Music was an important pastime in Victorian times. A pianoforte in the parlour was an important status symbol and the ability to sing, and play musical instruments were valued social accomplishments. Blow the Wind Southerly is a collection of 14 songs in Victorian aparlour settings from the north east of England, interspersed with contemporary instrumental pieces. In preparing the performing scores reference was made to a number of sources including 'A Selection of the most popular Melodies of the Tyne and the Wear' collected by Robert Topliff around 1815, Bruce & Stokoe's 'Northumbrian Minstrelsy' (1882) and C. Ernest Catcheside-Warrington's extensive collection of Tyneside songs first published in 1911.

Historic instruments recapture the sound world of the Victorian parlour; violoncello and boxwood flute date from the end of the eighteenth century and the 'square' pianoforte was manufactured by Broadwood in the early 1840’s.

Margarette Ashton, Peter Harrison, Rachel Gray and John Treherne form the early music group Concert Royal. The ensemble was founded by Peter and John in 1974 with the aim of recreating the musical sound worlds of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries through research, study and performance on historic instruments.

Over the past 35 years Concert Royal has given hundreds of recitals in every corner of the UK, performing in festivals and for music and arts societies, in churches, schools, and arts centres. In a long association with The National Trust Concert Royal performs in Britain’s finest country houses. The ensemble has toured in Europe, the USA and for the British Council in South America.