EarlyMusicNews.org

"Nils Wieboldt, studied at the Musikhochschule Trossingen and at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag, where he received his masters for specialising on baroque cello and historical performance practice with Jaap ter Linden.

In 1991 Nils won the first prize and the 'Rovere d'Oro Special Prize' at the Rovere d'Oro competition in Italy. In the nationwide competition "Jugend Musizert" in Germany he won the first prize in 1993. At the early music competition Musica Antiqua Brugge 2000 he won a 2nd price.

For the past years Nils has performed widely as a baroque cellist with various chamber music groups and and orchestras in most of Europe, Japan, the United States, the Middle-East and Russia. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 777

“Michael Craddock studied music at the University of North Texas, where he was the first guitarist to complete the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree. He was also a performer in master classes of Oscar Ghiglia and José Tomás. An interest in early music eventually led him to study the lute and related historical plucked instruments with Hopkinson Smith at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland. He has performed as a soloist and member of
several ensembles in Europe and the United States. A former faculty member of Texas Christian University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he now lives in Switzerland. His first CD, Tabulatures de Guiterne, was recently released on the Cantus label.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 771

"Eduardo Figueroa - lutenist, born at Santiago (Chile), studies guitar with Oscar Ohlsen at the Music Institute of the "Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile".

Since 1995 dedicates himself to the study of early music (lute and theorbo), assisting to seminars with Hopkinson Smith, Eduardo Egüez, Paul O'Dette, Nigel North and Juan Carlos Rivera, obtaining his luth diploma on 2004 at the Early Music Institute of the "Accademia Internazionale della Musica" (Milan) under the guide of Paul Beier.

For years he has developed a wide concert activity as a soloist and in orchestral ensembles in Italy, Spain, Norway, United Kingdom, France and South America. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 30, 2008 | Hits: 770

“Lutz Kirchhof devotes himself to the rediscovery of the lute and its music. As international well-known lute soloist he released numerous CD productions as an exclusive artist of SONY MUSIC.

In 1996, Lutz Kirchhof initiated the foundation of the German Association for Lute (DEUTSCHE LAUTENGESELLSCHAFT).“

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Added on: May 20, 2009 | Hits: 769

"Dmitry Badiarov was born in Russia, lived and worked in Saint-Petersburg, Brussels and Tokyo. Dmitry Badiarov's career is a symbiosis of two professions: violin playing and making. As a luthier he made approx. 60 instruments, including the innovative violoncellos da spalla for players such as Ryo Terakado and Sigiswald Kuijken. In 2007 he made a set of innovative early baroque violins which have been played by La Petite Bande in March and October 2007. As a soloist on the violoncello da spalla he performed with Bach Collegium Japan and La Petite Bande. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 767

“Lutenist/theorbist Andreas Martin is perhaps best known for his recent splash in the early music world with his recording of Bach works for lute in 2004. This Harmonia Mundi disc, rated 5/5 stars in Goldberg magazine, represents a culmination of years of his close musical study and interest. It has led to comments such as “[Martin]...shows a deep knowledge of Bach’s music...an intensive Bach, brilliantly and marvellously distinguished...“(Pablo Vayón), „Meditative…subtle dynamics and evident lyricism…dance-like” (Michael Ullman, Fanfare Magazine), or “his phrasing [is] almost vocal in nuance” (Anna Picard, The Independent on Sunday).

Native to Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Martin’s early studies include the classical guitar in the Musikhochschule with Mario Sicca (Stuttgart), in the Conservatorio de Musica Giuseppe Verdi with Ruggero Chiesa (Milan), and Anglo – Saxon and Romance Languages and Philosophy at the University of Heidelberg. In order to expand upon his interest in Renaissance literature and music, he next enrolled in the esteemed Schola Cantorum in Basel, under the tutelage of lutists Eugen Dombois, Hopkinson Smith and Peter Croton. There he was also influenced by such artists as Emma Kirkby, Evelyn Tubb, Anthony Rooley and Nigel North.

His current life as a concert artist has taken Martin round the world. Recent highlights of solo appearances include the Festival de Musica Antigua, Barcelona (2004) or the Europabachfestival of Paris (2005).

He has also performed on television (Arte, Südwest 3) and radio (SWR 2 and BBC 3--concerts in Wales 2005 “Bach by Candlelight at Ewenny”).“

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Added on: May 20, 2009 | Hits: 767

"The American-born lutenist Jacob Heringman studied with Jakob Lindberg at the Royal College of Music in London, and later with Pat O'Brien in New York.

Based in England since 1987, he has established himself as one of the world’s most respected and most innovative solo lute players, and as a much sought-after ensemble player performing regularly throughout Europe and North and South America, and making many CD and radio recordings of medieval and renaissance music with leading English ensembles, including The Rose Consort of Viols, Fretwork, Musicians of the Globe, The Kings Singers, The New London Consort, Virelai and The Dufay Collective.

As a continuo player, Jacob Heringman performed and recorded with The King's Consort, The English Baroque Soloists, The Parley of Instruments and The Taverner Consort, among others. In 1993, he left the continuo circuit to focus on renaissance solo and ensemble projects.

Jacob's playing is also to be heard on the soundtracks of many Hollywood films (most recently, Harry Potter III and Kingdom of Heaven), and occasionally on pop albums (most recently, Joni Mitchell's Travelogue). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 763

"Welcome to the website of the French Lute Society (S.F.L.), a community of lutenists, music lovers, luthiers, professors, amateurs, professionals ... In a word, people crazy enough to be interested in an instrument which is 4 or 5 centuries old, but whose rich repertoire and entrancing sound continue to charm hundreds, even thousands of people throughout France, Europe and the world! "

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Added on: Mar 11, 2008 | Hits: 760

"Jakob Lindberg was born in Djursholm in Sweden and developed his first passionate interest in music through the Beatles. He started to play the guitar and soon became interested in the classical repertoire. From the age of fourteen he studied with Jörgen Rörby who also gave him his first tuition on the lute. After reading music at Stockholm University he went to London to study at the Royal College of Music. Here he further developed his knowledge of the lute repertoire under the guidance of Diana Poulton and decided towards the end of his studies to concentrate on renaissance and baroque music. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 755

“Harp Spectrum is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization dedicated to gathering and sharing information about all kinds of harps and harp music. We are mainly composed of a group of harp players and harp music fans. Our article contributions come from harpists all over the world and we are continually seeking additional material.  ..“

There is a section on Historical Harp.

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 754

“Tanya Tomkins, a virtuoso on both the Baroque and modern cello, is equally at home playing a Bach cello suite in an intimate house concert or anchoring the cello section of the internationally renowned Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra on concert stages around the world. NRC Handelsblad (The Netherlands) describes her as “a cellist with a very special and unusual intensity,” and the Cleveland Plain Dealer calls her "a performer who combines an intense dramatic fire with Apollonian poise.”

Added on: Jan 22, 2011 | Hits: 751

“ .. In 2009 Andrew  has formed and directs a revolutionary new ensemble: Consort Astræa, whose début project: "Harmonious Revolutions: Galileo & The Music of the Spheres", he created for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, during which it has seen four highly successful performances in such culturally important venues as The State Library of New South Wales (as part of the Sydney Italian Festival), The National Press Club of Australia (for the Inaugural Higher Education Conference for Universities Australia), and Elizabeth Bay House.    A 'live renaissance multimedia happening', it features music from the Galilei family & the Florentine Camerata, scripted tableaux in the form of Socratic dialogue from writings of the Galilei circle, synchronised with projection of spectacular astro-photography by Professor David Malin (discoverer of two galaxies), and was made possible with generous sponsorship from the National Academies Forum and The Royal Society of New South Wales.

 With Sydney-based soprano Anna Fraser & Melbourne-based viola da gamba virtuosa Laura Vaughan, he has also formed a trio: The Muses' Salon, introducing Australian audiences to the most enchanting & intimate chamber music of the Renaissance & Baroque periods on these rare instruments.

Andrew has taught lute performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, tutored at early music workshops around Australia, and in his private Sydney teaching practise .“

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Added on: Apr 23, 2010 | Hits: 749

"Marc Lewon specialises in medieval instruments of the lute family and medieval Germanic languages and literature. After gaining a Master's degree in musicology and medieval German from Heidelberg University (Germany), he moved to Basel to further his practical music studies in the Medieval Department of the Schola Cantorum. There he studied lute with Crawford Young, vielle with Randall Cook and singing with Kathleen Dineen. In 2006 he completed his diploma in medieval lute, graduating with honours. In 2007 he will conclude his studies in medieval fiddle and publish a facsimile edition of the fragmentary ”Frankfurt-Neidhart Manuscript” (c1300) containing early minnesang melodies.

He plays regularly with a number of ensembles including Freiburger Spielleyt, Dulce Melos, and Le Basile and is head of the project ensemble ”Leones”. Besides being a busy performer, he gives courses in medieval music and publishes articles and editions on the subject. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2008 | Hits: 744

“I have been making instruments for the past fifteen years, at first at instrument making courses in the school holidays in Germany, then working with a harpmaker in Scotland for six months prior to joining the London College of Furniture in 1992.  After a six year training in making baroque instruments, violins and guitars/mandolins I graduated with an honours degree in 1998.  I moved to Ramsgate, Kent in the south east of England in 2002 where I share a workshop with my wife, the hurdy-gurdy maker Claire Dugué.

I mostly make mandolins, irish bouzoukis, mandolas and citterns for a wide range of players in various countries.“

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Added on: May 11, 2009 | Hits: 737

"Voixhumaines is the alias of Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks, a successful Dutch soloist on the viola da gamba or bass viol. Ralph performs in solo and ensemble settings, giving solo concerts thoughout and outside Europe.

"Les Voix Humaines" is a famous piece by the renowned French viola da gamba player and composer Marin Marais (1656-1728). It is also the name used to envelope professional musical activities of Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 734

“Annette Otterstedt 

I should have invented the lyra viol if Frank Traficante had not discovered it for me beforehand. I was very young yet when I asked my teacher Johannes Koch to tell me about scordaturas for the viol. The only instance he knew was tuning the bottom string to C. I was disappointed, since I had already marked down the viol with its six strings as ideally suited for chordal play and various tunings. So I was not surprised when, browsing through my doctoral supervisor's (Carl Dahlhaus's) library, I came across a 'Musica Britannica' volume containing works by William Lawes, among them a suite for three lyra viols. There was the instrument to fill the gap. ..“

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Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 732

“ .. . She now performs widely as a viola da gamba soloist, having appeared with the Britten-Pears Baroque Orchestra, the Essex Baroque Orchestra, the Lecosaldi Ensemble, the Choir of St. John’s College Cambridge and the Sweelinck Ensemble among others. In 1995 she performed a viola da gamba concerto by Leonard Salzedo at Benslow Hills Music Trust in the presence of the composer.
Since 2000 Mary Pells has worked for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music as an examiner and as a mentor on their Certificate of Teaching course. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 728

“Born in Prague in 1969, Petr Wagner studied cello at the Prague Conservatoire with Josef Chuchro. This was followed by studies in musicology at Charles University in Prague and at Royal Holloway College at the University of London. There he was introduced to the viola da gamba by Richard Boothby, later continuing his development as a gamba player with Jaap ter Linden at the Akademie für alte Musik Dresden.

After having completed his studies in Dresden, Petr Wagner was invited to study with Wieland Kuijken at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague where he received the prestigious Uitvoerend Musicus solo diploma.

Petr has appeared at numerous European festivals (Festival d’Ile de France, Prague Spring Festival, Sopron Early Music Days, Mitte Europa Festival, Brežice Early Music Festival, Forum Musicum Wrocław), both as a soloist and continuo player, and collaborates with musicians such as Jacques Ogg, Shalev Ad-El, Mitzi Meyerson, Bruce Dickey, Brent Wissick, Miklós Spányi, Péter Szüts, Simon Standage, Ophira Zakai, Magdalena Kožená, Noémi Kiss, and ensembles such as Concerto Palatino, Orfeo Orchestra, Les Inégales Köln, Concerto Armonico Budapest and Oslo Baroque Soloists. ..“

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Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 728

"John Hollowayis o­ne of the pioneers of the modern “Early Music” movement in Britain. He played his first public concert in aid of Hungarian refugees in 1956. He was 8 years old. After a conventional training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and various international competitions, he worked as a freelance in London: throughout the 1970s he combined concert-mastering and managing the orchestra of Kent Opera, appearances with all the prominent chamber-orchestras in London, contemporary music and string quartet concerts, and, after encountering Sigiswald Kuijken in 1972, performances o­n Baroque violin" ...

Added on: Jul 13, 2005 | Hits: 725

"London born gambist Claire Bracher, completed her undergraduate studies with Hille Perl in Bremen Germany, and her postgraduate studies with Richard Boothby and Reiko Ichise at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London.

Claire's postgraduate studies were supported by a Douglas & Hilda Simmonds Study Award and a Hester Laverne Award. At the RCM, Claire received the 'McKenna Baroque Prize'.

With her ensemble 'Amaranthos', she reached the final of The York Early Music Young Artists Competition 2007, and with the trio, 'Musici Infaticabili', Claire won first prize at the 2008 Fenton House Chamber Music Competition.

Claire now teaches the RCM viol consorts, and in 2007 organised the first 'International Festival of Viols', held at The Royal College of Music.

Claire has performed with many renowned early music specialists, including; Ton Koopman, Hille Perl, Harry van der Kamp, Harold Vogel and Peter Holtslag. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2008 | Hits: 725

“Formed by Lynda Sayce, whose research forms the basis for much of its repertory, Chordophony is a new ensemble bringing together four of Britain's finest lutenists, cutting-edge musicological research, and the only full, matched consort of lutes in the world, to create a revolution in renaissance music. We do not rely on the tiny surviving repertory for lute ensemble, but prefer to take it as a precedent for arranging other works and improvising our own material, as our renaissance colleagues did. Chordophony's players are all experienced and accomplished soloists in their own right, bringing virtuosity and risk-taking improvisatory skills to the concert platform. Personnel vary depending on the project, but the core players are Lynda Sayce (treble lute), Eligio Luis Quinteiro (alto lute), Edward Fitzgibbon (tenor lute) and Richard Sweeney (bass lute). Chordophony has already collaborated with some of the finest ensembles, recording with His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornetts, and the Purcell Quartet, appearing at the prestigious York Early Music Festival, and recording for BBC Radio 3.“

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Added on: Jul 11, 2009 | Hits: 724

"I am a performer and teacher, specializing in the viola da gamba, violone and contrabasses of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. People regularly ask me how to get more information about the history of these instruments and their repertoires and where to buy instruments and supplies for period instrument performance. After all, one cannot walk into just any shop to buy a good instrument or bow, nor does one usually find music or books for them on the local shelves. Yet these items are available, if one knows the right places to look. And with the convenience of the internet, it is now fast and easy to purchase many items online."

Visit website for more details. There is an extensive list of musical iconography in art listed on this site. (ed.)

Tags: Great Bass Website; 

Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 723

“ .. Véronique’s repertoire extends from the 13th to the 18th century.

 As Professor of harp and early music at the Ivry-sur-Seine and Palaiseau Conservatories and the Center of Medieval Music in Paris, Véronique teaches a variety of classes: modern and early harps, Chamber Music and Early Improvisation.

She is also particularly interested in the repertoire, history and organologie of harps and has presented papers on these subjects at conferences.  Most recently she presented her findings on Bray Pins at the Conference on Interdisciplinary Musicology in Paris in October 2009.

Véronique is also very interested in Contrapunto alla werke Polyphonic Improvisation and organizes courses and workshops on this. ..“

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Added on: Mar 19, 2010 | Hits: 723

"Jerry Willard was born in Cleveland, Ohio and began studying the guitar with his father Jeff Willard who was a guitarist. The guitar pedagogue Sophocles Papas recognized his talent and invited Mr. Willard to study with him in Washington, D.C. Subsequently he expanded his knowledge of musical interpretation when he worked with violinist Misha Mishakoff and cellist Warren Downs. Mr. Willard also studied with guitarists Richard Lurie and Alirio Diaz, both of whom influenced his musical and technical approach to the guitar.

Mr. Willard's performances have taken him to Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and he has concertized extensively throughout Europe and The United States. At Mr. Willard's New York debut, Raymond Ericson of the New York Times said, "The recital was exemplary. Mr. Willard took lute in hand for some pieces by Adrian LeRoy and John Dowland and turned that normally pale-sounding predecessor of the guitar into a brilliant and vivid instrument. Back with the guitar, the performer played his own transcriptions of Bach's Lute Suite in E minor and five dances from Britten's Gloriana' plus Henze's attractive `Drei Tentos'. It was again the clarity of Mr. Willard's playing that gave special pleasure."

Well known as an ensemble player, Mr.Willard has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, The New York Opera Company, The New York Consort of Viols, Queens Chamber Band , and the Long Island Baroque Ensemble. Mr. Willard resides in New York City and is on the faculty of the State University of New York at Stony Brook . He has published many transcriptions for guitar including "The Complete Lute Music of J.S. Bach" available through Music Sales Corp. and "Ten Sonatas of D. Scarlatti" available through AIG Publications. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 722

"I was born in Milan in 1968 and I graduated in guitar with Mauro Storti afterwhich I dedicated myself to the study of practices of Renaissance and Baroque music; ...

In 1996 I graduated with honors in Musicology at the School of Music Palaeography and Philology of Cremona (University of Pavia) with a thesis on theorbo as an instrument used for the realization of basso continuo.

I have attended courses of early music and accompanied singers organized by the School of Music Palaeography and Philology of Cremona ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 04, 2008 | Hits: 721