EarlyMusicNews.Org

"The Practitioners of Musick ensemble, founded by John Burkhalter and the late Professor Eugene Roan (1931 - 2006) to survey the musical riches of 18th century Great Britain - Ireland & both the Colonial and early Federal periods in America. Recent research, has also focused attention on musical life in New-France before the Fall of Quebec in 1759.

The group has presented period entertainments of music at many of the 18th century sites that are administered by the New Jersey Division of Parks & Forestry and the National Park Service, as well as Old New Castle, Delaware, Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Deerfield, Massachusetts, and a great number of other historical sites. "

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 10, 2008 | Hits: 339

"The Early Music Company was founded in 1990 by Mamiko Hirai and Kenji Sano in Osaka, Japan, as a basic nucleus of voice and lute around which are built various combinations of voices and instruments for concerts centering mainly on the Renaissance and Baroque periods. They play European music from the14th to 19th century, give regular concerts in Japan, and record regularly for Aeolian records. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 10, 2008 | Hits: 320

"BaroqueCompagniet is a newly formed ensemble with a focus on music from 1600 - and 1700's.

"BaroqueCompagniet Ensemble offers their services in various venues such as private celebrations, conferences, banquets, theme-kickoffs, restaurant-entertainment to more ceremonial occasions such as weddings, baptisms and the like.

The ensemble makes use of historic instruments and, if so desired, including period clothing. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 10, 2008 | Hits: 332

"Les Musiciens de l´îlot Royal was established 1997 in Stockholm, Sweden by harpsichordist and composer Miguel Robaina.

The ensemble are mainly into music from the baroque era. Their repetoir primary consists of french music in the spirit of Lully and music from the Swedish great powerperiod. Les Musiciens are also frequently performing music from the Scharffeneck collection of contemporary early music.

The ensemble are playing on historical original instruments or replicas of such. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 10, 2008 | Hits: 690

"Through their work together and with impulses from Evelyn Tubb, Anthony Rooley, Andreas Scholl, Andrea Marcon and Christina Pluhar they have successfully created a baroque ensemble which critics have described as “moving and enchanting”. Its quality was recognized by the jury of the ‘Early Music Network International Young Artists’ Competition” in York, England, who awarded the young ensemble first prize in 2003.

In the following year savādi… achieved further successes in the Van Wassenaer Concours 2004, obtaining first prizes from both the jury and the audience. "

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 04, 2008 | Hits: 410

"…was founded in the year 2001, with the aim of exploring the early musical and poetical repertoire of Italian Duecento, adventuring in a mainly unexplored field of interaction between poetry and its musical attire. The historical field of research soon expanded to include a wider spectrum of repertoire, including the whole of the late Middle Ages. The musicians come from different fields, but have in common a specialization on the field of medieval music – careful academic research about the repertoire as well as the instruments and the performance practice give a stable theoretical background to the lively concerts." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 04, 2008 | Hits: 345

"The Modena Consort is one of the first ensembles to perform Renaissance polyphony on the transverse flutes of the time.

The group was found in 1998 in The Hague, and consists of a singer, a four-part flute consort and a pair of lutes. The group’s repertoire explores different aspects of renaissance polyphony; from the meditative and intricate polyphony of the late fifteenth century of Josquin de Prez’s generation, through the jubilant and mischievous world of Italian Frottole and dance music. The consort has performed in various venues and festivals in Holland, Belgium, France and Switzerland, and was invited to perform in international meetings dedicated to the renaissance flute.

The group's first CD with the German Cornetto label, dedicated to music at the court of Maguerite of Austria, has appeared in August 2007. The instruments used by the consort were made by consort member Boaz Berney after originals in the Museé Instrumentale in Brussels. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 04, 2008 | Hits: 329

"Musica Donum Dei is based in Nottinghamshire, but performs throughout the Midlands and over an increasingly wide area beyond.

We perform music from Monteverdi to Mozart, and are known for our unusual and accessible programmes. We often use readings, dramatisations and visual images alongside the music to evoke the spirit of the age in lively and imaginative ways.

Members of the ensemble are involved in historical research to revive neglected works, and we are also active in commissioning new ones; we held our first composers' competition in Spring 2006. As well as chamber groups of five to eight players, we can also provide a full-sized baroque or classical orchestra for choral works such as the Monteverdi Vespers, Bach St Matthew Passion or Mozart Requiem.

The ensemble varies in size according to the programme:
* A chamber ensemble of five or six performers
* A trio (flute/recorder or violin, cello or viola da gamba and harpsichord)
* A chamber orchestra with a chamber choir of hand-picked singers for mixed choral and orchestral programmes
* A full-sized baroque or classical orchestra to join your choir in works such as Messiah, or Bach's Mass in B Minor (for more details on MDD's work with choirs "


Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 04, 2008 | Hits: 452

"The Accademia Strumentale Italiana was born in Verona in 1981 with the intent to recreate the atmosphere of ancient and illustrious academies. The repertoire is the vocal and instrumental music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. " (transl. (ed.) Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 398

"Formed in 1993 by Neapolitan musicians dedicated to research in the field of early music, "Le Musiche Chamber" from the outset has directed its activities towards the rediscovery of songs unpublished or little known Neapolitan composers of the XVII and XVIII. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 384

"This idea, that ruled the aesthetics and the concept of baroque music especially in Germany inspired Jörn Boysen, harpsichordist and conductor to found the ensemble Musica Poetica in 1999.

The group is made up of young musicians from all over the world who specialise in early music, having done their studies in the conservatories of the Netherlands. They share an interest in performing music from the 17th and 18th centuries with an historically informed perspective, using instruments from that period and historical sources. The size of the group depends on the chosen programme. Musica Poetica performs as a chamber group as well as an orchestra including choir.

Their performance schedule has included concerts in Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and live radio broadcasts. Musica Poetica performs regularly in festivals and concerts around Europe such as the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, Festival Mitte Europa and the Holland Festival Oude Muziek. The ensemble opened the „Van Wassenaer Festival 2004“ in The Hague with two very successful concerts, and has taken part in the successful series „Oude Muziek - Nieuwe Generatie“ in the Prinsenhof Museum in Delft.

In March 2007, Musica Poetica collaborated with the choir „ars nova“ in Salamanca for performances of the St. John Passion, and in May 2007 performed in the International Buxtehude Festival in Lübeck. This year Musica Poetica is focusing on music by Buxtehude and his contemporaries. A recording with works by Flor, Buxtehude and their contemporaries is planned for the end of 2008. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 357

"Inspired by the 'Paris' Quartets of G.Ph. Telemann, the ensemble Le Mercure was formed in the Netherlands and concertizes throughout Europe. With an international core of members and a wide palette of instrumental colors, we are able to concentrate on music written in a true quartet style as well as trio sonatas for two upper voices and continuo. The quartet, however, is our starting point and remains as our main focus in concerts. The name Le Mercure was taken from various periodicals that existed in France during the 17th and 18th centuries, in which one often finds reports of important musical performances of the time. It also refers to Mercury, the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology. We feel ourselves as messengers who wish to transmit the richness and beauty of early music to our audience. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 536

"Holland Baroque Society has combined innovative programming with a unique working style. Baroque music still takes center stage, but bridges are also being built to other traditions and arts such as Balkan music and the art of literature. The orchestra does not have a permanent director: that helps keep their ears sharp and makes the sense of ensemble both richer and more intense. For each new project, HBS invites a particular baroque specialist who has an innovative vision, one who has mastered a distinctive aspect of performance practice (such as ornamentation or improvisation), or in some other way has escaped the timeworn pathways of convention. HBS has worked for several years with some of them, including oboist Alfredo Bernardini, soprano Maria Keohane, and traverso player Alexis Kossenko; this has allowed ample room for growth and development. In recent years, the orchestra has collaborated with prominent musicians such as Michael Maniaci, Matthew Halls, Stephen Stubbs, Milos Valent, Jan Rokyta, Stefano Montanari, Paolo Pandolfo, Veronika Skuplik, and the actress Cox Habbema. HBS has undertaken projects with the Netherlands Chamber Choir and Cappella Amsterdam, and organizes six of its own concert series throughout the Netherlands. Hbs has also been invited to perform at renowned early music festivals at home and abroad. Educational projects such as ‘Kids only-concerts’ allow HBS to introduce thousands of children and young people to baroque music every year. In this way, too, Holland Baroque Society plays a dynamic role in society." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 370

"Formed in The Hague in 2004, the members of LOTUS have been working together since 2001 as students of the Royal Conservatoire.

Its repertoire consists of pieces from the 17th and 18th Centuries originally written for recorder and harpsichord or continuo and, when suitable and historically justifiable, transcriptions of works from that period originally written for other instruments.

The observation of sound stylistics and historical performance practices and a lively rendition of the music mark their presentation."

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 348

"The Foundation Musica da Camera Antica offers concerts' old 'music in The Hague and Voorschoten. With young talented musicians who have pledged their hearts to the historical practice. On beautiful locations and at an affordable price. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 321

"Antonio Piricone (1977), is one of the most exciting Italian musician of the younger generation whose personal approach, both as a pianist and an exponent on historical keyboard instruments, is commanding increasing attention internationally. His interpretative skills, versatility, keen sense of style, technical agility and integrity to the score distinguish him both as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician.

After his initials studies in Catania, Antonio Piricone has mastered his musical education attending the piano and chamber music stages of Bruno Canino, Chantal de Buchy, Andrzej Jasinsky, and most recently with Andreas Staier on historical keyboard instruments.

His achievements has lead him to performing through Europe and Japan with leading orchestras and ensembles, singers, soloists and conductors. Hes has appeared at major venues and in renowned music festivals and concert series to the great acclaim of critics and audiences alike. These include Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Teatro Alighieri in Ravenna, Prague Spring International Music Festival, Dvořak Hall in Prague, Prinzregentetheater in Munich, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, De Vereeniging Concertgebouw Nijmegen & Vredenburg Muziek Centrum Utrecht in Holland, Offerta Musicale Ensemble, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Aargau Symphony Orchestra, Czech Chamber Philharmonic, to name but a few. ...

Antonio works currently in the Netherlands where he focuses on his research on the development and evolution of historical keyboard instruments and performance practice with Jacques Ogg, Patrick Ayrton, Stanley Hoogland and Bart van Oort at the Royal Conservatory on The Hague (NL), and with Andreas Staier in Cologne (D). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 399

"Con Gioia, based in Claremont, California, presents some of the best performers concertizing on period instruments. Following its debut in 1982, the ensemble continues to enchant its audiences with outstanding concerts of well-known masterpieces and rarely performed works of the baroque and classical repertoire.

The ensemble has featured such internationally acclaimed musicians such as violinists Eduard Melkus, Monica Huggett, Chiara Banchini, Daniel Stepner, and Elizabeth Blumenstock; harpsichordist and fortepianist Preethi de Silva; flutists John Solum and Stephen Schultz; viola da gambists, Wieland Kuijken, Laura Jeppesen, and Mark Chatfield; recorder player Matthias Maute; oboist Gonzalo X. Ruiz; sopranos Julianne Baird and Sharon Baker; glass harmonicist Dennis James; and harpsichordists Jennifer Paul and Robert Zappulla, among many others. In recent seasons, Con Gioia has performed concerts at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Caltech in Pasadena, and the San Diego Museum of Art. During the seasons 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, Con Gioia presented a concert series in Claremont and Los Angeles devoted to the very rare performance of all of Bach's concertos for one or more harpsichords, together with strings and winds. These extraordinary concerts were supported by Friends of Con Gioia; and generous grants from Claremont McKenna College, Scripps College, the Claremont Community Foundation, as well as a benefactress. Con Gioia's recording of several of these concertos was released in 2004 by Centaur Records and has received high critical acclaim in the USA and Europe. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 26, 2008 | Hits: 382

"The group was organized in the spring of 1983 and are recognized as an important early music ensemble performing on period instruments.

Frances von Seggern Bach, viola da gamba and baroque cello; Adriana Zoppo, baroque violin; Anthony Brazier, baroque flute; Wm Neil Roberts, harpsichord. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 26, 2008 | Hits: 312

"Carolina Pro Musica Early Music Ensemble

* Established in 1977 to promote performance of music written before 1800 * Performs with historic instruments and/or copies and voices * Uses performance styles of the period in which the music was written * Has presented a concert series in Charlotte since 1978. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 26, 2008 | Hits: 1466

"JANICULUM was founded by Jane Clark primarily to perform the unpublished music she had found in her research on The Grand Tour. It takes its name from the hill in Rome.

Jane Clark, founder of Janiculum, is well known as a harpsichord recitalist in Europe and the USA.

Her research into the music of François Couperin and Domenico Scarlatti has received international recognition. The Scarlatti CD reflects her knowledge of Spanish folk music. In 1992 she played the complete Pièces de Clavecin of François Couperin at The Bate Collection in Oxford and her research on the background to the pieces is published in the Bate Collection Handbook series.

She has given recitals and lectures extensively in the USA including The Fine Arts Museum in Boston, The Frick Collection in New York, Indiana State University at Bloomington, Southern Methodist University in Dallas and The Round Top Festival Institute in Texas. She has taught, lectured and played at summer courses including the Dartington International Summer School, Fort Bergwin, New Mexico and the Aston Magna Academy at Yale. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 26, 2008 | Hits: 361

"Banquo plays (mostly) folk music and early music from (mostly) all over Europe, (mostly) from about the 12th century to present day.

We started out in the summer/fall of 1998, playing primarily Irish traditional music, and wanting to explore a fusion with early music. Since then, our vision has expanded dramatically to include basically, whatever we want. :) Part of the philosophy is that we refuse to be pigeonhole-able, which would tend to restrict us to a particular tradition or time period. And we're not willing to be so restricted. All this music is too interesting to leave behind just because it doesn't "fit" in some way. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 446

"Trouvère bring medieval merriment to events of all kinds all around the country with a mix of performance and hands-on experience of medieval music-making.

Our medieval merriment show features a costumed band of medieval minstrels presenting songs, music, storytelling and dance. We regularly appear at castles and historic sites around the country, and at a wide variety of private and corporate functions. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 480

"The Brook Street Band is an award winning specialist in Eighteenth Century repertoire that takes its name from the London street where Handel lived and composed for most of his working life in England. Its various prizes include BBC Radio 3 Young Artists' Forum and the Byrne Award, given by the Handel Institute. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 363

"Like many good stories, the history of Tamburrini began with a happy accident, when guitarist Steve Walter discovered a vihuela - an early Spanish guitar - in his local recorder shop. This find opened up a new repertoire - the music of Renaissance Spain, blending European elegance with the fire of Moorish tradition.

Our interest in the songs of the Spanish Renaissance is two fold. Many of the songs use melodies from the folk tradition with lyrics that are simple, direct and universal. The music also provides enormous scope for improvisation and varied instrumental textures. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 304

"Leading players of European orchestras such as the English Concert, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, the Orchestra of Age of Enlightenment and Il Giardino Armonico have pledged time to work in this unique and remarkable international formation. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 382