EarlyMusicNews.Org

“Marianne R. Pfau created Toutes Suites in 2006 to restore magnificent but little known or entirely forgotten music of the Baroque. Toutes Suites, on period instruments and prominently featuring the hautbois, works in California and in Germany.

Scrutinizing Baroque hautbois music in the great European archives that in many cases has not been heard since the 18th century, has revealed some astonishingly beautiful works by largely unknown composers.  Ms. Pfau, musicologist-cum-hoboista, takes great pleasure in bringing these gems to light again and exposing modern audiences to their sonic beauty, in CD recordings, on radio, and in live concerts.  She also publishes modern editions of the works recorded. “

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Added on: Jun 17, 2010 | Hits: 336

“Musicae Antiquae Collegium Varsoviense, a full time orchestra on original period instruments, was founded by Stefan Sutkowski  in 1957. It was the first early music vocal-instrumental ensemble in Poland. From the beginning, its members set themselves the goal of popularising newly discovered relics of Polish music. These musicians became founder members of Warsaw Chamber Opera, which was founded in 1961 by Stefan Sutkowski, who has served as its Managing and Artistic Director ever since. At present, the Warsaw Chamber Opera company consists of 2 directors, 2 designers, 7 conductors, over 75 soloists, and 3 full-time orchestras (period-instruments ensemble (orchestra) Musicae Antiquae Collegium Varsoviense and two small-size symphony orchestras - the Warsaw Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of Warsaw Chamber Opera ). It also has a the 40-strong Chamber Choir and the Choir specializing in Old Orthodox Music and a Mime Group.

While the opera company expanded, its repertoire enriched by works from the Classical era and later, whilst the Collegium cultivated and perfected the practice of performing early music. Yet music from several centuries ago cannot be given its proper tonal shape without the appropriate instruments, a complete set of which has been acquired thanks to the enduring efforts of the Warsaw Chamber Opera. ..“

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Added on: May 04, 2010 | Hits: 302

“Our mission is to promote and encourage the performance and appreciation of Early Music, principally but not exclusively in East Cork.

By the term "Early Music" we understand music composed before 1750, performed with instruments appropriate to the period. We aim to integrate the authentic style and spirit of an earlier time with performances which are vital and coherent in the present. Therefore, later music may be included and connections made to contemporary music, traditional music from various cultures, non-written-down forms of music, and other art forms such as dance, theatre, literature, visual art, film etc. In this way, we acknowledge 'Early Music' as a vital root of our present culture.

East Cork Early Music will work to nurture and support Irish and Irish-based musicians at every level, as well as attracting specialist performers from overseas. Our audiences should be both local and international. We will promote concerts of the highest quality and innovation. Together with concerts we will create an educational programme consisting of intensive masterclasses, lectures and school performances. Theses are aimed at a wide range of students: from primary school-children to college level and adults, both music students and non-specialists. We will encourage participation in masterclasses by those who are new to Early Music performance, as well as by those already specializing in it.“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 491

“RENAISSONICS music lives in the robust performances of Renaissonics. Simultaneously historical and contemporary in its approach, the group plays as musicians of the era played --vigorously and improvisationally. Renaissonics' stylish performances allow audiences to experience the elegance and excitement of Renaissance music as it was intended to be heard. Music of the past is suddenly music of today. Virtuoso solos, chamber music, dance music and dazzling improvisations combine in a program that joyously bridges the gap between the artistic and pop. Renaissonics is a unique blend of members, all of whom are internationally recognized soloists, dance musicians, and improvisors. Their playing vibrantly blends this extensive expertise into performances that are continually original. Renaissonics is the resident ensemble for the Historical Dance Foundation's annual International Early Dance Institute.

RENAISSONICS is acknowledged as a leading ensemble of Renaissance Chamber Music, Dance Music, and Improvisation. They have appeared at the Festival Cenomanies in Le Mans, France; Musique en Catalogne Romaine, Perpignan, France; and may be heard on Ken Burn's PBS Documentary "The West". They were a featured ensemble for the Christmas Revels where they performed for a public of over 15,000 and for Early Music America's Star Spangled Season. Other appearances include the Boston Early Music Festival, the Cambridge Society for Early Music's International Candlelight Concerts, the Castle Hill Pop Music Series, the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, the New England Conservatory of Music's Improvisation Festival, Plimouth Plantation, and at Boston's First Night Celebration. RENAISSONICS is the resident ensemble of the Killington Vermont Shakespeare Festival.  ..“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 438

“Les Délices is quickly establishing its reputation for polished, expressive, and dynamic performances of masterpieces and little-known works from the French Baroque. Founded by baroque oboist Debra Nagy, Les Délices is comprised of some of the nation’s top early music specialists, each with notable careers as soloists, chamber musicians, and teachers. In addition to touring engagements, Les Délices presents two to three concert sets per year in Northeast Ohio in intimate settings that encourage cooperation and mutual interest between local visual and performing artists. Les Délices' performances on period instruments allows them to explore the rich tapestry of tone colors available in this repertoire, and the group's name conveys their approach to the music of this era: a delight, a fine delicacy, sumptuous, and exciting. Audience members have called their performances “exquisite,” “superb,” and “breathtakingly gorgeous,” while the Cleveland Plain Dealer has lauded the ensemble’s “rhythmic buoyancy, suave phrasing and seamless interplay.” Les Délices has been delighting audiences with regional concerts in the midwest since 2006, made their Boston recital debut in June 2009, has had live performances featured on WKSU’s In Performance, and will have their new recording featured as part of the Audio-guide for an upcoming exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (Watteau, Music, and Theater).“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 252

“The Camerata Trajectina ensemble ('Utrecht Music Company', set up in 1974) has made a name for itself playing Dutch music from the Middle Ages through the 17th century. The nucleus of the ensemble consists of Nico van der Meel (tenor), Saskia Coolen (recorder, viol), Erik Beijer (viol, percussion) and Louis Peter Grijp (lute, cittern, artistic director), often joined by Hieke Meppelink (soprano), Sytse Buwalda (countertenor), Marcel Moester (baritone), Annelies van der Vegt (baroque violin) and many other musicians. ..“

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Added on: Apr 25, 2010 | Hits: 267

“Young early musical ensemble devoted to the repertoire of the  XII-XIVth centuries. The group is interested in reliving the multiple aspects of the repertoire of the day from the motet to vernacular song.

Some of the instruments used by the ensemble were constructed by Bruno Cognyl-Fournier, Robert Gagnon et Micheline Racicot.“

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Added on: Apr 23, 2010 | Hits: 364

“The Wessex Consort recreates a late 16th century European music ensemble. Similar groups worked in towns, churches and at courts, and were found throughout continental Europe and Great Britain.

Our ensemble consists of five musicians who play modern reproductions of historical instruments. The Wessex Consort has a variety of programs suitable for any occasion. Let us create a memorable musical experience for you. “

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 264

“Originally formed when two of our members were studying at the Royal College of Music, The 1607 Ensemble is unique in that we perform early consort repertoire alongside 20th-century vocal jazz—both to a high professional standard—and create our own eclectic compositions using elements from both styles. We draw our inspiration from a cappella groups like The Real Group, Take 6, Manhattan Transfer, and the New York Voices; mainstream early music groups such as The Consort of Musicke, I Fagiolini, and Le Poème Harmonique; and “third stream” jazz/classical fusion groups like The Modern Jazz Quartet. ..“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 314

“Drawn from three continents, musicians from My Lady's Chamber have studied in New York, Brisbane and Toronto as well as in London at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music. The group aims to communicate the passion of the Baroque, whilst retaining its essential poise and elegance. ..“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 276

“La Follia has appeared throughout Texas, and its members have recorded and performed throughout the world as soloists and with other ensembles. La Follia helped establish the annual Early Music Festival at the Festival-Institute at Round Top, Texas. The ensemble has performed throughout Texas and has appeared frequently on John Aielli's Eklektikos radio program on KUT, and Classical Austin on KMFA.

La Follia's name comes from folia (meaning folly), the name of a 16th-century Spanish dance. The music for this dance was based on a characteristic harmonic pattern, which became associated with a particular melody in the 17th century. This dance has fascinated composers down to our own time. Variations on La Follia have been written by Alessandro Scarlatti, Marin Marais, Arcangelo Corelli, J.S. and C.P.E. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Luigi Cherubini, Franz Liszt, Carl Nielsen, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. ..”

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 318

“Cellist Fred Edelen and harpsichordist and fortepianist Christina Edelen have performed together throughout the United States and Northern Europe since 1983.  Both received Performer's Certificates from the Indiana University School of Music for outstanding performance.  Their extensive repertoire includes lesser-known music of the French Baroque, more familiar repertoire of Bach, Geminiani, and the Italian masters, to early Classical.

They have appeared at the early music festivals of Boston, Berkeley, Bloomington, Columbus, and San Antonio. As Artistic Co-Directors and founders of Early Music Southwest in Houston, Duo Edelen have performed regularly with internationally acclaimed Baroque specialists including Baroque violinists Stanley Ritchie and Amy Kauffman, flutist Colin St. Martin, and tenor Tony Boutté.

In conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston they have created a highly successful Baroque concert series in the museum's Rienzi collection.  Duo Edelen are founding members of Trio La Poplinière, and are sought after as recitalists, continuo players, and  teachers.  They currently reside in Amsterdam.“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 361

“Artistic director, Slobodan Vujisic has gathered some of the top early music specialists from Austin and around the nation for a premier appearance by his newest ensemble, Austin Troubadours! Featuring Medieval and Renaissance Mediterranean instrumental and vocal music, Austin Troubadours combine various well known and obscure historical instruments with lush vocals. They produce a unique kaleidoscope of sound and texture, lending the audience an ever changing pallet of musical delights for the senses. Historically informed and inspired by years of musical experience, each member of the Austin Troubadours will delight and move audiences to tap their feet and hum tunes of antiquity. ..”

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Added on: Apr 16, 2010 | Hits: 321

“Ensemble Impromptu rotates its musical artists, providing a unique experience for each event. Michelle D. Cosgrove is the founder of Ensemble Impromptu. Her experience with creating a variety of different chamber ensembles led her to developing a home base for each project- Ensemble Impromptu. Each concert features rotating guest artists, fashioning a new texture of instrumentation for each ensemble. This provides an opportunity for audiences to hear chamber music that is not regularly found in the mainstream classical venues.“

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Added on: Apr 14, 2010 | Hits: 292

“Musica-Humana Ensemble was formed in 2006.  It is devoted to the interpretation of music from the 14th to the 17th century with the aim of exploring areas of the repertoire that have until now mostly been ignored.   Beginning with academic research, Musica-Humana presents innovative programs and instrument combinations.  By adapting and recreating repertoires from often fragmentary source.”

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Added on: Mar 19, 2010 | Hits: 367

“Brandywine Baroque is Delaware’s premier early music ensemble, offering concerts of chamber music on period instruments and featuring many national and international guest performers. They have also brought to the stage a number of rare and previously unpublished manuscripts and performed music often unheard by modern audiences. Their energetic performances evoke the mood of the era. Brandywine Baroque sprinkles repartee throughout the program, commenting on anything about the music and times that strike their fancy. Expect the unusual with these outstanding musicians! The members of Brandywine Baroque are Karen Flint, harpsichord & artistic director; Laura Heimes, soprano; Tony Boutté, tenor; Eileen Grycky, flute; Cynthia Freivogel, violin; Martin Davids, violin; and Douglas McNames, cello.“

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Added on: Mar 19, 2010 | Hits: 376

“Baroque flutist Mary Oleskiewicz and harpsichordist David Schulenberg have been performing together since 1997. Specialists in Baroque music for flute and keyboard, each has an international reputation not only as a performer but as a scholar. They have presented recitals, public lectures, and demonstrations throughout Europe, North America, and Japan.

The world-premiere recording of the Six Flute Quartets by Johann Joachim Quantz by the Oleskiewicz-Schulenberg Duo and Friends was released in 2004. ..“

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Added on: Feb 08, 2010 | Hits: 281

“Alina Rotaru studied piano and choral conducting at the music conservatory in her hometown Bucharest. There she came into contact with Early Music and founded her first ensemble. After moving to Germany in 1999, she studied harpsichord with Siegbert Rampe and Wolfgang Kostujak in Duisburg, Carsten Lohff and Detlef Bratschke in Bremen and Bob van Asperen in Amsterdam. She is the winner of the 6th Biagio Marini Early Music Competition. The debut CD of her ensemble LUXURIANS with works by G. Ph. Telemann was released in 2009. Her debut solo CD with harpsichord works by J. P. Sweelinck was released in October 2010. She plays concerts and gives master classes inside and outside Europe.

Alina Rotaru is currently working at the University of the Arts in Bremen as a harpsichord instructor.“

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Added on: Jan 18, 2010 | Hits: 287

“Valeria Mignac, soprano
Alfonso Marin, vihuela
Alfred Fernández, vihuela

The sweet and yet intense sonority of two “vihuelas” is the main ground of an ensemble that performs early repertoires from a subtle and intimate perspective. El Canto del Caballero presents its performances as a musical and poetical space, unveiling the many nuances and timbric possibilities offered by two early plucked instruments and a voice.

In Europe during the XVI century, transcriptions of vocal polyphonic masterpieces were an important repertoire source for instruments such as the vihuela and the lute. In the Iberian Peninsula, vihuela players adapted pieces by the most notable composers of the time to their instrument. The intimate knowledge of such music encouraged a new way of approaching the repertoire; intimate feeling, subtlety and introspection were the main expressive and dynamic assets employed by the old vihuelists.

In that same spirit, El Canto del Caballero uses their own, as well as original transcriptions to devise their concert programmes.“

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Added on: Dec 27, 2009 | Hits: 296

“Nuada is a duo/trio playing Celtic, Folk and Early music.

Nuada are...

• Ruth Bramley -- Hurdy gurdy, vocals, guitar, banjo, Appalachian dulcimer and percussion.
• Sam Burke -- Vocals, bouzouki, guitar, laud, percussion, chalmeaux, lute and crumhorn.
• Ferris Jay -- Bagpipes, recorders, flutes, whistles, gemshorn, ocarina and vocals.

Nuada... the Duo

• Sam and Ferris, playing a wide range of traditional Irish, Celtic and Folk music.

Nuada... the Trio

• has more emphasis on the French, Folk and Early music. ..“

Added on: Jul 29, 2009 | Hits: 343

“In 1987, Hugo Reyne decided to form an ensemble devoted entirely to reviving France’s musical heritage of the 17th and 18th centuries. The name he chose combines the word "simphonie", which at the time was used to denote an instrumental ensemble, and the Marais, one of the most beautiful areas of Paris, typical of the Baroque period.

Hugo Reyne and La Simphonie du Marais perform a repertoire that ranges from the early baroque period to the classical period, with special emphasis on French music from Lully to Rameau. This ensemble brings together the most eminent musicians of the young baroque generation, giving Hugo Reyne the opportunity to bring his musicology research to life and to illustrate the innovative aspect of his interpretation.

The ensemble explore avenues of chamber music with flute or oboe, orchestral symphonies with between 15 and 30 musicians, open-air music with oboe band, side drums, trumpets and timpani and the birth of French opera. ..“

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Added on: Jul 27, 2009 | Hits: 345

“The ensemble Il Seminario Musicale is founded in 1985 by Gerard Lesne, countertenor and musical director. ISM is today renowned to be one of the leading French ensembles in baroque musique. Its residency, since 1990, is the prestigious Foundation at the Abbaye de Royaumont, thirty kilometres in the north of Paris.

Since its creation, ISM is composed by first rank European musicians : Marc Minkowski, Fabio Bondi, Blandine Rannou, Bruno Cocset, Patrick Cohen-Akénine, Florence Malgoire, Benjamin Perrot, Florence Bolton, Anne-Marie Lasla, Angélique Mauillon or Violaine Cochard have all participated or still participate in the ensemble musical and artistic excellence. ..“

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Added on: Jul 27, 2009 | Hits: 380

“Founded by Martin Gester in Strasbourg in 1990, Le Parlement de Musique is an ensemble of solo singers and instrumentalists which may be expanded to the dimensions of orchestra with choir. It champions the Baroque and Classical repertoire in all its forms, alternating modern premieres and new interpretations of standard repertoire.

Le Parlement de Musique has produced a large number of significant modern recreations, most of which have been recorded and have met with an enthusiastic response from the press. Among these are works by Charpentier – the early Leçons de Ténèbres; several Histoires sacrées; and the Te Deum and Grands Motets (which despite the large number of recorded interpretations available was hailed by Diapason and a number of critics’ panels as the ‘benchmark version’); premiere recordings of works by Sébastien de Brossard and Samuel Capricornus; the Lamentazioni of Alessandro Scarlatti and the Vespers of Giovanni Battista Bassani (which won the Prize of the Fondazione Cini, Venice); organ concertos by J. S. Bach;  .. .“

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Added on: Jul 27, 2009 | Hits: 326

“In the Middle Ages, the paladins were knights, who roamed in search of adventure.

In 1760, Rameau composed Les Paladins, considered as the ultimate masterpiece of the French Baroque genre, characterised by fantasy and imagination.

Taking their name from a work by one of the greatest composers of the French Baroque period, Les Paladins explore the neglected repertoires as well as the greatest works of the Baroque musical period. The ensemble is associated with the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles where they gave performances of previously unperformed works such as Iphigénie en Tauride by Desmarets or The Elements by Destouches. They are also regularly invited at the Ambronay Festival, where they performed Histoires Sacrées by Carissimi, Serpentes in Deserto by Hasse, at the Jean de la Fontaine festival where they sang Actéon by Charpentier and The Bourgeois Gentilhomme by Lully and at Musiques d'Automne in St Genest Lerpt. They also participate in the Semaines Musicales de Quimper where they performed Dido and Aeneas and the Ode to Santa Cecilia by Purcell. ..“

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Added on: Jul 27, 2009 | Hits: 303

“The Musica Florea ensemble was founded in 1992 by the cellist and conductor Marek Štryncl as one of the first serious initiatives in the field of stylistically-informed performance in the Czech Republic. The indispensible foundation of the ensemble`s work and the guarantee of its reputation lie in playing on original instruments or copies thereof, undertaking historical research based on studies of period sources and aesthetics, and creative revival of forgotten performing styles and methods.

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Added on: Jul 27, 2009 | Hits: 424