EarlyMusicNews.Org

""If music be the food of love, sing on, sing on, 'till I am filled with joy!" -- This is the first line of a song by Henry Purcel inspired by Shakespeare. It is a good summation of our approach to music. Don't do it unless it feels good. In spite of, or probably because of this, we continue to perfect our musical capacities.

One problem with history is that it is often distant and foreign. Our approach to early music is to embody it with our manner and costumes, to give it a living, feeling, human face. When performing our music, we strive to encompass both its sublime beauty and its earthy humour; and all the other human experiences that come between. ...

The largest proportion of performances have been accompanied by sumptuous feasting and drinking. Our preferred venues are intimate country restaurants accommodating from thirty to fifty revelers where we provide music with each service (or "remove" as the Elizabeathans would say). Typically we sing between twenty-five and thirty songs at a feast of five or six courses. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 417

"Founded in 1989, The Cardinall’s Musick is a highly successful and innovative ensemble. Taking its name from the 16th-century cardinal, Thomas Wolsey, the group is known for its extensive study of English Renaissance music. Although primarily a vocal group, The Cardinall’s Musick also has its own period instrumental ensemble, and now embraces a wide range of styles and periods: from complete reconstructions of historical events (the Field of the Cloth of Gold) to world premieres of commissioned music from composers such as Michael Finnissy, Simon Whalley, Matthew Martin and Judith Weir. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 417

"Beguiling and intelligent, provocative and classic, ravishingly beautiful and deliciously edgy – The Newberry Consort has been delighting audiences for nearly three decades. Directed by David Douglass, Newberry Musician-in-Residence, and early music diva Ellen Hargis, the ensemble plumbs the Newberry Library's vast music collection and assembles a star-studded roster of local and international artists to bring you world-class performances of music from the 13th to the 18th centuries…and occasionally beyond!

Affiliated with the Newberry Library Center for Renaissance Studies, the Consort also serves as an ensemble-in-residence at both the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. In addition to an annual concert series in Chicago, the Consort has an active touring schedule. This season, traveling to several cities across the US, the Consort will offer two popular programs: Beautiful Dreamer: Music of Lincoln's America and Fair Oriana: an Early Film with Early Music, featuring an Elizabethan score to accompany Sarah Bernhardt's 1912 silent film Elizabeth I."

Visit website form more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 417

"The activities of the ensemble, which are conducted by the artistic direction of Carlo Ipata, till their beginning in 1997 are characterized by the research on the Tuscan index of the Renaissance and the Baroque Age. Thanks to numerous first modern performances, the productions that have been realized until now have allowed the reconstruction of some important pages of Tuscan musical history, showing the relationships that have been hold between the local and the European composers. ...

The members of AuserMusici, which have a great training and experience in early music, and which come from different Italian towns, meet regularly. They arrange precisely the musical programmes with some musicologists. ...

The productions of AuserMusici are the result of a complex research that addresses a large public by involving musicologists and musicians in the analysis and comparison of original texts. The productions consist of recordings, seminars, lectures/concerts and editions (on paper and online). ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 12, 2008 | Hits: 417

"Founded in 1981 in Geneva by Chiara Banchini, and established in Franche Comté, France, since 2001, Ensemble 415 is named after one of the pitches at which baroque music is played. Among the first generation of enthusiastic pioneers were François Fernandez, Enrico Gatti, Emilio Moreno and Fabio Biondi. Twenty years later, Ensemble 415 pursues its career with young violinists gathered in a partnership of soloists. David Plantier, Stéphanie Pfister, Eva Borhi and Leila Schayegh perpetuate the initial enthusiasm of Ensemble 415.

Internationally renowned Ensemble 415 has been invited to the greatest festivals and concert venues. Not only are its concerts and recordings acclaimed by critics and public alike, they also set durable impulses to the development of the perception and the interpretation of musical works from the 17th and 18th century as well as to the broadening of the repertoire proposed to music lovers. ..." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 13, 2008 | Hits: 417

"The vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Arts Florissants is one of the most renowned and respected early music groups in Europe and throughout the world. Dedicated to the performance of Baroque music on period instruments, the ensemble was founded in 1979 by the Franco-American harpsichordist and conductor William Christie and takes its name from a short opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Les Arts Florissants have been largely responsible for the resurgence of interest in France of 17th-and 18th-centuries more generally.

It is in the field of opera where Les Arts Florissants have enjoyed most success, regularly collaborating with eminent directors and choreographers, such as Jean-Marie Villégier, Robert Carsen, Alfredo Arias, Francine Lancelot, Béatrice Massin, Ana Yepes, José Montalvo... They have an equally high profile in the concert hall and on disc. For twenty years Les Arts Florissants have been artists in residence at the Théâtre de Caen.

The ensemble tours widely in France and is frequently invited to perform at prestigious festivals and venues internationally (the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Lincoln Center, the Barbican Centre in London and the Vienna Festival among others).

Les Arts Florissants receive financial support from the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, the City of Caen and the Basse-Normandie Region. They are artists in residence in the théâtre de Caen. Imerys is their Principal Sponsor.”

Visit website for more information. 

Added on: Aug 14, 2007 | Hits: 419

“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.

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 27, 2009 | Hits: 419

"Constantinople is a performing ensemble that draws its inspiration from the music of the Mediterranean, Medieval and Renaissance Europe, and Middle-Eastern musical traditions. Constantinople presents a new form of musical expression, born of a wellspring of transformation and integration of divers traditions from the Middle Ages and today, from here and abroad.

The ensemble provides a forum for cross-fertilization among various musical cultures, both within the ensemble itself and with its guest artists. Constantinople endeavours to consolidate the ties among these cultures by cultivating a unique mode of musical expression -a musical vocabulary that has grown out of extensive research into the history and esthetics of the musical traditions into which it delves, combined with freshness and creativity.

Constantinople has given numerous performances in Canada, in Mexico and in Europe. Last two years, the ensemble has been performing in France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Lebanon, Mexico and Canada among others. Many of these have been broadcast on the CBC/Radio-Canada radio network. Winners of the Discovery of the Year Award from Opus Gala in 2003, Constantinople have been the Ensemble in residence at Radio-Canada for the 2004-2005 season. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 06, 2008 | Hits: 422

"Piva is inspired by the professional Waits and Court Bands of the 16th and 17th centuries and specialises in giving lively performances of popular dance music and ballads of the period.

Piva performs in period costume using a range of historically accurate instruments including shawms, bagpipes, hurdy gurdies, curtals, sackbuts, violins and guitar. Their aim is to be faithful to the music and influences of the period whilst adding their own innovative arrangements and interpretations. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 423

"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: 423

“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.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 22, 2009 | Hits: 423

"Shunning the traditional concert-going experience, I FURIOSI Baroque Ensemble is revolutionising the face of Canadian early music. This group of four inspired and informed musicians performs programmes of music rarely heard on stage with an unparalleled and unusual fervour and sex-appeal. Having studied at institutions including University of Indiana at Bloomington, University of Toronto, McGill University, International Baroque Institute at Longy and The Banff Centre, these daring musicians bring their skill and expertise to new audiences, and are the edgy new voice in the early music world. The configuration of string trio and soprano allows a wide range of repertoire to be performed. I FURIOSI performs in Canada, the United States and abroad, and plans to expand to other venues in the coming years. In its Toronto concert series, the ensemble invokes the “bizarre and unnatural” aesthetic of the Baroque era, both cherished and despised in its time."

Added on: Apr 15, 2007 | Hits: 425

"Camerata Köln is an ensemble devoted to baroque and classical chamber music, with a special focus on works with woodwind instruments.

Since its foundation in 1979, the ensemble has performed in almost all European countries and at important early music festivals such as the Internationale Festtage Alter Musik Innsbruck, Flanders Festival Bruges, Tage Alter Musik Herne, Arolser Barockfestspiele or Tage Alter Musik Köln. International touring has also taken Camerata Köln to countries outside Europe including Israel, North and South America, India, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan, mostly in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut. In North America, the ensemble has already performed in such places as the Frick Collection In New York, Indianapolis Early Music Festival, Vancouver Early Music Festival, the Pittsburg Renaissance and Baroque Society, the Tropical Baroque Festival sponsored by the Miami Bach Society and, more recently, the Edmonton Chamber Music Society, the Calgary Millenium Foundation and the Women's Musical Club of Toronto, Canada's oldest music series.

From the start, the idea underlying the ensemble´s activities has been to have early chamber music performed by musicians with a virtuoso command of historical instruments as well as proper attention to style combined with the greatest possible spontaneity, pleasure and artistic independence. Over the years, public and critics alike have continued to recognize this idea as being the distinguishing and outstanding feature of Camerata Köln. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 17, 2008 | Hits: 426

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 426

"Gaïta is a group based in Edinburgh dedicated to Medieval Music. They are performers of medieval music and early dance, produce books of medieval music, and design and build medieval instruments. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 427

"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: 427

"Gothenburg is a Baroque ensemble consisting of singer and instrumentalists focused on the music of the 16th-17th century. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Oct 08, 2008 | Hits: 428

"Ensemble Anonymus was formed in Québec City in 1978 by a group of young professional performers under the leadership of Claude Bernatchez, the group’s founder and musical director. Their passionate interest in early music led them to attempt to recreate the musical traditions of medieval Europe. Today, the long list of their concerts and original shows, along with a series of high-quality recordings, testifies to their achievements and the level of artistic excellence they have attained. " See website for more details. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 429

"Founded by local musician and early music enthusiast, John Truitt, Música Antigua de Albuquerque has been performing medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music since 1978. In recognition of New Mexico's Hispanic tradition, the ensemble concentrated on the repertoire of Renaissance and medieval Spain in its early performances. Soon, however, the organization began to broaden the scope of its repertoire, and its concerts have since featured music from many areas in Europe from the 13th-18th centuries.

Música Antigua has given guest performances throughout New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Silver City, Portales, Hobbs, Taos, Tucumcari, Los Alamos, Socorro, Grants, Corrales, Cedar Crest, Tomé, and Mountainair. The ensemble has given joint performances with the Sangre de Cristo Chorale and the Coro de Cámara, and has collaborated with the Cathedral Church of St. John in productions of the medieval Play of Daniel and T. S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral. In 2002, the group performed for the Southwest Repertory Theater's Shakespeare Festival. The ensemble has also given tour performances in Houston and Milwaukee. In addition to its concert series and guest performances, Música Antigua gives frequent lecture-demonstrations of early music and instruments to adults and students of all ages. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 431

"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: 431

"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: 431

"Founded by Francis Colpron in 1991, Les Boréades de Montréal focuses on early music. The ensemble has chosen an interpretative approach in keeping with the spirit of the Baroque era, by adhering to the rules of performance practice of the past and playing on period instruments. Critics and audiences alike in Canada and abroad have been unanimous in hailing the group’s energy and spontaneity as well as its theatrical, expressive and elegant playing, indicative of a unique flair for Baroque aesthetics. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 434

"The members of vox suavis came together, fascinated by the beauty of traditional spanish art and the excellence of its interpretation. They are eager to revive certain aspects of a type of music on the verge of disappearing. the group has taken on the work and the message of personalities such as felipe pedrell, kurt schindler, alan lomax, joaquín díaz and garcía matos, ethnomusicologists and composers. They are known for speaking out for a musical culture based on oral tradition which has an immense richness and artistic force. vox suavis aims to build bridges between medieval and renaissance music and popular music of an oral tradition. One of its assumptions is that studying the interpretation of traditional music facilitates the interpretation of early music. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 434

"Ensemble Gombert is Melbourne's outstanding chamber choir, noted for its pure intonation and historic approach to choral sound and style. Named after Nicolas Gombert (c. 1495 - 1560), who has been largely ignored in the twentieth century despite an exemplary reputation amongst his contemporaries, the Ensemble specialises in a cappella performance of Franco-Flemish music of the High Renaissance. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 435

"VOICES OF MUSIC performs both renaissance and baroque music, drawing upon the many and varied sources for historical performance practice. Performances are o­ne o­n a part, with an emphasis o­n combining both instrumental and vocal styles of interpretation and ornamentation. In addition to the concert series in the San Francisco Bay Area, Voices of Music sponsors the Young Artist Recitals, with the clear goal of working with the next generation of singers and musicians. Voices of Music is an affiliate of the San Francisco Early Music Society."

Added on: Apr 06, 2007 | Hits: 436