EarlyMusicNews.Org

“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: 497

"The Avison Ensemble are North East England's foremost exponents of 18th century music and standard bearers for Charles Avison, the hitherto little known but important English composer of the 18th Century.

Charles Avison (1709-1770) was a Newcastle-born composer, conductor and organist. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians calls him, "the most important English concerto composer of the 18th Century". Yet his work and that of other neglected British composers of the period was thoroughly overshadowed by the brilliance of George Frederick Handel, who was operating in London at the time.

omprised of some of Europe's leading musicians and soloists and in addition to playing other works from the baroque and early classical periods, the Avison Ensemble promotes chamber concerts and is furthering the revival of the once famous Newcastle Subscription Concerts, originally established and promoted by Charles Avison himself.

The Ensemble have chosen to perform on period instruments in order to recreate as closely as possible the distinctive 'sound world' that Charles Avison would have known. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 501

"Aradia is a period instrument ensemble specialising in the repertoire of seventeenth century France and England, and in contemporary music written for period instruments. Aradia is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Aradia has made eight recordings for Naxos Records, has toured internationally, and has a busy local concert season at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto."

Added on: Apr 13, 2007 | Hits: 504

"Sine Nomine (founded in 1991) performs the vocal and instrumental music of Europe transmitted in manuscripts from the tenth to the fifteenth century (or earlier, when it can be reasonably recovered). Concerts are structured around the music of a particular country, period, genre, or are thematically organized to allow for both depth of preparation and coherence in presentation. As historically-informed performance is best when evanescent sound is buoyed by learning worn lightly, so Sine Nomine strives to create a performance atmosphere both relaxed and informal, gently removing the barriers between audience and performer so often found in classical music." See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 15, 2007 | Hits: 507

"The Knoxville Early Music Project (KEMP), founded in 1991, is an ensemble devoted to performing Renaissance and Baroque music. The group's performances feature music from Italian monody and solo cantatas to English, Irish, and Scottish folk and art music. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 02, 2008 | Hits: 507

“Quadriga Consort – the Early Music Band on an expedition to the origins of pop music: early ballads and tunes from the British Isles, ranging from rollicking dance music to the Celtic-Gaelic and the courtly song traditions. The archaic melodies provide the basis for authentic music of today and tomorrow, so typical for Quadriga – with interpretations so fresh, that they make many a pop song of today pale in comparison to the enduringly moving ancient songs of love, yearning, joy and sorrow. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 05, 2009 | Hits: 509

"The ensemble Le Jardin Secret presents the wonderful treasure of Baroque solo vocal literature accompanied by the full colour and beauty of original continuo and obligato instruments. With soprano Elizabeth Dobbin, the ensemble performs a wide range of 17th and 18th century repertoire with dedicated attention to historical context and to the possibilities of creative continuo playing and improvisation.

The music is intimate and highly expressive, exploiting the powerful and contrasting affects of the poetry to which it is set, welcoming the listener into the most secret places of the heart. Le Jardin Secret (in French a metaphor for the heart) is a place of sensual beauty and delight, of mystery and contemplation, of lament, grief and suffering, of amusement and assignation.

The members of the ensemble, which won both the first prize and the audience prize in the Early Music Network International Young Artists’ Competition in York in 2007, are post-graduates of conservatories in Basel, The Hague and Brussels. It is the aim of the ensemble to bring to life the emotive energy of the music, opening the door to the aesthetic world of the Baroque in all its beguiling beauty. " ...

Added on: Aug 20, 2007 | Hits: 512

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

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 512

El Delphìn, Early Music Ensemble was established in 2004. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 24, 2008 | Hits: 514

"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: 520

"Ausonia is an ensemble of instrumentalists and singers, founded and directed by Frédérick Haas and Mira Glodeanu, committed to bringing to life the music of the 17th and 18th centuries by means of dedicated application of historical performance practices and a continuous searching for the expressive possibilities inherent in this music. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 12, 2008 | Hits: 520

“Recently founded by four of the most promising young period instrument players in Europe, Ensemble Diderot is already renowned for its lively virtuoso interpretations of 17th- and 18th- Century music, and is rapidly evolving into one of Europe's most ingenious chamber music groups.

Named after the brilliant, versatile, and prolific writer of the Enlightenment, Denis Diderot, the Ensemble devotes itself to the performance and research of the trio sonata repertoire in its original and most sonorous combination: two violins, harpsichord and cello. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 17, 2010 | Hits: 521

"The charismatic Palladian Ensemble is firmly established on the international music scene as a quartet of the highest calibre, presenting baroque chamber music infused with style, uninhibited virtuosity and intelligent musicianship. Over the past fifteen years the Ensemble has made numerous broadcasts and played hundreds of performances at prestigious venues across Britain, Europe, North and South America and still enjoys consistent popularity with audiences and critics worldwide. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 09, 2008 | Hits: 524

"Founded by Artistic Director and Conductor Daniel Taylor, the Choir and Orchestra of the Theatre of Early Music (TEM) are sought-after interpreters of magnificent yet neglected choral and instrumental repertoire from four centuries. Their appearances include stunning a cappella programmes, with practices and aesthetics of former ages informing thought-provoking, passionate and committed reconstructions of music for historical events and major works from the oratorio tradition.

With Daniel Taylor, the Choir and Orchestra of the TEM are new visitors to the world's most renowned concert halls and festivals and are building an exciting discography in partnership with Sony Classical Masterworks. …"

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 15, 2007 | Hits: 528

"The broad spectrum and vitality of medieval and early Renaissance music are made accessable to a wider audience. Musicians from Austria, Italy and Germany specialized in playing historical instruments make up the core of this European ensemble. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 531

"Salut! baroque is one of Australia's most dynamic early music ensembles, bringing together Australia's finest baroque musicians in a chamber orchestra of up to twelve members. Formed in 1995 and led by artistic directors Sally Melhuish and Tim Blomfield, the ensemble performs annual subscription series concerts in Canberra and Sydney. Salut!'s international guest artists have included baroque violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch and Dutch cellist Jaap ter Linden." See site for more info. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 03, 2008 | Hits: 549

“The Ensemble Mikado’s present combination of soprano, viola da gamba/viella, and three recorders was formed in Vienna in the spring of 2003. Since then, the winners of the 2004 International Young Artists Presentation—Early Music (IYAP) in Antwerp have known how to enthuse both audiences and the musical press at national and international festivals. Numerous concert performances have led the ensemble to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Poland, Italy and Belgium, to the Vienna Recorder Days, the Hörgänge in the Vienna Konzerthaus, to the ISCM World Music Days, the early music festivals in Brežice and Radovljica in Slovenia, the Festival for Early Music in Bolzano, Italy, the Wratislavia Cantans Festival in Poland, the Laus Polyphoniae in Belgium, the Aqua Musica and Oude-Muziek-Network in the Netherlands, the Trigonale Festival in Carinthia, Austria and to the Tage Alter Musik in Regensburg, among others. In the selection of its repertoire, the ensemble focuses on both the music of the end of the Middle Ages (Ars nova and Ars subtilior) and that of the English Renaissance at the time of William Shakespeare. Unusual instrumentations and unconventional arrangements arise in the ensemble’s search for new ways of interpreting early music in a modern fashion. In February 2009 the CD "Can she excuse ?" was awarded the "Pasticcio-prize" by Ö1/ORF (Austrian Cultural Broadcasting Station).“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 552

"Since its London debut in 1986, Fretwork has given concerts and broadcast round the world, made numerous highly successful recordings, set new standards in the performance of the great English music for viol consort, and generated a living repertory for the medium." See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 554

"The ensemble Peregrina researches and performs the repertories of twelfth to fourteenth century Europe, specializing in vocal polyphony for equal voices. The sacred and secular music of the Middle Ages, such as the organa and conductus of high medieval Notre Dame, aquitanian nova cantica and the motets of manuscripts from Montpellier and Bamberg provide a rich bounty of repertory for three voices, and serve as the backbone of the ensemble Peregrina's current work. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 559

"Capella Leopoldina was founded in 1992 by Jörg Zwicker.

Following the musical tradition at the Viennese court during the reign of Leopold I. the ensemble includes a variety of musicians from Austria and the most important European music metropolises.

The work focuses on oratorio and orchestra literature of the 17th and 18th century. Furthermore, programs with chamber music instrumentation are part of their repertoire. Capella Leopoldina also plays in simple continuo instrumentation combined with one or several singers.

In January of 2000 Capella Leopoldina took over the instrumental part of the project BACH XXI. In co-operation with the Grazer Dommusik all cantatas by J. S. Bach will be brought to the stage. The timeline for this project is 18 years and it thus represents one of the major projects of Austrian music history. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 14, 2008 | Hits: 573

"Chatham Baroque, western Pennsylvania's only professional baroque ensemble playing on period instruments, excites audiences with dazzling technique and artful interpretation. In recent years the trio has taken its performances and educational programs to Montreal, Mexico City, the British Virgin Islands, California, Texas, Ohio, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama and Washington, DC. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 582

"The vocal and instrumental consort Capilla Flamenca takes its name from the choir of the court chapel of Emperor Charles V. When Charles left the Low Countries in 1517, he took his best musicians with him in order to accompany him as 'living polyphony' to Spain.

Today's Capilla Flamenca recruits its specialized musicians mainly from Flanders so as to bring to life again the unique timbre of this brilliant 15th-16th century music in its full authenticity. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 583

"ARS ANTIQUA AUSTRIA, director: Gunar Letzbor Ars Antiqua Austria was founded in Linz in 1995 with the aim of introducing audiences to the roots of specifically Austrian baroque music played on period-instruments. The music performed at the imperial court in Vienna at this period shows the strong influence of Italy and later of French forms, while Spanish court ceremonials also shape the character of the works. The typical Austrian sound of the period also betrays the influence of the many Crownlands. The political and social boundaries of Austria in the baroque era were far wider than in the 20th century. Elements of Slav and Hungarian folk music mingle with alpine sounds and can be heard in the art music of the period. The Austrian sound also reflects the temperament and character of the Austrians of that period - a unifying element in the melting-pot of many different cultures: the joie de vivre of the South, Slav melancholy, French formality, Spanish pomp and the Alpine character of the German-speaking regions. This fusion of court- with folk music and a strong element of dance music form the typical Austrian sound.

The core of Ars Antiqua Austria comprises 8 musicians directed by Gunar Letzbor. The ensemble is readily augmented to accommodate a still wider repertoire.. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 583

"The Clemencic Consort is an early-music ensemble comprised of international artists under the direction of René Clemencic. It performs in varying combinations of voices and instruments, depending on the programme.

Singers and instrumentalists from around the world have made it their task to interpret music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period on historical instruments. They set great store on lively authenticity, but at the same time they consciously avoid "the wagging finger". The programmes are structured in such a way that they convey a colourful overall impression of the respective period. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 583

" Le Triomphe de l'amour is a chamber music ensemble performing Baroque music on original instruments.

Our concerts are more than just music: each is an exploration of music and cultural history, and a window into life in the 18th century. Illustrated pre-concert talks, focused program themes, and insightful program notes help to lead the audience to a deeper appreciation of the music.

Based in Princeton, NJ, Le Triomphe de l'amour presents an annual series of concerts performed in intimate surroundings by members of the ensemble and guest artists. Le Triomphe de l’amour is known for imaginative programming of both familiar and seldom-heard works of the 17th and 18th centuries. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 10, 2008 | Hits: 585