EarlyMusicNews.Org

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

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 549

"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: 545

"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: 543

"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: 540

"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: 537

“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: 537

"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

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

Added on: May 24, 2008 | Hits: 530

"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: 529

"Formed in Sydney to explore and perform music composed for three female voices in the late renaissance and baroque periods, the group is named after Monteverdi's seductive and ambitious heroine Poppea (pronounced pop-pay-yah) from his opera "The Coronation Of Poppea". We believe the name encapsulates the essence of the group: performance of baroque repertoire, exploration of music by rarely performed composers, especially female composers, and our Australian origin, in playing on the expression "tall poppy syndrome". In researching our music, we learned of the "Singing Ladies of Ferrara" who were famous in the late 16th Century for their charm and virtuosic singing. As the first truly professional singers in an Italian court, they were trail blazers. Many composers of the time, of whom Luzzaschi was one, wrote music for these influential and talented singers. Whilst not quite the Andrews Sisters, the close knit harmonies and intertwining of the vocal lines makes for rapturous listening. Audiences have described our singing and the music we perform as 'luscious", "inspirational" and "music for the soul" and it is thrilling for us to continue its legacy into the 21st century. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 05, 2008 | Hits: 526

"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: 525

"Polyhymnia is a small ensemble of singers and instrumentalists focusing on historically informed performance of sacred music from the courts and cathedrals of the Renaissance world. The singers that comprise the ensemble are drawn from many sources, including some of the finest church choirs in New York. Past and present members have sung with Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Saint Luke in the Fields and Holy Apostles. Originally artists-in-residence at Saint John’s in the Village, the ensemble moved to its current home at Saint Ignatius of Antioch in 2003, when the ensemble and its audience outgrew its original home. Currently producing three concerts a year in New York, Polyhymnia has also made a name for itself at performances in Boston as a popular entry in the Boston Early Music Festival fringe events, and has been the guest choir at a number of special events, most notably the centenary celebrations of Holy Cross Monastery, in Westpark NY. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 522

"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: 522

“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: 520

“Our mission is to promote and encourage the performance and appreciation of Early Music, principally but not exclusively in East Cork.

By the term "Early Music" we understand music composed before 1750, performed with instruments appropriate to the period. We aim to integrate the authentic style and spirit of an earlier time with performances which are vital and coherent in the present. Therefore, later music may be included and connections made to contemporary music, traditional music from various cultures, non-written-down forms of music, and other art forms such as dance, theatre, literature, visual art, film etc. In this way, we acknowledge 'Early Music' as a vital root of our present culture.

East Cork Early Music will work to nurture and support Irish and Irish-based musicians at every level, as well as attracting specialist performers from overseas. Our audiences should be both local and international. We will promote concerts of the highest quality and innovation. Together with concerts we will create an educational programme consisting of intensive masterclasses, lectures and school performances. Theses are aimed at a wide range of students: from primary school-children to college level and adults, both music students and non-specialists. We will encourage participation in masterclasses by those who are new to Early Music performance, as well as by those already specializing in it.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 520

"Since its inception in 1982, Sonnerie, formerly Trio Sonnerie, has evolved into one of the most imaginative, flexible and dynamic period instrument ensembles in the country. It is directed from the violin by Monica Huggett, world-renowned for her expressive and impassioned performances.

The group's unusual versatility means it can expand from a trio of violin, viola da gamba and keyboard, into a full chamber orchestra. Recent recordings include the 2002 Gramophone award winning CD of Biber violin sonatas and the Bach Violin Concerti for Sanctury Classics, discs of Handel's Op.2 trio sonatas and organ concertos (Avie) and the Mystery sonatas by Biber (ASV). More details can be found on the discography page.

Sonnerie has performed internationally at all the major festivals and concert halls - recent highlights have included the Cheltenham, Innsbruck, Nordic Baroque, Radlovica (Slovenia), Koethen Bach and Aldeburgh festivals, as well as performances in Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, York, Glasgow and at the Wigmore Hall in London. Visit the concerts database for details of future engagements. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 516

"Born in France, where he began his musical studies in violin and composition at the Conservatoire National de Region of Rueil Malmaison. From there he went on to specialize in Medieval and Renaissance music, studying medieval fiddle, ancient bagpipes, and voice. After studies with Marco Horvat, Jasmin Martorell and Lucie Jolivet at the Centre de Musique Medievale in Paris, he moved to Switzerland where he currently studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He collaborates regularly with many musicians in various ensembles including Millenarium (Thierry Gomar and Christophe Deslignes), Leones (Marc Lewon), La Morra (Corina Marti, Michal Gondko), Les Jardins de Courtoisie (Anne Quentin) and Vox Suavis (Dominque Vellard and Ana. "

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 505

"Inspired by Romance lyrics (reverdies) celebrating the return of Spring, the ensemble laReverdie was founded in 1986 by two pairs of sisters, all singers and instrumentalists, with the intent of exploring the musical repertoire of Europe from the High Middle Ages to the end of the 14th century.

The painstaking attention to authenticity with which laReverdie prepares its programs is only one of the numerous means through which the ensemble strives to communicate the vitality, meaning and unaffected harmony of everything it presents to its audience. A particular attention is given to the wide and mostly unexplored repertoire of "sacred theatre": liturgical dramas and dramatic liturgy, collective representations, manifestations which evoke the religiousness of an age whose echoes are not extinguished yet. The aim is not so much to meticulously catalogue a collection of archaeological relics as it is to faithfully reconstruct the musical heritage of the Middle Ages as a living fragment of a culture long since past but not lost.

laReverdie has enjoyed the regular collaboration of various other musicians: among the others Doron David Sherwin, one of the leading specialists of cornetto, as well as a versatile arranger, singer and percussionist. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 24, 2008 | Hits: 504

"claimed as an ensemble of “imaginative” programming and “delicate, flawlessly-played music”, the Chicago Early Music Consort recreates the rich and diverse sounds of the late Renaissance and early Baroque chamber repertoire in a historically-informed manner. Founded by Gary Berkenstock, the consort performs throughout the Chicagoland and Wisconsin areas.

The core ensemble consists of a “broken” consort of viola da gamba Phillip W. Serna, soprano Stephanie Sheffield, lute/theorbo Joel Spears, and recorders Gary Berkenstock, but the ensemble is supplemented as needed by the dictates of the music. Programs are built around historical themes in order to provide modern audiences with a meaningful social context that will enrich their musical experience. " See website for more details. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 16, 2008 | Hits: 501

“In 1991, the Salzburg musician, Wolfgang Brunner, founded the ensemble Salzburger Hofmusik performing in various settings from trio to full orchestra. The repertoire encompasses works mainly from the 17th to the early 19th century concentrating on the music of the Royal Church Choir under the Salzburg Prince Bishops.

The name Salzburger Hofmusik comes from the 18th century and meant in the vernacular of those times, the Royal Church Choir of the Prince Bishops.
From the time of its founding, Salzburger Hofmusik programs were performed that established Salzburg's integration into the music history of Austrian and European cultural traditions.

Along with this came scholarly work, exploiting sources that until now had gone unnoticed or had been unjustly forgotten. In order to present performances that are as authentic as possible, the ensemble plays mainly (but not exclusively) on historical instruments or on faithful copies of originals. ..“ 

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 501

"De Camer van Musiecke ("the music chamber") performs renaissance music, mainly from 16th century Italy, France, Spain, England and the Low Countries.

They draw on compositions by (among others) Jacob van Eyck, Orlando di Lasso, Jacques Arcadelt, Nicolas Gombert, Thomas Crequillon, Giovanni Bassano, Cipriano de Rore, Giovanni Battista Riccio, Giovanni Paolo Cima, Girolamo Frescobaldi and, of course, the inevitable, but most versatile and unseizable anonymous." See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 500

"The Women's Antique Vocal Ensemble (WAVE) was founded in September 1999 as an outgrowth of an education class sponsored by the San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS). This ensemble, now an affiliate of SFEMS, consists of 14 women who are dedicated to promoting and performing music of the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. From its inception WAVE's mission has been to perform in as authentic and skilled a manner as possible, while always striving to communicate the heart and soul of this incredibly rich musical heritage. WAVE has performed concerts in the greater San Francisco Bay Area as well as many public service concerts and outreach programs for communities in need such as hospitals, senior citizens, and the inmates at Santa Rita Jail. Members of WAVE give of their talent to support those in need as well as engender an appreciation of early music through their performances. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 02, 2008 | Hits: 497

Founded by Benjamin Perrot and Florence Bolton, La Rêveuse is a French early music ensemble specializing in XVIIth century music. Visit website for more information.

Added on: Jul 13, 2008 | Hits: 495

“ArsAntiguaPresents.com, directed by Jerry Fuller, is a series of monthly, free audio web cast programs of music from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical eras performed on period instruments with engaging and enlightening commentary by Peter Van De Graaff. Programs focus on one composition or a few short works.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 495

"The Toronto Consort is Canada’s leading chamber ensemble specializing in the music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and early Baroque. Some of Canada’s leading early music specialists have come together to form the Toronto Consort, whose members include both singers and instrumentalists (lute, recorder, guitar, flute, early keyboards and percussion). " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 13, 2007 | Hits: 494