonstration of Elizabethan dance as well as the opportunity to learn dances from the 17th and 18th centuries.

On Saturday well-known costumed band Piva will return to St Swithun’s Church to explore how instruments were made and played in the Tudor period. At 7.30pm the band, which specialises in music from the 16th century, using reproductions of historical instruments such as shawms, curtal, bagpipes and recorders, will perform popular dance music and English ballads from the Elizabethan period.

Local early music enthusiasts Barbara Dunn and Dr Micaela Schmitz, who run the newly formed Worcestershire Early Music group, will oversee the weekend of events.

“In terms of early music you can’t go wrong,” said Dr Schmitz, encouraging people to get involved.

“You can wear what you want, applaud when you like. We’re doing this to make it even more accessible. We’ve had a lot of support since we started in about 2006.

“We’ve had support from Worcester Festival organisers and from St Swithun’s Church where we are holding a lot of events. It’s the people who are mad keen about early music who have helped us get here.”

At 7.30pm tonight the Passacaglia Duo will perform baroque flute and harpsichord music at St Swithun’s in Church Street.

On Sunday a German-inspired Coffee Cabaret concert is being held at the Art House Cafe in CrownGate.

Cathryn Dew (recorder), Dr Schmitz (harpsichord) and Andrew Watts (bassoon) will play music from the 18th century.

For tickets to any of the events call 01905 611427 or visit worcesterfestival.co.uk. For more about early music in Worcestershire see earlymusica.org.