EarlyMusicNews.Org

“I founded this ensemble in order to achieve, with the help of some of my closest musical friends, certain projects which are dear to my heart. These are of various kinds, and include not only the performance of ‘classics’ of the early music repertoire, but also the promotion of neglected works (such as, for example, the works of Joseph Touchemoulin). We also wish to make more widely known some of the neo-baroque works of the C20th and C21st which have been written with period instruments in mind.’..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 347

“Stimmwerck was founded in Munich, in 2001. It is a group of sought-after professionals in ensemble vocal music; the two tenors, Gerhard Hölzle and Klaus Wenk, the bass Marcus Schmidl, and the counter-tenor Franz Vitzthum, who gives the quartet its unmistakable sound.

Stimmwerck devotes itself in particular to composers of the Renaissance and their nearly inexhaustible wealth of vocal music. Research in archives of music collections and frequent exchanges with musicologists serve as the foundations of their work, and are followed up with regular recordings at studios such as Aeolus, Cavalli Record and Christophorus, among others.“

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 297

“Super Librum, founded in 1985, is internationally acclaimed for its historically accurate performances of medieval music. The name of the ensemble has been chosen with care: playing 'super librum' (literally 'above the book') was the traditional manner of performance during the Middle Ages. Super Librum is one of the few ensembles to incorporate this playing practice in its performances. Super Librum is directed by Jankees Braaksma, who plays the recorder and the organetto. In 1986, Super Librum was awarded the first prize at the 'Competition for Ensembles of Early Music' (now known as 'Van Wassenaer Competition') and in 1987 gained a distinction as one of the finalists at the Musica Antiqua Competition at Bruges, Belgium.

Super Librum often cooperates with specialists educated at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, the only College of Music in Europe to have a specialised course in medieval music on its curriculum. ..” Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 343

“Literally translated Il Concerto Barocco means "the baroque concert". This name was chosen as it bests describes what this ensemble is about. Il Concerto Barocco is an ensemble accommodating a wide range of instrumentations ranging from the trio to the full baroque orchestra. The basic principle of the ensemble's performances is that the music played is best served by the instrumentation and performance practices developed and used in the period that the music was conceived.

Founded in 2001 Il Concerto Barocco has become an established link in the Netherlands music scene. Il Concerto Barocco presents a number of concert series per year with concerts performed in their home concert venue, The Waterstaatskerk in Hengelo (The Netherlands) and various other venues throughout the Netherlands and Germany. “

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 445

“All members of the Lacrimae Ensemble are experienced performers of early music on historical instruments and have participated in numerous recordings for both radio and CD. “ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 302

Early music ensemble. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 22, 2009 | Hits: 332

“Solstice brings together, around its founder, some of the most dedicated and talented Belgian musicians in this repertoire. They have in common a taste for 'authentic' early music and a solid modern training. The resulting interpretations combine refinement, sense of detail and classicism with great vivacity and engagement. Let us allow the press to have their say - they speak of Solstice in the following terms: total commitment, beautiful to see and hear - a great gust of freshness - ample breath and lively contrasts - one must appreciate 'en gourmet' these subtle blends of sonorities - perfect cohesion - by turns imperative, tender or ironic, energetic or languashing.

Chamber music is a magical alchemy, in which the personalities of the musicians begin by searching for and confronting one another, in order to achieve a common expression and élan. The task of director Isabelle Lamfalussy is to gather together the musicans, the composers and their music, but the music making is collective, and the final interpretation is created by each member of Solstice.“

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Added on: Apr 22, 2009 | Hits: 380

“RICERCAR CONSORT – PHILIPPE PIERLOT

« Aux paroles exprimées dans le chant, la musique apporte son pouvoir sur les passions humaines, sa vertu purificatrice et sa transcendance » (Cantagrel)

In 1985, the Ricercar Consort made their first tour with  J.S. Bach’s« Musicalisches Opfer », and is rapidly internationally known  for it’s interpretation of cantatas and instrumental music of the German Baroque ; numerous concerts are given with famous artists like Henri Ledroit, Max van Egmond and James Bowman.
  
For the last few years,Philippe Pierlot has been directing the ensemble, alterning chamber music and orchestral productions ,where eventually the viola da gamba has an important place.

Their recordings encounter enthousiastic reactions both by the public or international press : “De Aeternitate” with the counter-tenor Carlos Mena received the “Diapason of the Year 2002” award and started a fructuous collaboration between Ricercar Consort and the label Mirare directed by René Martin in France. Fantazias for the viols, Stabat Mater by Vivaldi  and Pergolesi, or  “Valoroso”, italian chamber music by Bertali, Bach cantatas recordings,  and recently Bach’s Magnificat  (Gramophones’ Editor Choice): with never ending passion the ensemble brings these works to the audiences of  the most important ancient music festivals of the world with extreme professionalism.

“Vielleicht wird so ja im Himmel musiziert...der Vorschein einer besseren Welt“
Die Zeit 2009“

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Added on: Apr 22, 2009 | Hits: 439

“For over 20 years, this baroque ensemble has been a fixture in the world of early music. With a large dose of experience and class, the musicians of this ensemble, directed by Jan De Winne and Marcel Ponseele, have been able to steal many musical hearts. Depending on the repertoire Il Gardellino works in a different formation, but they always get on stage with a top casting: both established musicians and emerging young talent, from home and abroad.”

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Added on: Apr 22, 2009 | Hits: 414

Association for the performance of baroque dance and music.

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Added on: Apr 22, 2009 | Hits: 288

Le Concert bourgeois is an early music ensemble whose core is concentrated around a string trio supported by vocal soloists and choirs. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2009 | Hits: 387

“The allure is undeniable.  Six talented, attractive women breathe renewed life into the rich texts of medieval songs and poetry.  Their hauntingly beautiful music captures the imagination and devotion of modern audiences.  They are the Mediaeval Baebes, and in ten years they have placed three studio albums into the top of the UK classical charts and performed before enthusiastic audiences in the UK, United States, Canada and Europe.

Founding member Katharine Blake is also the music director and lead composer and arranger for the band. Born in London, Katharine was classically trained at the Purcell School of Music and Richmond College. In the mid-1990s she met musician Dorothy Carter in Berlin.  Carter was playing hurdy-gurdy
and dulcimer, and Blake was immediately drawn to the sound of the medieval music and instruments. Back in London, she and a group of friends got together to sing songs from the Middle Ages purely for their own enjoyment.  Within a year they had released their first album, Salva Nos, which climbed into the UK’s Classical chart, and became Virgin Classics’ fastest selling debut album.  Their 1998 follow-up album,  Worldes Bylsse, blazed to number one in the Classical Charts. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 319

“la Brigata (Italian for a company of friends) was founded in 1989 by Kristine Szulik from Cheshire, (Alto) and Andrew Kirkman, with the aim of introducing audiences to some marvellous areas of early music that are now rarely performed.

la Brigata specialises in fully staged music-theatre pieces.  Danse Macabre,  100 years of the plague in 50 minutes.  Bisclavret, an interpretation of the lais of Marie de France.  The Feast of Fools, a mediaeval celebration of misrule.  Henry's Wives, Henry from his wives point of view.  Sex, Seduction and Insanity, music-theatre from the 1680's. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 315

“Flat Pavan is one of the most successful youth music groups in Britain. Based in Glasgow, Flat Pavan performs popular Traditional and Early Music (400 year old songs and dances which you can download and listen to from the website). The group have played in venues all over Britain and 8 Schools Proms. They were also one of only 6 performing groups from Britain invited to join 50 others at the 1994 Biennial ISME (international Society for Music Education) conference in Florida. The group have also played in Italy (including over an hour impromptu to the Pope). ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 300

“Vision:

Publick Musick seeks to be America's premier period instrument orchestra and choir dedicated to the performance of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Mission:

Publick Musick seeks to achieve its vision through consummate performances of passion and power; devoting equal attention to both vocal and instrumental development and deriving inspiration from the work of the greatest figures of the Early Music revival. All vocal soloists are drawn from the choir, giving Publick Musick's sound a unique combination of clarity and strength. Instrumentalists are leading specialists in period instrument performance and all members share not only a passion for bringing Bach's music to the widest possible audience, but also a dedication to a performance tradition that combines great music making with historical research. ..“

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Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 275

“With a desire to create a period instrument ensemble dedicated to the music of the Renaissance and Early Baroque, La Compañia was formed in 1997 by its artistic directors Danny Lucin and Mitchell Cross, who share a long collaborative partnership which commenced whilst studying improvisation at the Victorian College of the Arts.

La Compañia is a unique Australian ensemble, performing a rarely-heard repertoire on historically important instruments, to form a consort rich in possibilities. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 498

"The Telemann Ensemble, based in Townsville, North Queensland, specialises in performing music of the baroque (with occasional excursions into earlier and slightly later music) with awareness of, and respect for, the instruments and performance traditions of the period. The ensemble was formed early in 1999 and has presented concerts and led workshops in Townsville, Atherton, Innisfail, Cairns and Brisbane.“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2009 | Hits: 369

“ The Early Music Association of NSW (EMA) was founded in 1977.

Its members comprise professional and amateur musicians, instrument makers, teachers, students and concert-goers.

The EMA aims to promote interest in all forms of Western music composed before the nineteenth century through two primary means. It encourages the study and performance of early music using authentic instruments, principles and interpretation. It also promotes research into and the editing of early music.“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2009 | Hits: 448

“Since its formation in 1996, Concanentes has established itself as one of the leading ensembles specialising in the performance of music from the Middle Ages and the sixteenth century. Winner of the 1998 Bankers' Trust Pyramid Award, Concanentes went on to be selected for the 1999-2000 Classics West Business & Arts Partnership scheme. In 1999 the ensemble appeared in the International Early Music Network Young Artists' Competition and was selected for the late Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now! scheme. The year 2000 saw a debut recital in the Purcell Room in London as part of the Intrada series, as well as concerts in the Barcelona and Bruges Early Music Festivals and the National Early Music Showcase. As recommended artists for the 2000-2001 NFMS Concert Promoters' Network, Concanentes gave a number of tours around Britain. These successful performances led to the group being reselected for the 2003-2004 season. Earlier this year Concanentes gave a tour of the Netherlands for the Oude Musiek Organization in Utrecht (where one of their concerts was recorded for a later broadcast on Dutch Radio).

Concanentes has been featured on BBC Radio 3's early music programme Music Restored and Radio 4's Woman's Hour and has worked with actors by providing music for the medieval mystery plays. Their education programmes have led to projects with The Centre for Young Musicians in London, The National Centre for Early Music and The Pied Piper Project in Yorkshire, as well as recitals at a number of Universities in the UK.

Musicians who form the ensemble Concanentes: Faye Newton, Catherine Fleming and Hazel Brooks“

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Added on: Apr 14, 2009 | Hits: 321

"The Oregon Renaissance Band The Oregon Renaissance Band is an 8 to 12 member ensemble dedicated to performing and recording music of the Renaissance, played on faithful reproductions of historical instruments. These include violins, cittern, harp, bandora, chitarrino, recorders, krummhorns, racketts, sackbuts, pipe & tabor, bagpipes, schreierpfeiffen, and percussion, many of which were built by the performers. The Oregon Renaissance Band has presented concerts and workshops since 1991 and has been featured on NPR's "Performance Today". Their cd with ensemble De Organographia is entitled "Carnevale! Carnival Songs, Frottole, Dances and other Festive Music of 16th century Italy". In 1998, ORB performed at the early music festival in Regensburg, Germany.

Directed by Philip Neuman and Gayle Neuman. Other members include Daphne Clifton, Kathryn Richer, Andy Harris, Polly Gibson, David Bryan, Lori Fitch, and Laura Zaerr. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 04, 2009 | Hits: 414

"De Organographia performs the music of Ancient Greece on a myriad of faithful reproductions of period instruments. Their concerts are informative and entertaining presentations using period text and song to bring to life the musical art of the distant past. The ancient Greek repertoire of De Organographia is brought alive in an improvisatory style based on precepts preserved in the writings of antiquity.

De Organographia performs on a collection of instruments of their own making: aulos (double reed pipe), lyra (Lyre), kithara (the ornate lyre of the professional musician), syrinx (panpipes), syrinx monokalamos (vertical flute), trichordon (small 3 stringed lute), psythirã (rattle), tympanon (drum), kymbala (cymbals), and salpinx (trumpet). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 04, 2009 | Hits: 432

"Bray Baroque is a group of musicians centred in Bray and devoted to promoting

* the appreciation of Classical Music with courses, conferences, recitals
* the authentic interpretation of Western Music, from the Middle Ages to the Romanticism
* the links between Ancient Music and Irish Folk Music

in the Republic of Ireland, with the main focus in County Wicklow and South Dublin. " Visit website for more information.

Added on: Jan 15, 2009 | Hits: 292

Early music management agency.

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Added on: Dec 17, 2008 | Hits: 359

"The Madison Bach Musicians ensemble is dedicated to presenting the music of Johann Sebastian Bach—as well as works by other great composers of the Baroque, Renaissance, and Classical periods—through performances, lectures, and workshops. Bach’s music was chosen as a focal point because of its outstanding beauty, variety, and profundity and because it speaks with urgency to modern audiences; it is the high water mark of musical expression and craft in western culture. In pursuit of the greatest clarity we perform primarily on period instruments, and our ensemble sizes are typical of those used by Bach himself. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 23, 2008 | Hits: 425

"Trio Grosso is an early music ensemble based in Perth, Western Australia. The group comprises up to nine members who enjoy playing for medieval fairs, banquets, weddings, parties, concerts and general good times.

The group was formed by an enthusiastic group of recorder players in late 1985 to provide appropriate music for a local play that had scenes set in the 1600s. The group's name derives from the fact that a much loved early addition to the repertoire was a recorder trio arrangement of the allegro from Handel's Concerto Grosso No. 1 in G which we usually had at least six people playing (thus a rather largish trio!).

The group's repertoire largely comprises medieval and renaissance songs and dances but also encompasses folk music from many cultures and a range of modern compositions. Although the nucleus of the group is a recorder consort ranging from great bass recorder up to the tiny garklein floetlein recorder, the group also performs with a range of wind, string and percussion instruments. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 08, 2008 | Hits: 414