It must have been divine providence that saw Johann Sebastian Bach born on March 21 – the first day of astronomical spring. Three and a half centuries after that monumental day in Europe’s cultural history, Bach’s music is springing eternal. Never before have we been so enamoured by early music, nor more aware of its communicative potential or capacity for joyous interactions and experiences.

Every March 21 since 2012, Europe has come together for a celebration of early music stretching the width of the continent from Ireland to Estonia. 2023’s Early Music Day will stretch even further - to Australia, the USA and Hong Kong - celebrating ten centuries of music and, in so doing, marking our extraordinary collective history and sonic heritage. As always, the event is shaped by the practitioners and ensembles who, as part of the European Early Music Network, make early music happen. But it remains open to anyone, anywhere.

At the heart of the day will be events organized independently by the wider early music community. Performers can register their event online while enthusiasts can use the interactive map to find live performances happening near them, anywhere in Europe (earlymusicday.eu). With more than 200 performances already registered - including concerts in the UK from groups including Ex Cathedra, Ensemble Cantoria, Irish Harpists and more - there is a world of music to discover, all of it surrounded by a comprehensive lineup of broadcasts, master-classes, workshops and conferences.

Once again the day will be enlivened by spontaneous contributions from individuals, ensembles, libraries, museums and so on. On March 21 and throughout the week, everyone is invited to help fill internet and social media platforms with early music by sharing fringe activities. Simply upload performances or early music-related content, sharing with the hashtag #earlymusicday so that early music enthusiasts will easily find your performance, talk or content.

As the event enters its second decade, it will once again be wrapped in a ‘virtual’ Early Music Day Festival, running for four days from March 20-24. The festival’s centrepiece is a series of seven online concerts provided by REMA members, celebrating music from the Italian baroque, beginning with a performance from Christophe Rousset conducting I Talenti Vulcanici, who live from Naples will celebrate the Neapolitan school with music by Porpora, Vinci, Leo and Sarro in their concert Primadonna Primouomo. The festival continues with performances from Voces Suaves in Switzerland, Concerto Copenhagen in Denmark, Collegium Marianum in the Czech Republic and more.

The early music community has always combined rigour and expertise with a spirit of conviviality and openness. Those qualities are found in abundance in 2023’s Early Music Day Ambassador, the baroque violinist Amandine Beyer, whose pioneering recordings have been no strangers to praise in the pages of Gramophone.

‘Early music helps me to see the world in a full way,’ says Beyer. ‘For years I have been witnessing the transformative power of this music: the power of its impact on concert audiences, children, on the people we reach for because they wouldn’t push the door of a concert hall by themselves.’

As a community, we love old music for its capacity to tell us about the here-and-now. Beyer is no different. ‘This music was made for sharing and joy: the joy of playing, of listening, of dancing, of feeling simplicity through perceiving complexity,’ she says. ‘It is the music of today and also music of the future, because it teaches us curiosity, respect and action. The revival of the performance of all these scores of the past centuries, driven by the pioneers of the genre in the 60s and 70s still animates our souls and rejoices in our heartbeat while we wonder at them every day.’

So how would Beyer suggest celebrating Early Music Day 2023? ‘I would recommend going to a concert on March 21. This day is like a party, so choose something you really like and come and enjoy this big party day with us.’ From Gregorian chant to baroque dance, there is something for everyone in this year’s event - music that has the capacity to delight, but also to surprise us with copious revelations about our continent and where we come from.

Find out more about Early Music Day 2023: earlymusicday.eu

Amandine Beyer's Playlist

Giovanni Gabrieli Canzon No 18

Early music has the power to connect us, living people of today, to a long heritage. This beautiful piece does it particularly well!

Johannes Ciconia Venecie mundi splendor

This amazing piece of music is part of Ciconia’s motets and mass movement. This music has the power to make me feel strongly connected to a mystical world.

Vivaldi Overture de L'Olimpiade

Gli Incogniti, Amandine Beyer

The best expression of passion in music, in my opinion, comes from Vivaldi! Any piece would do, really, but the Overture of this opera is one of my favourites.

Clérambault Médée

Agnès Mellon & Barcarole

Music and tragedy can go well together, and singers’ voices can carry this emotion particularly well. When I think about tragedy in music, I can really hear Agnès Mellon’s voice singing in my head.

Reich Violin Phase

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker

If you like the idea of mixing music with other arts, you will certainly like “Dancing in MoMa in New-York”. Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker is dancing alone in the sand and it’s amazing!

Biber Mystery Sonatas

Gunar Letzbor

A very good way to rediscover the past through music, is to listen to the amazing recordings of the Austrian violinist Gunar Letzbor. And Biber of course holds a special place in my violinist’ heart!

Lambert Vos mépris chaque jour

Sometimes we look for music that reminds us how it feels to be in love. In such times, I would warmly recommend this song!

Le Humane Passioni - The Concertos of the Human Passion

Giuliano Carmignola

If you want to hear what virtuosity and musical skill can mean, just go and listen to Giuliano Carmignola. Whatever recording, he’s always at the top!

Weiss Pieces in D Major: II. Passacaille

Hopkinson Smith

The best way to relax is to listen to Hopkinson Smith playing Weiss. You’ll just be smiling and peaceful all day.

CPE Bach String Symphonies

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach has the power to open up new worlds and always be unexpected, especially in his String Symphonies.