EarlyMusicNews.Org

"Anima’s early music performances are fresh, sincere, joyous and powerful. Since 2005, Anima’s concerts have soothed and delighted audiences, with thematically-based programs that connect today’s listeners with the music of 400 years ago.

Soprano Beth Anne Hatton, violinist Vita Wallace, viola da gambist and lirone player Motomi Igarashi and harpsichordist Barbara Weiss form Anima’s heart, which expands to include such kindred spirits as harpist Christa Patton, violinists Marika Holmqvist, and Dongmyung Ahn, and reader R. Nemo Hill. Anima's approachable virtuosity is joyful, highly expressive and provocative. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 331

"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."

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Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 332

"In 1602, Giulio Caccini, the noted Italian composer and singer, wrote that the main aim of the composer and performer is to “stir the passions of the soul (muovere l’affetto dell’anima)”. Sparked by that thought, harpsichordist Lionel Party founded La Mela di Newton, a dynamic trio featuring Mr. Party and the dazzling artists Jonathan Keren (violin) and Ira Givol (cello).

La Mela di Newton performs the great Baroque repertoire in a style uniquely its own, bringing forth aspects of manuscripts that have been passed over for centuries, infusing timeless masterpieces with a fresh and powerful interpretation. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 332

" The MadriGALS are an enchanting a cappella trio who sing the music of the Renaissance with beauty, elegance-and an irrepressible sense of fun. Three very different women, the GALS bring an eclectic range of vocal backgrounds to their ensemble, including opera, folk, jazz and musical theatre. But the unity in this diversity is their common background in theatre, which leads them to approach Renaissance music from the point of view of its stories and history, for the human richness embedded in the music. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 333

"The Freiburger Spielleyt is one the pre-eminent ensembles for early music. Many concerts in the field of sacred as well as secular music, broadcast, TV and CD-recordings made the ensemble famous. The group is known for their joy of music in connection with a conscious interpretation of historical sources, and: “… they have an excellent soprano amongst them. Regina Kabis has a wonderful and clear timbre which sounds as if it were just made for early music. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 333

" Using historic instruments, the professional musicians of the Ensemble recreate the unique characteristics of style and musical expression known to the composers of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classic eras. The Long Island Baroque Ensemble is committed to authentically duplicating the sounds and ambiance of times gone by." See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 334

"The Banquet of Musick was founded in 1994 to perform a wide range of music from the 17th and early 18th centuries using appropriate instruments and working where possible from original early editions or facsimiles.

The Banquet of Musick has given more than one hundred concerts from Skye to the Borders, played at Camelot’s First Birthday Party in Syon House in London and has broadcast on Radio Scotland.

The Banquet of Musick is based in Scotland and is available at any time throughout the year by negotiation. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 05, 2008 | Hits: 334

"The Camerata Hungarica is one of the best known Hungarian ensembles in Europe and overseas. Their repertoire covers the European music of the Middle Ages through the Baroque. The ensemble is known as the best performer of the Hungarian and East and West European music of these centuries.

The Camerata Hungarica recorded secular music in Buda Castle of the 16th century the first time ever. They also made first recordings from the music of Transylvania and that of the historical Hungarian territories from the 16-18th centuries. One of these recordings, the double album of the Vietoris Manuscript, won the Grand Prix of the Paris Academy in 1975.

The ensemble performs its rich repertoire on an extremely high level of musicality and technical skills. This is based on the versatile and virtuoso treatment of the instruments.

The Camerata Hungarica has been concertizing abroad continually since the first tour to Italy in 1973. They participated in numerous early music festivals and gave concerts in a long list of countries, from Mexico to Japan, from Sweden to Sicily. " See website for more details. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 335

"Four Temperaments, previously known as Donum Musicum was established at the Royal Academy of Music in September 2005. The group benefitted from coaching with Historical Perfomance specialists such as Lisa Beznosiuk, Laurence Cummings, Nicolette Moonen and Jenny Ward-Clarke.

The quartet was awarded a prestigious Leverhulme Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music for 2007/2008. The group will act as an ensemble-in-residence at the Academy, working alongside current students in various areas of performance

In June 2006 Donum Musicum were awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Music Friends' Early Music Prize. Representing four different nations (Finland, Great Britain, Hungary and Poland), the group derives its name in the neutral language of Latin, from the piece with which they won the RAM Friends prize and which was written specifically for their combination of instruments – The Musical Offering Trio Sonata by J. S. Bach. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 335

“Demus group Ensemble, is named after the treatise 'De musica' de San Agustin, part of his philosophical dialogues written during the fourth century. It is a dialogue of Neoplatonic inspiration had much impact on Renaissance composers. …

Created in 2009 by its director, Maria Angeles Zapata, has highly experienced musicians, each with an interesting career in the field of early music, and also in the interpretation of other styles and eras. …“

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Added on: Oct 01, 2011 | Hits: 335

"Chalemie is a group of musicians, dancers and actors whose aim is to explore the theatrical side of early music - from the dance and pantomime of eighteenth century London to the court spectaculars of earlier centuries.

Chalemie is motivated by a belief in total theatre; the combining of different performance arts to create new dramatic forms. Its own particular focus is on early music, dance and commedia dell'arte. With these as its primary materials it seeks to create a style of theatre that is close to the popular stage of the early 18th century. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 13, 2008 | Hits: 337

"The Association Musical of the Cantrici Euterpe together with Aquilano Vocal was established in 1994 dedicating themselves from the outset to the study and performance of early music, to this end cooperates with the group instrumental Aquila Altera using only instruments copies of the originals of the era. " (Google translation) Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 24, 2008 | Hits: 337

“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: 337

“Founded in 2009 by François Joubert-Caillet, L’Achéron is constituted of a variable number of musicians, coming from all around the world, a young generation already performing with renowned ensembles and feeling the need to affirm their artistic personality in a more intimate context.

Focused on Renaissance, baroque and contemporary music, l’Acheron’s interpretation of ancient repertoire is an attempt to bring forth its fundamental characteristics, reinterpreting with the greatest respect original works, being as authentic but also as readable as possible for today’s audience. The marriage between musical research and the live interpretation feed the intellectual and sensorial curiosity of the audience.

L’Acheron is a laboratory for new ideas, concepts and artistic practices: improvisations as well as contemporary music are an integral part of what we hope will be the continually evolving approach of the ensemble.

In Greek mythology, the Acheron is the river of the Underworld on which Charon ferries the souls of the Dead to Hell, the very river Orpheus crosses to look for Eurydice. Nourished by this symbol, l’Acheron is willing to open up a way in between two apparently opposed worlds: the living and the dead, the past and present, ideal and reality.“

Visit Facebook site for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 16, 2011 | Hits: 337

"Formed in 2002, Pantagruel have been delighting audiences across Europe with their semi-staged performances of renaissance music. Hannah Morrison's pure and sweet voyce combined with citterns, gitterns, lutes and flutes played by Dominik Schneider & Mark Wheeler bring to life the passionate music of a distant age.

Pantagruel, the hero of Francois Rabelais’s 1532 Novel, with his motto „do what thou wilt“ is the fitting name for an ensemble that is not afraid to explore innovative ideas of performance and presentation. Combining painstaking musicological research with their experience in classical music, rock music, jazz, theatre and dance, their performances expand classical concert conventions by using renaissance practices of medley, improvisation and gesture " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 14, 2008 | Hits: 338

“Female vocal ensemble, usually five to ten a cappella singers, Discantus brings the vocal repertoire of the Middle Ages(9th century) to the dawn of the Renaissance, especially sacred music. It has emerged internationally as a reference for this kind of repertoire performed by female voices.” (Google transl.)

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 07, 2009 | Hits: 338

“Since 1992, a small team of loyal and passionate musicians recreates, around Antoine Guerber, extraordinary music of the period so remote, intriguing, fascinating, which has shaped our culture, our language, our society: the Middle Ages.”

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 338

"Tiburcio Tapia was a rancher in southern California in the early 1800s. According to legend, he buried a treasure to safeguard it against thieves. Some say it was a chest of gold coins, buried beneath the roots of a great tree. His treasure was never recovered.

Tapia's Gold brings to life the music of past ages, a treasure for today's world. We specialize in the music and musical instruments of the European Renaissance and Middle Ages, with forays into the music of early California and other periods. We appreciate historical authenticity, but are not bound by it, for the past touches the present in many ways. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 339

“Florida Pro Musica was founded in 1998 by George F. Gramling, III and Larry Kent. We presented our Inaugural Concert at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida in May of 1999.

Our concerts over the first ten years have included some wonderful highlights, from large-scale works like Mozart's Requiem and Handel's Messiah to intimate offerings such as the complete Masses by William Byrd, baroque trio sonatas, madrigals in costume, and a whole spectrum of choral and instrumental programs. We have performed in Largo, Clearwater, Sun City Center, and Ocala, as well as in St. Petersburg and Tampa. Our main performance home since 2002 is Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa.  “

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 10, 2009 | Hits: 339

"Chanterye is a group devoted to presenting aspects of medieval life to modern audiences. In its simplest form, three performers - Helen, Alison and David Cooke - offer a range of music from the 13th to 15th centuries. But they are often supplemented by other singers and instrumentalists.

In its largest form to date, the group expands to take in actors and other entertainers to put on representations of medieval life and literature in a musical context. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 340

"Hofmusici is a period-instrument ensemble of young musicians specialising in the performance of baroque music. The German-Latin name Hofmusici (which means Court Musicians) reflects the ensembles at aristocratic courts in the former Habsburg Monarchy. The ensemble's repertoire harks back to the domestic tradition as well. Apart from Czech music pieces it also includes works by Austrian and Italian composers, who were employed in the first half of the 18th century at the imperial court in Vienna. Hofmusici frequently perform modern world premieres of compositions, which have until now lain unknown in Czech and foreign music archives.

The orchestra was founded in Prague in 1991 under the name of Cappella Accademica and soon became one of the leading early music ensembles in the Czech Republic. The orientation of the ensemble towards fully staged period-style performances of baroque opera led in 1995 to the begining of cooperation with the Foundation of the Baroque Theater in Český Krumlov. Hofmusici regularly perform at concerts and festivals in the Czech Republic and abroad: Prague Spring (Czech Republic), Printemps des Arts in Nantes (France), Feste Musicali per San Rocco in Venice (Italy), Intenationale Händel-Festspiele Göttingen (Germany), Baroque à Saint-Roch Liège (Belgium). The Music Director of the ensemble is harpsichordist Ondřej Macek. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 24, 2008 | Hits: 340

"Concert Royal recreates the elegant sound worlds of the baroque and classical eras through historically informed performance. For over thirty years the ensemble has delighted audiences with enthusiastic and informative presentations.

Concert Royal has toured in Europe, the USA and for the British Council in South America and has given concerts in every corner of the UK, performing for festivals, music and arts societies, theatres, churches, schools, arts centres and in country houses.

Concert Royal's 2006 - 7 schedule included concerts for the Bideford, Hoylake, Totnes and Matlock music societies and festival appearances in Howden and Leicester. The ensemble entertained in Appleby Castle and in the splendid Georgian setting of Sledmere Hall near York.

Concert Royal is actively involved in education initiatives, visiting more than 50 schools in 2006. Young people participate in informative and entertaining workshops, learning about their musical heritage through singing, playing, composing and dancing. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 12, 2008 | Hits: 340

"The Galinverna music group was born in Turin in 1996, with the purpose to make a research in different directions concerning ethnic and ancient music. By means of musical festivals and historical shows they could perform in most Northern and central Italy and in France, giving concerts of ancient music or playing within historical commemorations, making street animations with traditional music, theatrical co-operations and also concerts of original music, where the interest for the ancient music melts with the interest for Mediterranean and European folk sonorities. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 24, 2008 | Hits: 340

"The "Magdalena Consort" has been created to bring together singers and instrumentalists of talent and personality to explore a highly-committed approach to music-making. These will be historically-informed performances, using appropriate vocal and instrumental forces, responding creatively to stylistic constraints with special emphasis on text, narrative, drama and engagement from all. At the heart of the group's activities will be the vocal music of J.S. Bach, but we shall be performing a wide range of music, with a focus also on English and French music from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 09, 2008 | Hits: 341

"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: 341