EarlyMusicNews.Org

“Rafael Bonavita is internationally recognized within the realm of old music as one of the most solid and versatile values in the plucked instrument field. Having studied in such diverse countries as Uruguay, Canada or Switzerland, he has been keen to absorb and bring the most diverse styles and tendencies into his learning, making this one of the key factors in his career. Being a strict player of historical philology, Bonavita is, nevertheless, an innovator in new ways of expression, heterodoxical yet at the same time a close translator of the potential within the oldest string instruments.

His start in classical guitar took place under the Maestro Alvaro Pierri, furthering his studies in old instruments with Hopkinson Smith at the Schola Cantorum Basilensis, where he obtained his Diploma in lute renaissance and baroque, Theorbo, vihuela and baroque guitar.

He carried out an intense concert and pedagogical activity in Europe, Asia and America, collaborating frequently with directors such as Jordi Savall, Rene Jacobs, Marc Minkowski or Gabriel Garrido, as well as being a full time member of the Japanese ensemble "Anthonello". …”

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Added on: Feb 27, 2012 | Hits: 191

Part of the Music Institute of Chicago, ‘Viols in Our Schools’ is organized by Dr. Phillip W. Serna of the Spirit of Gambo – a Chicago Consort of Violsand is supported by the Viola da Gamba Society Third Coast as well as a pilot program of the Viola da Gamba Society of America.

Added on: Dec 10, 2008 | Hits: 381

“The Greater Washington Baltimore Chapter of the Viola da Gamba Society of America is an organization dedicated to raising the profile of viola da gamba music and education in the DC/Baltimore area.“

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Tags: VdGSA Greater Washington/Baltimore Chapter

Added on: Jan 15, 2012 | Hits: 216

"The Viola da Gamba Society of America (VdGSA) is a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to the support of activities relating to the viola da gamba in the United States and abroad. It is a society of players, builders, publishers, distributors, restorers and others sharing a serious interest in music for viols and other early bowed string instruments."

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Added on: Aug 05, 2007 | Hits: 375

"This chapter of the Viola da Gamba Society of America (VdGSA ) is based in sunny Tucson, AZ. It was incorporated as a non-profit and tax-exempt [501 (c) 3] organization in October 2001. It pursues the same goal as its parent organization, i.e. the enjoyment of playing the viola da gamba, a musical instrument of the Renaissance period. To facilitate this goal, the VdGS - Southern AZ will conduct monthly meetings during the school season and it will organize an annual workshop."

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Added on: Sep 04, 2010 | Hits: 369

“Timothy Burris graduated from Holland's Royal Conservatory, where he studied under the renowned lutenist, Toyohiko Satoh. From 1990-96, he taught lute at the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp.

A Fulbright alumnus, Mr Burris has performed throughout Europe and the US, including appearances with Derek Lee Ragin and Jennifer Lane, and performances under the baton of René Clemencic and Peter Schreier. He can be heard playing Bach's c minor Prelude in "Shock Act", the prize-winning short film by Seth Grossman. In addition to solo performances, Mr Burris appears with the tenor Timothy Johnson (as the duo Music’s Quill).“

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Added on: May 18, 2009 | Hits: 519

“An internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, Tim Rayborn has been active in the fields of world and early music for nearly 20 years. He plays dozens of musical instruments from medieval Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Asia, including: lutes, plucked strings, flutes,
and percussion, as well as being a singer.

Tim lived in the UK for seven years, studying for his M.A. and Ph.D. in medieval studies at the University of Leeds. He concurrently worked as a musician, performing and recording.

He has toured the U.S. and Europe extensively (from Ireland to Turkey), performing with the London-based medieval group Tintagel, and his own group, Ensemble Florata (including concerts at the York and Beverley Early Music Festivals, Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, Bunyola in Majorca, and the Spitalfields Festival in London). He has given a number of performances for BBC (in the UK and Jersey), appeared on Belgian classical radio in a live concert broadcast, toured in Canada and Australia, and worked with folk musicians in Marrakech and Istanbul. He has also taught at the San Francisco Early Music Society Medieval/Renaissance summer workshop.  …“

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Added on: Feb 07, 2011 | Hits: 333

“Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Shira Kammen has spent well over half her life exploring the worlds of early and traditional music. A member for many years of the early music Ensembles Alcatraz and Project Ars Nova, and Medieval Strings, she has also worked with Sequentia, Hesperion XX, the Boston Camerata, the Balkan group Kitka, the Oregon, California and San Francisco Shakespeare Festivals, and is the founder of Class V Music, an
ensemble dedicated to performance on river rafting trips. She has performed and taught in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Israel, Morocco, and Japan, and on the Colorado, Rogue and Klamath Rivers.

Shira happily collaborated with singer/storyteller John Fleagle for fifteen years, and performs now with several new groups: a medieval ensemble, Fortune's Wheel: a new music group, Ephemeros; an eclectic ethnic band, Panacea; as well as frequent collaborations with performers such as storyteller/harpist Patrick Ball, sopranos Anne Azema , Susan Rode Morris, medieval music expert Margriet Tindemans, and in many theatrical and dance productions.

She has played on several television and movie soundtracks, including 'O', amodern high school-setting of Othello. Some of her original music can be heard in an independent film about fans of the work of JRR Tolkien. The strangest place Shira has played is in the elephant pit of the Jerusalem Zoo. She hopes to spend more time playing music of all kinds in the wilderness.“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 450

"Mr. Salvaggio began his studies on pick guitar with Frank Mancuso in the early 60's before starting his formal classical training with Stanley Solow in 1973. He later went on to advanced studies with Dennis Koster and Jerry Willard and worked with violinist Clarence Shaw on the music of J.S. Bach. Mr. Salvaggio has performed recitals for concert associations as a soloist, accompanist and continuo player for over 25 years. He is also the recipient of numerous performance grants for projects in the field of early music. He has played with early music consorts, chamber ensembles and as a member of the Flagstaff Symphony and Glimmerglass Opera Orchestras. Recent endeavors have included recordings for the New York State Historical Association/Farmer's Museum, public and local radio broadcasts and recitals at the 1999 and 2001 Boston Early Music Festivals. In April of 2002 Mr. Salvaggio recorded an hour long program of Renaissance lute music for NPR station WSKG.He has performed for the Long Island Classical Guitar Society,the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society, the Philadelphia Guitar Society, The Classical Guitar Society of Upstate New York,The New Jersey Guitar and Mandolin Society, The Listening Room at Dreamcatcher Guitars, Roswell, Georgia, Cafe Lena in Saratoga, New York and the Stamford Performing Arts Center. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 403

"Ronn graduated with honors from Shenandoah Conservatory and continued studies at Peabody Conservatory before turning his full attention and energy to the lute in 1978. The following year, Ronn performed his first solo recitals on the lute and became a member of the Baltimore Consort. Since that time, he has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Europe with the Baltimore Consort and as a soloist. Ronn was a faculty member of the Peabody Conservatory from 1984 to 1995, teaching lute and lute-related subjects. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from Shenandoah Conservatory for his achievements in bringing the lute and its music to the world. Ronn has numerous recordings on the Dorian label including solo recordings, lute song recordings with Julianne Baird, soprano and Frederick Urrey, tenor, over ten CDs with the Baltimore Consort and ballad recordings with Custer LaRue and members of the Baltimore Consort. Recently, Ronn has been engaged in composing new music for the lute, building on the tradition of the lutenist/composers of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This new music is the focus of his new solo CD, Indigo Road. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 11, 2009 | Hits: 843

“One of America’s leading baroque violinists, Robert Mealy has been praised for his “imagination, taste, subtlety, and daring” by the Boston Globe; the New Yorker recently called him “New York’s world-class early music violinist.” He has recorded over 50 CDs of early music on most major labels, ranging from Hildegard of Bingen with Sequentia, to Renaissance consorts with the Boston Camerata, to Rameau operas with Les Arts Florissants. At home in New York, he is a frequent leader and soloist with the New York Collegium, Early Music New York, the Clarion Society, and the ARTEK early music ensemble. ”

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Added on: Sep 17, 2011 | Hits: 206

“Robert Eisenstein is the director of the Five College Early Music Program,and conducts the Early Music Collegium and Euridice Ensemble, a 17th and18th century chamber ensemble. He teaches music history and directs the Madrigal Singers at the University of Massachusetts, and performs regularly on the viola da gamba with colleagues and in his capacity as founding member and programming director of the Folger Consort in Washington, DC. Mr.Eisenstein has performed with the New York Renaissance Band, Cappella Nova, the New York Consort of Viols, the Washington Bach Consort, and the National Symphony.“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 632

“Quaver is an innovative viol consort founded in 2008 by Marie Dalby, Brady Lanier, Loren Ludwig and Tobi Szuts. All members are performers and teachers committed to exploring the many facets of viol chamber music as well as bringing the ensemble to as many different audiences as possible. Quaver’s concerts draw on the traditional viol consort repertoire to reunite polyphony’s rich musical heritage with the eclectic sensibilities of the iPod era: seventeenth-century pavans and fantasias are paired with recent polyphonic music from performers such as the electronica ensemble Ratatat. Quaver appeals to audiences as diverse as its music, with performances that stretch the ear and imagination.”

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Added on: Mar 28, 2012 | Hits: 109

"A native of Houston, Texas, Dr. Phillip W. Serna (double bass and viola da gamba) is an active and enthusiastic performer of early music, as well as the contemporary, solo, orchestral, and chamber repertoires. Studying with Jeffrey M. Hill, Dr. Serna earned his high school diploma from the Instrumental Music Department at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, TX. Afterwards, he earned his Bachelor of Music in double bass performance with Stephen Tramontozzi at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1998. He later completed his Master of Music at Northwestern University School of Music in 2001 as a Civic Orchestra of Chicago Graduate Fellow. In 2007, Phillip Serna received the Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University where he studied double bass with international soloist DaXun Zhang and formerly with Chicago Symphony Orchestra member Michael Hovnanian. Additionally, he studied viola da gamba with Newberry Consort founder Mary Springfels. " See website for more details. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 16, 2008 | Hits: 429

“Patrick O'Brien is an American guitarist and lutenist born in New York. He is a recording artist, but is best known as a pedagogue in the field of Early plucked instruments in America, and expert in musicians' hand anatomy. He has worked with musicians on many instruments, reworking their technique around repetitive stress injuries and breakdowns of coordination. …”

Patrick O’Brien may also be found on the Early Guitars and Vihuelas website.

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Added on: Sep 17, 2011 | Hits: 264

"My name is Olve Utne, and I play the Baroque Violin and the Baroque Viola. I have a Cand.Philol. degree (roughly equivalent to an advanced thesis MA) in Musicology from the University of Oslo (1996), with Arvid Vollsnes as my advisor and Richard Gwilt as my Baroque Viola teacher. I have also studied one year as a guest student at the Early Music programme of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (Royal Conservatory of Brussels) in Belgium on a Flemish State Scholarship (1997/98).

My main teacher in Brussels was François Fernandez — a violinist with a truly stunning technique, great musical insight and an open mind. I consider it a true honour to have had the chance to learn from him.

Orchestral practice includes playing the viola in the Oslo Baroque Orchestra, leading the 2nd violins and violas in Lofoten og Vesterålen Orkesterforening, and participating in various orchestral projects during my year in Belgium. Of those projects, the three that I feel I learned the most from were the Beethoven concert (4th Symphony, 5th Piano Concerto, Egmont Ouverture) conducted by Phillippe Herreweghe; the C.Ph.E. Bach concert (two symphonies and two cello concertos) lead by the impressively virtuoso Baroque cellist Hidemi Suzuki; and Haydn’s oratorio Die Schöpfung, conducted by Sigiswald Kuijken — a baroque violin pioneer and conductor whose orchestral leading skills and insight in Haydn’s music is truly exceptional. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 30, 2008 | Hits: 336

Hurdy gurdy performer.

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Added on: Jan 28, 2011 | Hits: 268

“Long & Away is a professional consort of viols that was founded in 2005. Based in Boston, we enjoy playing repertoire both familiar and unexpected. The consort has researched and performed original programs in New England and New York, including concerts for the SoHIP summer concert series, the New England Viola da Gamba Society, and the Gamba Gamut at the Boston Early Music Festival.  We recently presented an outreach program to international high school students attending Oxbridge Summer School at Barnard College in New York. Long & Away has collaborated with the English consort Seven Times Salt, vocal ensemble Sprezzatura and a number of our colleagues in the Boston area.  Our name is a reference to the music of Orlando Gibbons, beloved composer of English viol consort repertoire.

The viol or viola da gamba is a bowed string instrument that was played in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It is related to the guitar and has frets and 6 or 7 strings.  After falling out of use in the 1700s, the instrument family was relatively unknown until the early music revival of the early 20th century.  We are pleased to share this beautiful instrument and its music with you.”

Added on: Mar 28, 2012 | Hits: 104

“John Mark Rozendaal specializes in teaching and performing stringed instrument music from the Baroque and Renaissance eras. As founding Artistic Director of Chicago Baroque Ensemble, JMR performed and led seven seasons of subscription concerts, educational programs, radio broadcasts, and recordings for the Cedille and Centaur labels. Rozendaal served as principal 'cellist of The City Musick, and Basically Bach, and has performed both solo and continuo roles with many period instrument ensembles, including the Newberry Consort, Orpheus Band, and the King's Noyse. Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, the Catacoustic Consort, Philomel, Parthenia, The New York Consort of Viols, and Empire Viols.  JMR performs as a member of Trio Settecento with violinist Rachel Barton Pine and harpsichordist David Schrader. Rozendaal's viola da gamba playing has been praised as "splendid" (Chicago Tribune), and "breathtaking" (Sun-Times).  Recordings are available on the Cedille and Centaur labels. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 304

"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: 382

"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: 412

"PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY

• To cultivate, foster, sponsor, and develop appreciation of the art, history, literature and uses of historical harps.

• To promote appreciation of and to raise the level of proficiency in the performance and use of historical harps.

• To keep historical harp makers and performers, along with other friends of the historical harp, informed about literatureand activities pertaining to historical harps, and to provide occasions for them to meet.

• To promote the use of historical harps as professional instruments, and to encourage their use among amateurs.

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 385

"Hideki just moved to Portland, Oregon to pursue more performance opportunities. He would like to thank all his fans in Central Oregon for their support and friendship. He will still visit Bend on a regular basis to teach lessons and for engagements, and is still taking students and bookings there.

Hideki Yamaya is a guitarist and lutenist who has been active as a performer and teacher in the West Coast for over 12 years. He currently resides in Portland, Oregon, and is actively teaching and performing in the Portland area and in Central Oregon. He has a B.A. in Music and an M.A. in Ethnomusicology from University of California, Santa Cruz, and an M.F.A. from University of California, Irvine, in Guitar and Lute Performance. His primary instructors have included Paul Beier, Mesut Ozgen, John Schneiderman, Anita Sheer, Robert Strizich, and James Tyler; he has had master classes with Robert Barto, Ronn McFarlane, Richard Savino, Stephen Stubbs, and Benjamin Verdery. He is an internationally acclaimed musician and has performed in Canada, Japan, Great Britain, and Italy.

Added on: Mar 04, 2009 | Hits: 570

“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 04, 2010 | Hits: 340

“"Grey Aengus" is Jim Petersen

Rewind back to 1990, early fall. It's nighttime at a buckskinner's camp. Jim and a
small group are gathered around the warmth of the campfire singing songs and
carrying on. A stranger pulls a most unusual-looking instrument from its case,
attaches a single leg to the back, and, balancing it on his knees, proceeds to
produce the most hauntingly beautiful tunes by hammering its strings with what
appear to be little wooden spoons. This was Jim's introduction to the hammered
dulcimer, an instrument that would soon become an obsession.

Upon researching the instrument and finding out how much one would cost, Jim
decided that building one would be the better option. Proceeding with plans by
Sam Rizzetta acquired at the local library, armed only with ninth-grade
woodworking skills and very few tools, he built his first instrument. (Hey, nobody
told him he couldn't do it.)

Three years later after teaching himself to play (hey, nobody told him he couldn't
do it), he was hired at the "Bristol Renaissance Faire" in southeastern Wisconsin.
It was there that he taught himself to play mandolin and later hurdy-gurdy. (By
now you would think somebody would have told him he couldn't do it.)

"Grey Aengus" now plays at many little weekend "Renaissance Faires" throughout
the Midwest, occasionally doing studio work for other musicians and playing for
special events and gatherings. His repertoire is heavily laced with the
compositions of Turlough O'Carolan, the renowned 17th century blind Irish
harper, his absolute favorite composer, followed closely by Robert Burns the
well-known Scottish poet. (go ahead ask him).

Jim also plays the hurdy-gurdy and has recently renewed his high school romance
with the guitar, working on developing a small repertoire of traditional
Irish/Scottish/Celtic songs. Jim's thought on the idea is "Hey, you don't really
need a good voice to sing 'Trad'. Besides, nobody told me I couldn't do it."“

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Added on: Sep 20, 2009 | Hits: 610