EarlyMusicNews.Org

“Inspired by the gloriously virtuosic music from the end of the 17th century, from which the name "Stylus Fantasticus" was coined, the aim of the ensemble is to recreate repertoire from the early seicento until the late baroque searching and exploring the extravagance that flourished when composers and instrumentalists dared to traverse the established limits of the usual.

From the excesses of Biber, through the unrestrained harmonic richness of Rameau and the ravishing melodic imagination of Pandolfi Mealli, to the vividness and passion of the forerunners of romanticism as depicted by the generation after Bach, Fantasticus makes no compromises with regard to authentic performance, fearlessly trespassing on the borders of correctness.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 01, 2012 | Hits: 215

“Currentes was founded in 2006 by its artistic director, Jostein Gundersen. Since then, it has performed in Norway, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Italy. Currentes defines its artistic goals as within the field of historically informed performance and specialises in polyphonic music from the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Its particular interest is the exploration of that which has not been transmitted in musical notation, such as instrumentation, improvisation of ornaments, or entire parts. The ensemble ́s interest in new forms of expression has led not only to unorthodox performances of medieval and renaissance music, but also to its commissioning of a new work by the Norwegian composer, Eivind Buene. The ensemble´s first CD was released in January 2012 on LAWO Classics.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 214

“The Gonzaga Band was formed by cornettist Jamie Savan in 1997, in order to explore historical approaches to the performance of vocal and instrumental music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its line-up is flexible, with a small core of musicians that expands on occasion to include other leading vocal and period-instrument specialists according to the specific requirements of each programme.

The ensemble takes its name from the Gonzaga Dukes of Mantua, who were powerful and influential patrons of the arts in the late Renaissance period. The Gonzaga family employed Claudio Monteverdi as their maestro di cappella, and he presided over a musical establishment that was, for a time, the envy of the world. ...

Several members of The Gonzaga Band are active as teachers at universities and music colleges, and regularly give educational workshops for primary and secondary schools. Between 2000 and 2004, The Gonzaga Band worked for Yehudi Menuhin’s ‘Live Music Now’ scheme, delivering numerous concerts and workshops for children and adults with special needs. Since 2005, The Gonzaga Band has hosted the annual Newark International Early Music course for amateur and young professional wind players.

The Gonzaga Band's line up is flexible and varies depending on the requirements of each project.  …“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Sep 07, 2011 | Hits: 213

“Ensemble Il Ballo was founded in 2002. It is dedicated to interpreting the music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with a particular interest in Renaissance music and Italian music of the early seventeenth century.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Sep 30, 2011 | Hits: 213

“Canty, Scotland’s only professional Medieval music group, was formed by Rebecca Tavener in 1998, the 900th anniversary of the birth of Hildegard of Bingen, and it comprises the regular female singers with Cappella Nova, Scotland’s leading early music vocal ensemble.  As individuals, the singers bring to the group a wealth of experience, both as soloists and as members of other distinguished ensembles.  Together with regular collaborator, harpist William Taylor, they explore a unique repertoire combining Medieval music and contemporary works written specially for them, along with ongoing research and experimentation in performance practice for Medieval music from Celtic homelands.   Canty has nurtured close relationships with a number of leading musicologists specialising in medieval sacred music and, as a result, enjoys access to a considerable amount of rare or unique material.

Canty’s debut CD, Wings of Wisdom, features chant by Hildegard von Bingen and from medieval Scotland and was released on the Dorian label.  Flame of Ireland (Sanctuary Gaudeamus), their second recording, features world premiere recordings of 15thc Irish chant for St Brigit of Kildare.  Their third disc, Felix Femina – medieval Scottish polyphony (Sanctuary Gaudeamus) was described by Andrew McGregor as having a ‘transcendental quality that absolutely suits the music’ (CD Review, BBC Radio 3).  A fourth CD, Apostle of Ireland, featuring Medieval Irish chant for St Patrick, has just been released on the Divine Art label.   The latest CD, to be released by Linn Records in 2010, combines medieval repertoire with new works written specially for the group including pieces by James Macmillan and Sir John Tavener.

Canty has appeared in many distinguished festivals and venues at home and abroad, including the Edinburgh Festival, Galway Early Music Festival, Spitalfields Festival, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, the International Celtic Congress (Bonn) and the National Centre for Early Music in York.  Future projects include commissions from Gabriel Jackson, Joanne Metcalf and other composers, leading to the recording in 2009 of a new CD of contemporary and medieval music for Linn Records. …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 20, 2011 | Hits: 212

“In mythology, La Fenice - the Phoenix - is a fabulous bird, which was celebrated for consuming itself in flame then rising from its ashes. La Fenice is used here as a symbol of the influence of Italian music in Baroque Europe. It was also the title of a work by Giovanni Martino Cesare, an Italian composer and cornett player who moved north of the Alps in the early 17th century. Today this name has been adopted by a group of musicians, whose common desire is to share their passion for the sumptuous Venetian music of that time and bring out all its extraordinary vitality.

The ensemble's repertoire nevertheless includes works by composers from all over Europe and covers more than two centuries of music; indeed, the cornett was commonly used in the early 16th century by Josquin Desprez and his contemporaries and it was still in use at J.S. Bach's time and Bach himself included it in several of his cantatas.

The cornett can be found alongside the voice in sacred music throughout the Baroque period; it is mentioned in the registers of the Royal Chapel at Versailles until 1733. As for the sound it produces, Mersenne, tells us in his Harmonie universelle (Paris, 1636) that « it is like a sunbeam shining through the shadows or through the darkness when it is heard among the voices in churches, cathedrals or chapels... “

Anxious to respect the original instrumentation, particularly in vocal music, where the instruments shed light on the text through their symbolical import, the ensemble adapts to fit in with each programmes it performs. Coming from all over Europe, the Ensemble’s musicians are all internationally renowned soloists, playing with the best Early music ensembles in the world.

Just after its establishment, the Ensemble La Fenice has won the first prize in two international competitions (Bruges, 1990 and Malmö, 1992). Since then, it has played in the most important festivals in France, Europe and all over the world. La Fenice’s recordings - Opus 111, Virgin Classics, Ricercar - are regularly awarded the most prestigious distinctions (Choc Monde de la Musique, Diapason d'Or, 10/10. Répertoire, 5 Etoiles. Goldberg…).”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Sep 30, 2011 | Hits: 211

“Arianna Ensemble is a professional ensemble of baroque music. Founded in 2000 around the harpsichordist Marie-Paule Nounou, it presents the works of European heritage to discover the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and some masterpieces of the repertoire.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 17, 2011 | Hits: 210

"In spring 2008, a group of young musicians came together in North Germany under the direction and initiative of Florian Benfer to perform a programme consisting of motets and cantatas from the 17th and 18th centuries. This group developed into the ARTON Ensemble, which now performs in varying sizes and combinations and is made up of young professional singers and instrumentalists, some of whom are still completing their studies, but all of whom bring with them a wealth of experience in renowned ensembles and as soloists on the international concert circuit. One special feature of this ensemble is the wide range of nationalities to be found among the ensemble members. This project includes musicians from France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Austria, England and Germany. Concert tours in the short history of this young ensemble have already led these excellent musicians to stages in Germany, Sweden and France.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 03, 2012 | Hits: 210

“A Companye of Strangers performs Medieval and Tudor music, song and dance, as yeomen and women, or as courtiers. We are based in Kent, and have been taking part in all manner of events in England, France and Germany since 1993, and can provide entertainment for Medieval or Tudor banquets, re-enactment events, festivals, markets, ceilidhs, weddings and parties. We are also happy to teach the audience some of our simpler dances so that they may join in the fun.

Please note that we are not a living history group – our primary aim is to entertain!

We are always happy to welcome new members, men or women – no experience required.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Dec 15, 2011 | Hits: 209

“Roberto Di Cecco | cantus
Huub van der Linden | altus
Nicola Bonazzi | tenor
Marco Spongano | bassus

The Speculum ensemble works with a basic formation of four male voices with precise ranges that correspond to 15th- and 16th-century musical theory and practice. The polyphony of that period is based on a sound ideal in which the homogeneity of the whole is coupled with the perfect autonomy and recognisability of the individual voices. The ensemble is, however, regularly expanded when the music on the programme so requires. In those occasions the group is joined by Giacomo Serra, Christian Gentilini, Sergio Martella, Brent Annable, and others.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 01, 2012 | Hits: 209

“Music City Baroque (formerly Belle Meade Baroque) brings the world of Historically Informed Performance to Nashville and the Middle Tennessee region. Through the use of period instruments, and the latest musicological findings on matters such as pitch, articulation and tempo, Nashville audiences are able to experience the world of seventeenth and eighteenth century music in all its original color and passion.

The mission of this not-for-profit organization includes performances with larger instrumental ensembles, workshops and programs with guest experts in the field from around the country, and on-going collaborations with area educational institutions.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 19, 2012 | Hits: 208

“Il Giardino Armonico was founded in 1985 by Giovanni Antonini (recorder), Paolo Beschi (cello) and Lorenzo Ghielmi (harpsichord), joined after a short time by the lutist Luca Pianca and the violinist Enrico Onofri, and brings together musicians from some of Europe’s leading music institutions, all of them specialized in performing on period instruments. The ensemble’s repertory is mainly focused on the 17th and 18th centuries. Depending on the demands of each programme, the group will consist of anywhere from 3 to 35 musicians. …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 04, 2012 | Hits: 207

“ … The Ensemble l’Échelle declares itself partisan of certain Renaissance music, for the profoundly humanist ideas which it expresses. The chamber musicians who make it up seek to pool their musical talent in the search for an appropriate historic verisimilitude. …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Sep 30, 2011 | Hits: 205

“Habsburger Camerata is an eclectic period instrument ensemble bound together by a common enthusiasm for 17th Century music. Originally established to explore the musical legacy of the Habsburg Empire, we stand out in the field of historical performance by specializing in this diverse and colourful repertoire. Based on historic precedent, our particular combination of string and wind instruments is unique among contemporary period instrument groups and, as such, has been recognized as pioneering. This versatile instrumentation not only enables us to present a wide variety of programmes as a core ensemble, but also to perform larger scale works with the addition of other musicians. …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 21, 2011 | Hits: 204

“LUXURIANS is a young, international Early Music Ensemble, situated in Bremen/Germany. Its members have won several prizes and scholarships and work with ensembles like Weser Renaissance, Salzburger Hofmusik, Orlando di Lasso Ensemble, L'Arpeggiata. The cast of ensemble LUXURIANS vary according to the program from trio to baroque orchestra. However, it concentrates on 17th Century sacred music and dance music.“

Added on: Feb 03, 2012 | Hits: 203

“Accademia del Piacere was founded in 2004. His organicum varies from the trio to the small chamber orchestra. Accademia del Piacere is presented as one of the young Andalusian groups with more presence on the international scene of early music. Its members, who combine the strength of youth and the wisdom of experience, have performed at festivals and theatres worldwide. Accademia del Piacere has performed at prestigious events such as the National Auditorium of Spain, Luxembourg Grand Theater, Festival of Ravello (Italy), FEMAS (Sevilla), Festival Las Piedras Cantan, Radovlijka Festival (Slovenia), Early Music Festival of Peñíscola, Early Music Festival Aracena, Cantatas Cycle of Johann Sebastian Bach (Madrid), Festival Camino de Santiago, Early Music Festival in Malaga, Spanish Music Festival in Cadiz, Early Music Festival of Úbeda and Baeza, Cultural Almeria 2006, Teatro Villamarta ... Their concerts are usually transmitted by the most prestigious media such as Radio Clásica, of RNE”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 202

“By its historically informed interpretative style, based on specific instrumental techniques, covering the 17th and 18th centuries, the ensemble sets out to restore the music of that period through concerts, recordings, collaborations with other musicians or ensembles, participation in educational, governmental and nongovernmental programmes. …“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 05, 2012 | Hits: 202

“La Ritirata performs in prestigious festivals as Musika‐Música in the Palacio Euskalduna of Bilbao, Festival de Música Antigua 2009 of CNART in Mexico City, Fringe Early Music Festival Utrecht and Internacional Music Festival of Jaca among others. Recently awarded in the renowned Sitges music competition, La Ritirata looks forward to new projects of wider scope. In the words of a recently published press review on Diario de Menorca while their Balearic Islands Tour, “the mastery of its instrumentalists delighted the audience with exquisite sonority, great agility, example of technical control and perfection of the German baroque music” [Arcadio Gomila]

The objective of the group is to combine the accurate historical awareness with the highest levels of artistic quality, together with a surprising musicality and astonishing performances. All this under the vision of their artistic leader, Josetxu Obregón, who while visiting the stages of Miami, Tokio and Mexico DF in the next couple of months, a musician who focused on Early Music after playing in some of the best ensembles of the world like Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, has the purpose of showing the world how the interpretation, together with the knowledge of the instruments and aesthetics of a composer’s time, is without any doubt the key to the musical future of our society.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 14, 2011 | Hits: 201

“Founded in 1986, The Four Nations Ensemble brings together soloists who are leading exponents of period instrument and vocal performance to present great music from the Renaissance through the Viennese Classical masterpieces of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. For two decades, Four Nations has developed a leading presence on the early music scene in New York and across the country. With a core ensemble of harpsichord or fortepiano, violin(s), flute, and cello, the Ensemble explores and performs the major masterpieces of the 17th and 18th centuries, from trio sonata to piano trio and quartet. Four Nations has performed at major houses and series throughout the United States including The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. The Ensemble has participated in festivals including The Boston Early Music Festival, New York's Mostly Mozart, Amherst Festival, New Haven's International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival, Chautauqua, The Indiana Early Music Festival, The Redwoods Festival in Santa Rosa, California, and Brasilseguridade in Rio de Janeiro.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Tags: New York

Added on: Jan 29, 2012 | Hits: 201

Anas Chen violin
Johannes Keller harpsichord

“L'Istante - irretrievable moment in a live performance. The moment when the musical language of a bygone era speaks to us today. The music of the Baroque period has a lot to say. But if we play as a musician today for a contemporary audience, it is despite all the knowledge of the former Performance Practice can never be an exact reconstruction. For us this is not the most important. The music is as vivid contrast to a recent, perhaps even strange world can speak to us. L'Istante maintains a close cooperation with the basso continuo ensemble Il Profondo.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 21, 2011 | Hits: 199

“With so much to play, it’s hard to know where to begin.  But the truth is that we began ensembleF2 in the spring of 2009 with concerts up and down the country performing great works of Haydn and Mozart.  The focus of these performances was our two Wigmore Hall concerts in London.  Playing to delighted audiences ensembleF2 launched with large and small ensemble pieces from two giants of the music world.

We play music we love and want  to do that on the instruments which seem to suit the repertoire best.  It involves a lot of research, trying out, listening and reflecting but we think it’s worth it and makes our job so much more interesting.  Assembling and Ensembling with friends and deeply respected colleagues allows us to constantly learn from each other and we relish the journey ahead.

Our future programmes will present a groundbreaking approach to period performance using the research and knowledge gained in our individual fields and working to the highest musical standards in our power.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Sep 07, 2011 | Hits: 199

“Armonia Nova is an ensemble of instruments and voices based in the Washington D.C. area. Its members perform medieval and Renaissance music of Europe on instruments that are re-creations of historical instruments, applying scholarship and informed historical performance practice. Members of Armonia Nova strive to achieve an historically authentic performance with the desire for the listener to hear this remote yet remarkably beautiful music as it might have sounded when it was newly created.

Armonia Nova has been frequently praised for its intelligent and creative programming. The performances of this ensemble capture the emotional content of the music, bringing an intensity and immediacy to the performance while maintaining the purity and clarity of tone so essential to music of these early periods.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 02, 2012 | Hits: 199

“Indianapolis Early Music (IEM), originally known by its current corporate name of Festival Music Society of Indiana, was established in 1966 as a not-for-profit organization to enrich, educate and entertain audiences with the music of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and early classic eras. IEM concerts feature high quality performers, performing on instruments of the period. IEM was the first organization of its kind formed in Indiana and only the second in the nation at the time of its organization. It is now the oldest continuous Early Music series in the United States. The festival occurs each June and July. …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Tags:“Indianapolis Early Music Festival”

Added on: Jul 30, 2011 | Hits: 198

“Ensemble Altapunta debuted at the Palladium in Malmö 26th January and played in the St Mary's Church in Helsingborg August 2007.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 197

“The young CONCERTO ROMANO ensemble was formed as part of a project to revive the vast body of the hitherto forgotten music by the Roman composer, Francesco Foggia (1604-1688). The project was received with enthusiasm by critics and audiences alike and the ensemble decided to continue on their path and specialise in the music of their city. …

… The ensemble is made up of a fix nucleus - Paolo Perrone (baroque violin), Luca Pietropaoli (cornet), Serena Bellini (flutes) Luca Marconato and Francesco Tommasi (guitar and thorbos), Andrea Buccarella (cembalo and organ), Luca Cervoni (tenor) and Giacomo Farioli (bass) - and a variable number of singers and intrumentalists, all whom specialise in early music. It has performed regularly since 2006 and under Alessandro Quarta’s baton, has given many first contemporary performances in Italy (Rome, Florence, Palestrina) and Berne, also in numerous events sponsored by Rome’s Archeological Heritage Department and by the Rome City Council. In 2009, CONCERTO ROMANO debuted at the prestigious early music festival, Tage Alte Musik, in Herne, Germany, in 2010 in the Konzerthaus in Vienna meeting with enormous success. In 2011 Concerto Romano performed in the Vatican, at Rheingau Musik Festival and again with the German broadcasting station WDR in Kempen.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 28, 2012 | Hits: 196