In September 2025 Fretwork return with an album of works for Viol by the John Jenkins. Jenkins was a highly active and productive composer who lived through a period of significant transformation in English music, with his lifetime spanning from the era of William Byrd to that of Henry Purcell. He is particularly known for his contributions to the viol consort fantasia, drawing inspiration in the 1630s from a previous generation of English composers such as Alfonso Ferrabosco the Younger, Thomas Lupo, and Orlando Gibbons. His work is distinguished by its rich lyricism, exceptional craftsmanship, and a unique approach to tonality and counterpoint.
★★★★★ – “Fretwork harness the delicious interplay between dissonance and consonance” – BBC Music Magazinr
“An aural experience of richness, clarity and elegant balance.” – Sonograma
“This repertory is Fretwork’s core and they perform it with customary polish, ably supported by the organist Silas Wollston” – Gramophone
“The Rolls-Royce among viol consorts” – The Strad