Pearl in the Egg is the historical music duo of Karen Wareham and Liz Woolnough. For nearly twenty years we have shared a fascination with early music, unusual instruments and the challenge of making music from the distant past feel immediate and alive.

Between us we sing and play an extensive collection of historical instruments, including recorders, shawms, crumhorns, bagpipes, harp, lyre, rebec, keyboards and percussion.

But Pearl in the Egg is not simply a display of unusual instruments. We want audiences to understand where the music came from, who might have heard it, how the instruments work and — most importantly — why this music can still be exciting, beautiful, funny, moving or wonderfully noisy today.

Our performances can be formal or informal, intimate or exuberant. We are equally at home giving a concert, filling a castle courtyard with medieval music, talking to visitors at a heritage event or introducing children to instruments they have never encountered before.

Pearl in the Egg is based in Norfolk, but travelling has always been part of the adventure!