EarlyMusicNews.org

“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.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 11, 2009 | Hits: 1340

"Manuel Minguillón was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. He obtained his bachelor degree in guitar performance from the Conservatorio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial where he studied with Gerardo Arriaga. Captivated by the music of the Renaissance, he continued his studies in Early Plucked Instruments at the Conservatorio de Arturo Soria, in Madrid, with Jesús Sanchez. Subsequently, Minguillón studied in Seville with Juan Carlos Rivera at the Conservatory Manuel Castillo, and thereafter perfected his skills under the guidance of master lutenist Hopkinson Smith in Basel, Switzerland. In 2005 he completed a Master's Degree in Lute and Early Plucked Instruments with the world renowned lutenist Paul O'Dette at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he is currently completing a Doctorate in Musical Arts. Since 2004 he has served as Professor O'Dette's primary teaching assistant for lute at the Eastman School. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 1226

“ .. . 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: 1209

"Matthew Wadsworth, lutenist, is in great demand as a soloist, continuo player and chamber musician. He has appeared at major festivals in the UK, Europe and North America and can frequently be heard on radio, both in live performance and on disc.

Matthew has recorded for Avie, Deux-Elles, Linn and EMI Records. His CDs, “When Laura Smiles”, (featuring music by Phillip Rosseter), “Away Delights” (Robert Johnson) and “14 Silver Strings” (Kapsberger and Piccinini) have received international critical acclaim.

Matthew is delighted to have recently been taken on as a solo artist by Channel Classics, and their first collaboration, ‘Masters of the Lute’ was Editor’s Choice in Gramophone Magazine, December 2006. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 1330

"Mike Parker is a harpist and musicologist who initially studied instrument building at the London College of Furniture, building and restoring 'early' and folk harps. His repertoire covers many styles of music from 'early' and folk styles through baroque and classical and into the world of 'light music' and pop.

He is the only Englishman to have been awarded Olamh Sui (Doctorate) by the Institute of Traditional Celtic Music, which was awarded for his work relating to the historical usage of the harp in the Celtic nations. He researches all aspects of the historical harp and modern folk music, resulting in a collection of 23 harps (with 2 more under construction) to enable him to use the most appropriate instrument and technique for each type of music.

Mike Parker completed an MMus in Performance & Related Studies in 2003 on the single action harp, at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

A specialist on the development technique and repertoire of the single action harp (1770-1825) and he has written a book, 'Child of pure harmony' on this subject. The solo recording 'A twist of the rope' [JNL CD1] is available in larger UK music stores and features Celtic music from the last 900 years played on 5 harps. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 1227

"British lutenist Nigel North has been sharing music with audiences for nearly 30 years. His quiet and gentle personality goes, literally, "hand in hand" with his choice of instrument; the lute is one of the most gentle, subtle yet technically demanding of "ancient" instruments. Through this medium, as soloist, accompanist and ensemble musician, Nigel has inspired appreciation from concert public and recording listeners ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 1048

"Peter Wendland performs as a soloist, specializing in the repertoire for unaccompanied solo viola da gamba, and is a member of various ensembles in the UK and Germany, including the acclaimed Rose Consort of Viols. Peter has made numerous recordings for radio and television and CD, including Bach’s Art of the Fugue with the Kölner Violen Consort, the first recording of the twelve sonatas for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo by Johann Philipp Krieger (1649-1725) with the Baroque violinist Mihoko Kimura, and a recording of contemporary music by the American cult composer, "Moondog". Recent recordings with The Rose Consort of Viols on Naxos include "Elizabethan Songs and Consort Music" with Catherine King, Mezzo-soprano. Peter is also an experienced teacher and lecturer. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 959

“Richard Gwilt is well established as one of Europe's better-known baroque violinists (London Baroque) and teachers (Hochschule für Musik, Köln). Born and educated in Edinburgh, he has degrees in music from the University of Birmingham, and the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), U.S.A. While at Birmingham, he studied violin with Orrea Pernel. He started playing the baroque violin in 1980 while at the University of Michigan, and on returning to England in 1983 joined the mainstream of the English period instrument performing scene.

He has played and recorded with many orchestras, including the English Concert with Trevor Pinnock, the Academy of Ancient Music with Christopher Hogwood, the English Baroque Soloists with John Eliot Gardiner, and the London Classical Players with Roger Norrington. He has also worked with many orchestras in Europe, including Anima Eterna with Jos von Immerseel and La Chapelle Royale with Philippe Herreweghe.

It is, however, as a chamber musician that Richard Gwilt has built his reputation. He has been a member of London Baroque since 1984, and has worked with numerous chamber ensembles throughout Europe. He has performed in most of the major chamber music concert halls (including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room in London and the Alice Tully Hall in New York) as well as other venues throughout Europe, Japan and the Americas. He has also made frequent radio and television performances, and recorded over thirty CDs, as both chamber musician and soloist.

A recent expansion of his chamber music activities has been the formation of the ensemble, Arcomelos, with violinist Irmgard Schaller and cellist Sibylle Huntgeburth.

In addition to his work as a chamber musician, Richard Gwilt also works as a conductor and musical director, and is very active as a teacher. As conductor and musical director, he has worked among others with the Remix Baroque Ensemble in Porto (Portugal) with Concerto Armonico in Freiburg, and with the Altemusik ensemble in the Musikhochschule in Köln.  …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Sep 07, 2011 | Hits: 971

“Rob MacKillop - Rob has recorded seven CDs of historical music, three of which reached the Number One position in the Scottish Classical Music Chart. In 2001 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship for his research into medieval Scottish music, which led him to studying with Sufi musicians in Istanbul and Morocco. He broadcast an entire solo concert on BBC Radio 3 from John Smith's Square, London. He has presented academic papers at conferences in Portugal and Germany, and has been published many times. Rob has been active in both historical and contemporary music. Three of Scotland's leading contemporary composers have written works for him, and he also composes new works himself. In 2004 he was Composer in Residence for Morgan Academy in Dundee, and in 2001 was Musician in Residence for Madras College in St Andrews. He created and Directed the Dundee Summer Music Festival. He works as a Reader of schools literature for Oxford University Press, and as a reviewer for Music Teacher. He has also been Lecturer in Scottish Musical History at Aberdeen University, Dundee University (where he created an evening class), and at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He is presently Musician In Residence to Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 25, 2009 | Hits: 1100

“Stephen Tyler began playing the hurdy gurdy in 1993, adding this instrument to the sound of the recently formed medieval music ensemble Misericordia, which he founded with Anne Marie Summers.  He also plays Gothic Harp, Cittern and Citole.

In 1996, they joined with melodeon player Julian Sutton to form The Wendigo, playing their own compositions inspired by the traditional dance music of central France. It was with two such pieces that Steve, with Anne Marie, won first place in the competition for duets at Saint Chartier festival in 1999, playing hurdy gurdy and bagpipes.

In 2001 he joined medieval music and dance theatre group Daughters of Elvin for their spectacular medieval circus show "Garden of Earthly Delights", commissioned by the National Trust, and continues to play with them.

With these bands he has travelled and performed throughout Europe and recorded numerous CDs, most recently "Passion, Pestilence and Polyphony" comprising music and song from the fourteenth century, with Misericordia.

In 2006 he was featured on Radio 3's Early Music Show on the hurdy gurdy, along with Nigel Eaton, and played at Anost Fete de la Vielle with Jon Swayne and Becky Price.

He is currently recording a second CD with Daughters of Elvin and working on new pieces, some of which involve obscure rhythms and multitracked hurdy gurdies with diverse other instruments. ”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 11, 2009 | Hits: 1401

“ Solo-CD, Music by Carl Friedrich Abel ( www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA67628 ), winner of Editor's Choice Gramophone Award 2008 .. .

Susanne Heinrich studied at the Meistersinger Conservatory of Nuremberg, and at the Frankfurt State Academy of Music, where she passed her recital diploma with the highest distinction. She was then granted the prestigious DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship to study with Wieland Kuijken at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. She has performed and recorded with many leading period-instrument ensembles of Europe, and has made over 15 recordings with the award-winning ensemble  “Charivari Agréable“. Susanne has been a member of the“Palladian Ensemble” (the “Palladians” from 2007) since 1994 and she has written for various journals, including “The Consort“, and  “Chelys“. Sought after as a teacher, her last position was Professor for Viols and Violone at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London; Susanne is now devoting some of her time to the chief editorship of  “Charivari Agréable Publications”. The revised New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians refers to her as one of the 'leading players' of this generation.“

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Added on: Apr 13, 2009 | Hits: 1285

“The Hurdy-gurdy Forum was started as an online forum for hurdy-gurdy enthusiasts on the 31st of May 2006 by Scott Marshall, then a newcomer to hurdy-gurdies. Although there was an existing hurdy-gurdy mailing list in the US, Scott wanted to contact and meet players from the UK. Somehow the idea of meeting up grew into the First UK Hurdy-gurdy Festival, which took place on the 20th-22nd of April 2007 in Lancaster. Ever since the Forum has been growing and thriving, and we have new subscribers every week! It has become an important hub for friendship, discussion, resources and trade for hurdy-gurdy fans worldwide. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 05, 2010 | Hits: 964

“For thousands of years, the sound of the lyre dominated European and Celtic music.  Today it is almost unknown.

Rediscover the sound of this captivating instrument, and of the bone flutes, skin drums and songs that shared its musical world.

Thor Ewing, the Lyre Man, is deeply versed in the lyre’s history, and in the music and song of the Early Middle Ages, from Anglo-Saxon and Viking times to the last days of the lyre in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.  The repertoire can include music from as far apart as Ancient Greece, and modern British and Scandinavian folk traditions.

He is also an accomplished exponent of the storytelling traditions and verse of early Britain and Scandinavia.

The Lyre Man can call on other musicians where appropriate, to create a unique Ancient Ensemble.“

Visit webiste for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 11, 2009 | Hits: 1201

“Born in Florida, Carter received a rigorous but conventional training as a classical guitarist with Bruce Holzman at The Florida State University before falling in love with the earlier plucked instruments and the world of historical performance. Following initial guidance from Pat O’Brien in New York City, he travelled to London as a Fulbright Scholar where he studied the Lute with Nigel North and quickly established himself as one of the leading players on old instruments.

Added on: Nov 25, 2011 | Hits: 1118

“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: 1515

“ .. His abiding interest in early music naturally led him to the lute.  His primary area of performance is in the baroque lute, especially very late music in the classical style.  Wilke is also one of the few performers who concentrates on solo music for the theorbo.  His album on Centaur Records of Charles Hurel’s suites for the instrument was the debut recording of this music and remains one of only a handful of solo theorbo recordings available.  Today Wilke is pursuing his doctorate in early music at the Eastman School of Music with Paul O'Dette.

Wilke performs widely, having given solo recitals in Italy and Germany as well as throughout the United States.  He has done live on-air performances and interviews for WGUC, WNKU and WVXU radio stations.  Selections from his Hurel album were featured on NPR's national early music show, Sunday Morning Baroque. Wilke recently performed for the Lute Society of America's "Emerging Artist Series" at the 2009 Boston Early Music Festival.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 19, 2010 | Hits: 1456

"Debra Lonergan performs with the early 17th century ensembles La Gente d’Orfeo and Anaphantasia, as well as Milwaukee's Ensemble Musical Offering, and the period string quartet Mirabel. She has played continuo in concert for several of today’s leading soloists, among them, Enid Sutherland, Jaap Schroeder, Stanley Ritchie, Marilyn McDonald and John Holloway.

Ms. Lonergan has made an extensive study of string pedagogy, and with nearly 30 years of experience teaching all ages, maintains an active studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 1149

"Empire Viols formed in 1994 and has been in residence at Second Presbyterian Church since 1998. The core group of two viols and harpsichord frequently expands to include more viols or other instruments, while maintaining a focus on the rich duo viol repertoire of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The 2008-2009 season features a tour of the southwestern United States. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 1130

“Fred Edelen performs throughout the US and Europe on both modern and Baroque cello as orchestral cellist, chamber musician, and recitalist.   Currently a member of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, he was formerly cellist with the Houston Symphony and Principal Cellist of the San Antonio Symphony.  Described as a "masterful soloist"  with "astonishingly expressive style and gorgeous tone,"¹ he has appeared as soloist with the Phoenix, San Antonio, and Houston Symphony orchestras, and was a prize winner at the National Society of Arts and Letters Cello Competition.  An avid performer on Baroque cello, Mr. Edelen studied at the Early Music Institute at Indiana University and continued his Baroque studies as a Fulbright scholar in The Hague.  He has performed with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center, and returns to the US each summer to teach and perform at the Cactus Pear Music Festival in San Antonio.”

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 1064

“"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."“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Sep 20, 2009 | Hits: 1345

“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.

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 1262

"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: 1472

"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: 1053

"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: 1195

"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.)

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Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 1218