We draw the inspiration and ethos of our ensemble from the resurgence in the arts that accompanied the Restoration of the English Monarchy, between around 1660 and 1714. This period was marked by an explosion of creativity and colour across the arts, which had earlier been suppressed by the Puritan Oliver Cromwell.

Ham House, a National Trust property outside of London built early in the 17th century, was redecorated during the Restoration and is now widely seen as an icon of Restoration style. We’ve chosen to name ourselves after one of the rooms in the house–The Queen’s Closet–whose particularly lavish and opulent decorations match not just the wide ranging tonal colours and aural richness of our music, but also exemplify the exuberance with which we musick.

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