EarlyMusicNews.Org

“The allure is undeniable.  Six talented, attractive women breathe renewed life into the rich texts of medieval songs and poetry.  Their hauntingly beautiful music captures the imagination and devotion of modern audiences.  They are the Mediaeval Baebes, and in ten years they have placed three studio albums into the top of the UK classical charts and performed before enthusiastic audiences in the UK, United States, Canada and Europe.

Founding member Katharine Blake is also the music director and lead composer and arranger for the band. Born in London, Katharine was classically trained at the Purcell School of Music and Richmond College. In the mid-1990s she met musician Dorothy Carter in Berlin.  Carter was playing hurdy-gurdy
and dulcimer, and Blake was immediately drawn to the sound of the medieval music and instruments. Back in London, she and a group of friends got together to sing songs from the Middle Ages purely for their own enjoyment.  Within a year they had released their first album, Salva Nos, which climbed into the UK’s Classical chart, and became Virgin Classics’ fastest selling debut album.  Their 1998 follow-up album,  Worldes Bylsse, blazed to number one in the Classical Charts. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 335

RAYUELA was founded in spring 2004 by Claudia Gerauer, Martina Joos and Thomas Engel. The three recorder-players had studied with Kees Boeke and Matthias Weilenmann at the Zurich School of Music, Drama and Dance. As the "Trio O'Henry" they toured many European countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Russia) and north Africa (Morocco), and won several prizes at international competitions (International Recorder Competition in Calw, Germany, Kiwanis Prize for Chamber Music, Switzerland, the Swiss Orpheus Prize, the Migros-Genossenschaft Chamber Music Prize, Switzerland, and the International Chamber Music Competition on Period Instruments "Premio Bonporti" in Rovereto, Italy). ..

In the spring of 2004 the trio's many years of intensive work with other musicians culminated in the formation of the RAYUELA ensemble. Its programmes always include the three recorders, while other instruments are added depending on the particular programme.

RAYUELA made its debut with the programme "Changes" (in the monastery church of St. Gerold, Austria) in May 2004, which was recorded by Austrian radio. It delighted the audience and critics alike . ..“

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Added on: May 18, 2009 | Hits: 335

"This London-based ensemble have been playing since 1990. Their performances include the opening concert at the Aldeburgh Festival and the closing concert at York Early Music Festival; London's Lufthansa Festival (where they put "brought in one of the largest audiences at the festival"), the Queen Elizabeth Hall (London), St David's Hall (Cardiff), Sana'a & Aden (Yemen), Brezice Early Music Festival (Slovenia), Istanbul, Amsterdam International Festival of Jewish Music, Chinchilla Early Music Festival; tours in Germany, Italy and Holland. Broadcasts include BBC Radio 3, 4, and World Service; German, Dutch and Slovenian radio. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 334

"Antikantus, ... the project is to build a repertoire of music medieval Sicilian or having reference to Sicily or the Mediterranean world, investigating the musical traditions of Spain, Provence, North Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East. ... " (Google translation) Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 18, 2008 | Hits: 334

"The Ensemble "Brevis" was created in 1998 by Pavel Surahin. The "Brevis" has taken part in a great amount of festivals and competitions in Belarus ("Slavyansky Bazar v Vitebske 2002"(The first prise), "The VIII International Competition of Chamber Ensembles" (Smorgon 2006, the first prize), Knights' Fights and Festivals), Poland (II (2004) (also III (2005), V (2007), VI (2008)) International Festival of Old Culture in the Castle of Malbork", "XXX International Music Festival in Bydgoszcz 2007", a great lot of Knights' Festivals), Lithuania (III International competition of chamber Ensembles in Klaipeda 2007 (the second prize) and also Knights' Festivals), The South Korea (YoPeFe! 2005) and has also performed some concerts in Russia (Moscow) and UAE (Dubai). Every year The "Brevis" records its CD's with new compositions. Almost all the music can be heard on the radio and TV channels of Belarus. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 24, 2008 | Hits: 334

"Founded in 1993 at the Institute of Music of the Catholic University of Chile, this vocal and instrumental group has been engaged in research and interpretation and teaching about musical repertoires of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Baroque, focusing its work in recent years to draft interpretation of Baroque repertoire, led by Gina Allende and Sergio Candia. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 30, 2008 | Hits: 334

“Founded by Martin Gester in Strasbourg in 1990, Le Parlement de Musique is an ensemble of solo singers and instrumentalists which may be expanded to the dimensions of orchestra with choir. It champions the Baroque and Classical repertoire in all its forms, alternating modern premieres and new interpretations of standard repertoire.

Le Parlement de Musique has produced a large number of significant modern recreations, most of which have been recorded and have met with an enthusiastic response from the press. Among these are works by Charpentier – the early Leçons de Ténèbres; several Histoires sacrées; and the Te Deum and Grands Motets (which despite the large number of recorded interpretations available was hailed by Diapason and a number of critics’ panels as the ‘benchmark version’); premiere recordings of works by Sébastien de Brossard and Samuel Capricornus; the Lamentazioni of Alessandro Scarlatti and the Vespers of Giovanni Battista Bassani (which won the Prize of the Fondazione Cini, Venice); organ concertos by J. S. Bach;  .. .“

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Added on: Jul 27, 2009 | Hits: 334

"THE KING'S CONSORT is one of Europe's leading period instrument orchestras. Founded in 1980, TKC and its equally renowned Choir of The King's Consort have toured in five continents and appeared in almost every European country, in Japan, Hong Kong and the Far East, as well as North and South America. With 95 CDs in the catalogue, and more than one million CD sales, TKC is one of the world's most-recorded historical instrument orchestras. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 333

"Started by Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel in 2001, Música Temprana specializes in the interpretation of Latin American Baroque music. So far, the ensemble has given concerts in the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Sweden, and Bolivia. The members of Música Temprana are professional musicians, acquainted with the performance practices of the traditional music of their countries of origin (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain). Their musical instruments include different types of guitar (characteristic of the various Latin American countries), viola da gamba, harp, dulcian, and percussion, while the ensemble generally works with specialized singers, among them Xenia Meyer, Barbara Kusa, Marisú Pavón, and Fabian Schofrin. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 14, 2008 | Hits: 332

"Created in Paris in 1978, the Ensemble Clément Janequin performs sacred and secular vocal music of the Renaissance, from Josquin to Monteverdi. Their inimitable performances of the French 16th century Chanson have revealed what is now appreciated to be one of the Golden Ages in the history of French music, their recordings for harmonia mundi, Les Cris de Paris, Le Chant des Oyseaulx, Fricassée Parisienne and La Chasse being considered as benchmark interpretations. With tremendous appeal to a broad audience, these works by Janequin, Sermisy, Bertrand, Costeley, Lassus, Le Jeune... abound in the stylistic contrasts so dear to the Renaissance: the touching lyricism of the chanson amoureuse, the earthy humour of the chanson rustique that draws upon popular farce, the sounds of war, nature and street cries - a unique marriage of popular and high Renaissance culture. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 331

"Duo Dorado has been charming audiences since 1999. Hazel and David are two prize-winning early-music specialists who are passionate about the music of the baroque era. Slick, dynamic and accessible, Duo Dorado concerts frequently elicit standing ovations.

Our programmes mix great composers such as Vivaldi, Bach and Handel with other rare treats. Wild, sweet, passionate, flirtatious, our music ranges from the exciting new styles of the early seventeenth century to high-baroque and pre-classical masterpieces. We always talk to the audience and often introduce the music with readings and anecdotes. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 331

"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: 331

"The Mozartean Players, founded in 1979, is one of the oldest continuously active early-music organizations in America. It is also one of the most distinguished, as measured by all criteria: critical response, the breadth and volume of its performing history, the distinction of the auspices that have welcomed it, the influence it has borne on other musicians, and the quality of its recorded legacy.

The current configuration of the group as a piano trio is comprised of Steven Lubin, fortepiano, Anca Nicolau, violin, and Myron Lutzke, cello. The group's repertoire spans the era from Haydn through Schumann, the period during which the piano, starting as the delicate, five-octave, wooden-frame instrument of the classical period, changed gradually into the larger, early-romantic piano. A large proportion of the group's touring has involved Mr. Lubin's readily transportable five-octave Walter fortepiano replica, performing trios of Haydn, Mozart and early Beethoven. By special arrangement, the group also tours with its romantic Graf piano replica (both replicas by R.J. Regier), offering works by the later Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Schumann. The stringed instruments are accordingly in period disposition. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 331

“Artistic director, Slobodan Vujisic has gathered some of the top early music specialists from Austin and around the nation for a premier appearance by his newest ensemble, Austin Troubadours! Featuring Medieval and Renaissance Mediterranean instrumental and vocal music, Austin Troubadours combine various well known and obscure historical instruments with lush vocals. They produce a unique kaleidoscope of sound and texture, lending the audience an ever changing pallet of musical delights for the senses. Historically informed and inspired by years of musical experience, each member of the Austin Troubadours will delight and move audiences to tap their feet and hum tunes of antiquity. ..”

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Added on: Apr 16, 2010 | Hits: 331

"SARBAND means connection - just as the name, which stems from Oriental music theory and denotes to an improvised linking of two compositions within a musical suite. Musical director Dr. Vladimir Ivanoff, who founded SARBAND in 1986, both as a scholar and a musician, connects cultures, people and epochs: His programmes unite musicians from the most different cultures and backgrounds and mediate between past and present, Early Music and living traditions.

In the world of SARBAND, musicians from Bulgaria, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy and Germany perform together. The co-operation in the ensemble is no fashionable crossover session, but conceived as a continuous dialogue on equal terms. All artists unrestrictedly contribute their native traditions, their personal histories and their own creativity to the programmes. While today the religious, economic, cultural and political differences between the Orient and Occident are in the focus of attention, Sarband endeavour to show that music was always not only mere decoration, but an enlightened means of mutual respect and can still be that today: an example for understanding and acceptance, a model of peace. The ensemble takes its audience on a journey through space and time, through religions and cultures. It is a journey, on which you can leave behind the customary ways of thinking and the traditional concert experience. ... "

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Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 330

" The formation of the Etesian Ensemble in 1999 brought together five musicians committed to performing the great wealth of chamber music from the classical and romantic periods for fortepiano, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon. Performances of this exciting repertoire are rarely heard on today's concert platform, therefore the Etesian Ensemble set out to bring their vibrant, explorative interpretation of such works to a wider audience.

In concert, the ensemble presents established classics such as the exquisite Mozart Quintet for Fortepiano and Winds, which Mozart himself described as it as “the best thing I have ever composed in my life”, alongside lesser known and recently discovered works that deserve the attention of today’s audience.

All five members of the ensemble are active in the period performance world, working with established orchestras such as The Academy of Ancient Music, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Europa Galante, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, La Petite Bande, The Kings Consort and The Gabrieli Consort. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 330

“la Brigata (Italian for a company of friends) was founded in 1989 by Kristine Szulik from Cheshire, (Alto) and Andrew Kirkman, with the aim of introducing audiences to some marvellous areas of early music that are now rarely performed.

la Brigata specialises in fully staged music-theatre pieces.  Danse Macabre,  100 years of the plague in 50 minutes.  Bisclavret, an interpretation of the lais of Marie de France.  The Feast of Fools, a mediaeval celebration of misrule.  Henry's Wives, Henry from his wives point of view.  Sex, Seduction and Insanity, music-theatre from the 1680's. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 330

“Historical songs and music of all ears. Anne Marie Summers and Thor Ewing.The name ‘Squeake’s Noyse’ is inspired by the seventeenth-century band ‘Sneake’s Noyse’ that accompanied the first performances of some of Shakespeare’s greatest plays.“

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Added on: May 11, 2009 | Hits: 330

"Jean-Louis CHARBONNIER, viole de gambe
Paul ROUSSEAU, viole de gambe
Mauricio BURAGLIA, théorbe
Pierre TROCELLIER, clavecin " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 04, 2008 | Hits: 329

"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: 328

"Anima Mundi Consort, formed in 2003, groups various performers with extensive experience in the field of Period Music. The ensemble performs using solely original instruments from the chosen period and collaborates with renowned experts in the fields of research and interpretation of Ancient Music and also in the reconstruction of period instruments. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 18, 2008 | Hits: 327

“Originally formed when two of our members were studying at the Royal College of Music, The 1607 Ensemble is unique in that we perform early consort repertoire alongside 20th-century vocal jazz—both to a high professional standard—and create our own eclectic compositions using elements from both styles. We draw our inspiration from a cappella groups like The Real Group, Take 6, Manhattan Transfer, and the New York Voices; mainstream early music groups such as The Consort of Musicke, I Fagiolini, and Le Poème Harmonique; and “third stream” jazz/classical fusion groups like The Modern Jazz Quartet. ..“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 326

“Founded in 1998 by Michael Brown, the Ensemble Baroque de Toulouse is the result of a long history of passion and friendship. This orchestra of professional musicians met around a common artistic project: the interpretation of early music, from Monteverdi to Haydn. According to the directory, it is joined by Baroque Choir of Toulouse as part of the adventure since its inception over ten years. …”

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Added on: Sep 30, 2011 | Hits: 326

“All members of the Lacrimae Ensemble are experienced performers of early music on historical instruments and have participated in numerous recordings for both radio and CD. “ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 325

“Founded in 2000, and after winning prizes in such prestigious competitions as Musica Antiqua (Bruges 2003) and Premio Bonporti (Rovereto, Italy 2004), Rossi Piceno has established itself as an increasingly successful baroque ensemble, appearing in several festivals, in Austria, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium and Mexico.

The group´s first CD with oboe trio sonatas by the Catalan composers J.B. and J. Pla appeared in 2006 receiving very good reviews in many European music magazines.

The ensemble has always been characterized by the diversity of its members’ nationalities. The group consists of young musicians of great expertise, active in many other renowned ensembles and orchestras such as Concerto Italiano, Concerto Köln, Freiburger Barockorchester, Hesperion XXI, La Petite Bande, Les Talens Lyriques, L'Orfeo Barockorchester, Zefiro, to name a few.

The professionalism, devotion and enthusiasm with which the ensemble works is reflected in the variety of their programming, and their interest in exploring little-known repertoire.”

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Added on: Mar 01, 2012 | Hits: 325