EarlyMusicNews.org

"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: 433

“Stimmwerck was founded in Munich, in 2001. It is a group of sought-after professionals in ensemble vocal music; the two tenors, Gerhard Hölzle and Klaus Wenk, the bass Marcus Schmidl, and the counter-tenor Franz Vitzthum, who gives the quartet its unmistakable sound.

Stimmwerck devotes itself in particular to composers of the Renaissance and their nearly inexhaustible wealth of vocal music. Research in archives of music collections and frequent exchanges with musicologists serve as the foundations of their work, and are followed up with regular recordings at studios such as Aeolus, Cavalli Record and Christophorus, among others.“

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 425

“Has in recent years become one of the most popular ensembles in the music of the 16th and 17 Century and is now a regular guest of the most important European Festivals of Early Music. ..“

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Added on: May 09, 2009 | Hits: 630

"The Freiburger BarockConsort is an "extra edition" of the Freiburger Barockorchester and specialises in chamber music of the 17th and 18th centuries, with which it has gained its own parallel success.

The preference of the BarockConsort is for the viola da gamba, a strong continuo line and a delight in experimentation that repeatedly gives rise to unusual combinations, be that with musicians on stage or with New Music colleagues.

Their basic repertoire includes Bohemian-Habsburg music, virtuoso works by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer or Antonio Bertali. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 401

"The Freiburger Spielleyt is one the pre-eminent ensembles for early music. Many concerts in the field of sacred as well as secular music, broadcast, TV and CD-recordings made the ensemble famous. The group is known for their joy of music in connection with a conscious interpretation of historical sources, and: “… they have an excellent soprano amongst them. Regina Kabis has a wonderful and clear timbre which sounds as if it were just made for early music. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 509

“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. …”

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Added on: Jul 21, 2011 | Hits: 336

“La Ninfea (Italian for water lily) is dedicated to the chamber music repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries. In addition to their standard repertoire, the members of La Ninfea specialize mainly in unknown pieces of music worthy of re-discovery. The members of the ensemble have repeatedly won competitions and other awards, and have performed in various projects in different constellations. Audiences and critics appreciate their virtuous and particularly expressive performances. When the 2009 German Music Competition was announced, they decided to form a permanent ensemble, which reached the final round of the competition. The core membership of the ensemble, Christian Heim (viola da gamba), Simon Linné (Lute), and Barbara Heindlmeier (recorder), are often joined by other instrumentalists and singers according to the needs of their repertoire.”

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Added on: Feb 03, 2012 | Hits: 346

“The early music ensemble was founded in 1999 as a group of five musicians with Zehm-Elisabeth Thoma as director. The ensemble’s main focus is the interpretation of music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance music. Singing and historical instruments such as lyre, viol, Renaissance flute, trumpets, harp and percussion are performed in concerts. …” 

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Added on: Mar 13, 2012 | Hits: 315

“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: 369

Musica Fiata was founded in 1976 as an ensemble specializing in the performance of 16th and 17th century music o­n historical instruments.

An intensive study of performance-practice sources, playing techniques and original instruments of the period has enabled the group to develop a speech-based musical style and a distinctive sound which lends a transparency to the most dense textures.

Musica Fiata's exciting, virtuosic performances have resulted in invitations to leading festivals such as Ravenna, Innsbruck, Flanders, Utrecht, Brügge, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Venice, Herne, Berlin, York, Ansbach, Graz, Breslau, Malmo and Israel as well as radio and television recordings throughout Europe. Musica Fiata has recorded 30 CD's to date for Sony Classical, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi and CPO. "

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Added on: Mar 13, 2008 | Hits: 727

"Formed in 2002, Pantagruel have been delighting audiences across Europe with their semi-staged performances of renaissance music. Hannah Morrison's pure and sweet voyce combined with citterns, gitterns, lutes and flutes played by Dominik Schneider & Mark Wheeler bring to life the passionate music of a distant age.

Pantagruel, the hero of Francois Rabelais’s 1532 Novel, with his motto „do what thou wilt“ is the fitting name for an ensemble that is not afraid to explore innovative ideas of performance and presentation. Combining painstaking musicological research with their experience in classical music, rock music, jazz, theatre and dance, their performances expand classical concert conventions by using renaissance practices of medley, improvisation and gesture " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 14, 2008 | Hits: 521

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 17, 2009 | Hits: 447

"Through their work together and with impulses from Evelyn Tubb, Anthony Rooley, Andreas Scholl, Andrea Marcon and Christina Pluhar they have successfully created a baroque ensemble which critics have described as “moving and enchanting”. Its quality was recognized by the jury of the ‘Early Music Network International Young Artists’ Competition” in York, England, who awarded the young ensemble first prize in 2003.

In the following year savādi… achieved further successes in the Van Wassenaer Concours 2004, obtaining first prizes from both the jury and the audience. "

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Added on: May 04, 2008 | Hits: 612

“Marianne R. Pfau created Toutes Suites in 2006 to restore magnificent but little known or entirely forgotten music of the Baroque. Toutes Suites, on period instruments and prominently featuring the hautbois, works in California and in Germany.

Scrutinizing Baroque hautbois music in the great European archives that in many cases has not been heard since the 18th century, has revealed some astonishingly beautiful works by largely unknown composers.  Ms. Pfau, musicologist-cum-hoboista, takes great pleasure in bringing these gems to light again and exposing modern audiences to their sonic beauty, in CD recordings, on radio, and in live concerts.  She also publishes modern editions of the works recorded. “

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Added on: Jun 16, 2010 | Hits: 516

"The United continuo ensemble consists of a basic cast, consisting of the lute, Chitarrone, Baroque guitar, viola da gamba, violone, Lirone, harpsichord and organ. Depending on the program, the ensemble will be extended by singers and other instruments as well as dancers and actors. ... " (Google translation) Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 03, 2008 | Hits: 528

“VocaMe - a top-flight ensemble of renowned singers from the Early Music scene

"... (Michael) Popp formed VocaMe, a top-flight ensemble of renowned singers from the Early Music scene. Popp took on the role of musical director for the ensemble and also made use of hs expertise in various medieval instruments, providing occasional instrumental accompaniment."

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Added on: Feb 04, 2012 | Hits: 319

“ALBA was formed in connection with the first Copenhagen Early Music Festival in 1992 and the Spanish exhibition at the art museum Louisiana the same year.

Agnethe Christensen,  contralto, comes originally from Sweden and has her musical roots in both classical and folk music. After studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and with Andrea von Ramm in Basel, she has participated in operas, solo recordings for different radio stations, CD productions and concerts in early music and has worked together with a.o William Christie, Reinhard Goebel, Konrad Junghänel and Frieder Bernius  as well as giving masterclasses and solo recitals. She also appears at opera stages worldwide performing mainly modern and baroque opera  latest with the danish theatre company Hotel Proforma in their music production  Operation Orfeo  and in 2001, together with Benjamin Bagby, in Sequentias new music-theater production"Myths of the Icelandic Edda".

Poul Høxbro has achieved international recognition for his work in recreating a medieval playing style on the pipe and tabor. A nine months journey in South America, where he played folk music from Peru and Bolivia, was to become crucial for his decision of a musical career. He has classical diploma and soloist examen - in recorder - from The Carl Nielsen Academy of Music, but since 1994 he has devoted all his time to investigate the simultaneous playing on three hole pipes and percussion. Using his motley musical background, and in close collaboration with specialized instrument makers, this pioneering effort has lead to performances around the world and brought him a number of Danish musical awards. He works regular in different constellations with artists from Sweden, Germany and Australia, plays in Medieval Ensemble ALBA together with Agnethe Christensen and with Miriam Andersén in the duo Esk where they specialize in early and traditional Nordic music. In addition to his music he performs storytelling in Danish, English and German, gives lectures and dance courses.“

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Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 321

“Baroque Fever was formed by leading members of the new generation of early music specialists in 2000. The members represent four nationalities, now all based in Copenhagen.

Following an initial round of concerts in Denmark and Sweden, to universal critical acclaim in the national press, they have made numerous appearances (many with radio relay on Danmarks Radio and the EBU network) throughout Northern Europe.

The core formation is 2 violins and continuo, enabling Baroque Fever to focus on the extrovert, extravagant Italian music from around 1700, as well as its influences throughout the rest of Europe.

In addition to concerts at festivals such as the Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht, York Festival in UK, Copenhagen Renaissance Music Festival, Båstad Festival and Vantaa Baroque, they collaborate with larger ensembles, such as Norwegian Baroque Orchestra, Arte dei Suonatori (Poland), I Fagiolini (uk) as well as other musicians.

They teach and give masterclasses, both individually and as an ensemble, at leading Nordic conservatories and summer schools.”

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Added on: Sep 26, 2011 | Hits: 359

Early Music Ensemble.

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Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 354

“For the past decade, Duo al Dente has been communicating to audiences the atmosphere, elegance and vitality of early music. The duo has made its mark through innumerable concerts throughout Denmark as well as in Germany, Britain and Sweden. With its historical instruments and present-day enthusiasm, Duo al Dente succeeds in creating a mood of intimacy in concert venues of all sorts and sizes, and the duo's performances have on a number of occasions been broadcast on radio and television.

In addition to their activities in Duo al Dente, Kirsten Lund Jensen and Per Weile Bak are members of the Renaissance trio Stella Nova and the Baroque ensemble Løvendahls Galej.
          
Duo al Dente has won several prizes, including the audience's award at the chamber music competition 8. Alte Musik-Treff in Berlin, 2003. The duo also won the audience's award in 2000 at the international Biagio Marini Competition for early music at Neuburg an der Donau, Germany.

Duo al Dente's first CD, A Taste for Baroque (DACOCD 484) came out in 1997, followed in 2000 by The Food of Love (DACOCD 547). Both CD's have been released by the recording company Danacord.”

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Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 297

“Lene Langballe studied recorder at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen with Vicki Boeckman and graduated from The Civica Scoula in Milan (Italy) with Pedro Memelsdorff. She discovered the cornett and continued her studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, studying recorder with Conrad Steinmann and cornetto with Bruce Dickey.

Lene has performed with numerous ensembles such as Concerto Copenhagen, Alta Punta, Musica Fiorita, ArsNova among others, and appears on several recordings. In 2003 she founded  ensemble Authentia, her own platform for music from the renaissance and baroque.

Lene teaches recorder and performance practice at the Academy of Music in Copenhagen.

Roberto Falcone studied violin at the Conservatory in Lugano (Switzerland) with Carlo Chiarappa and specialized in baroque violin at the Civica Scoula in Milan with Enrico Gatti.

Roberto has collaborated with several ensembles of early music such as Sonatori della Giosa Marca, Academia, La Fenice, and others, and appears on many recordings with well known labels like Erato, Sony, EMI.

In 2003 he created ensemble Authentia, his own platform for early music and has performed many concerts.

Roberto teaches violin at the music school in Nykøbing Falster, Denmark and has taught several masterclasses.”

Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 431

“Zimmermann Ensemble was formed in 2001 and has since had a decisive influence on the Danish early-music environment. Based in Aarhus, the ensemble has spread its activities across the country and has also played in Sweden. Radio Denmark has regularly recorded the ensemble's concerts.

Ensemble Zimmermann has worked with guest conductors such as Jaap ter Linden, Lucy Russell and Peter Seymour. Moreover, the ensemble often invited by choir leaders who want to work seriously with the early music. …”

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Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 292

"The Krauka group takes you on a musical journey back in time to an era when the Norse culture blossomed over the North Atlantic region, the time when the Vikings were setting out on perilous sea voyages from Scandinavia across the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland to Vinland (New Foundland).

Krauka was formed in 1999 around the idea of combining storytelling and music from the Viking Age. First they did research on what kind of instruments existed in the north of Europe during the Viking Age. From this information they built their own instruments, but using modern strings that made the music more powerful.

From the beginning Krauka was a band inspired by the Viking-age instruments and sagas, playing acoustically for about 100 persons. Later they have taken part in big festivals, for instance: in 2000 at a festival in Greenland, celebrating the 1000th year of Leif the Lucky's finding Vinland; and in 2001 at a Viking festival on the Faroe Islands. The same year they had their first school concert tour in Denmark and played in different Viking festivals in DK. In 2002 they played at a festival at Fjorukrain, outside Reykjavik in Iceland and at different locations in Iceland. This year they have also made two school-concert tours.

The musicians in Krauka are: Gudjon Rudolf: vocals, jew's harp and percussion; Jens Villy Pedersen: flutes, lyre, rebec and vocals; Aksel Striim: bowed lyre, shawm, flute and vocals. "

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Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 489

“Poul Høxbro is a true pioneer in the field of music. He has been called ”the great man of small instruments” and it is true that he is quite unique in the way he has taken the medieval instrument of pipe and tabor – played simultaneously by one person – out of the shadows and into the full glare of concert platforms all over  the world.

He has performed in intimate chamber music settings, as a soloist in a contemporary Danish opera at the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen, on traditional music stages, at medieval markets, and as a theatre musician. Poul Høxbro has amazed and delighted audiences with his virtuosity and lively musicality, crossing the borders of what might be expected from his ”small” instruments – instruments which, apart from pipe and tabor, include all types of historical percussion and traditional flutes. …”

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Added on: Mar 24, 2012 | Hits: 273

“Ulv is a new ensemble performing Swedish medieval ballads, folk hymns, and instrumental music from old sources.(Agnethe Christensen, voice, Baltic cittern - Lena Susanne Norin voice -  Elizabeth Gaver, medieval fiddle)

The hymns were collected in Sweden, Estonia and the Ukraine. Many of the ballads were preserved without melodies and Ulv has shaped new ones from medieval motives and other existing folk tunes.  

The Swedish medieval ballads have roots in both Icelandic mythology and the European ballad tradition. Many ballad texts have been documented without melodies and Ulv has shaped new melodies from medieval motives and other existing Swedish folk tunes that fit the surviving texts.

The Swedish folk hymns were sung both in church and at home. Some organists held the final tone of the hymn phrases so the singers could finish their own ornamented versions. At home, the hymns could be sung and ornamented without additional harmonies.”

Added on: Mar 24, 2012 | Hits: 282