Caroline has written programme notes for festivals and venues including the Wigmore Hall, Music at Oxford, St Cecilia’s Hall Edinburgh, ReRenaissance Basel, and for numerous concerts and CD booklets. Her writing style seeks to marry academic rigour with engaging story-telling, bringing the cultural context of the music alive to the modern listener. She feels strongly that all writing about early music should be as vivid and compelling as the music itself.
“Programme notes are…thoroughly informative” (David Fallows, review of Tears from the Soul, Gramophone Magazine, May 2023)
“Caroline Ritchie’s…engaging programme note” (D. James Ross, review of Old Viols, Early Music Review, accessed February 2026)
“Caroline Ritchie’s informative notes” (Andrew Benson-Wilson, review of The Edward Lewis Viol of 1703, May 2025)
“Within the liner notes is information on the historical context of the music by Caroline Ritchie, who gives an excellent and informative description of the repertoire chosen for solo bass viol for this recording from the 17th century to the early 18th century” (Catherine Clark, reviewing The Edward Lewis Viol of 1703 for the Viola da Gamba Society Newsletter Vol.81)
Caroline is also available for translation work (German or French to English, with experience in poetic and song texts) and copyediting/proofreading.
An experienced public speaker, Caroline is available for pre-concert talks and other events (in English or German). She has been featured on BBC Radio 3’s the Early Music Show and can be heard in a number of YouTube clips discussing concerts and projects.
Caroline has worked as co-editor on the following editions:
Antonio Vivaldi, Kyrie RV 587
Antonio Vivaldi, Gloria RV 589
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Stabat Mater
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Mass in F major “Missa Romana”
George Frideric Handel, Messiah 1741
Anonymous 17th century Grounds and Sonatas
She has some ongoing availability for editing projects and commissions. Skills include transcribing from French lute tablature and working with original sources (preferably c.1550 onwards). She is experienced with handling original materials including manuscripts.
Caroline Ritchie 