EarlyMusicNews.Org

Chalice Consort collaborates with early music scholars and musicians in helping little-known works from the Renaissance and early Baroque eras become more widely appreciated by the modern music-loving public. The Consort pays special attention to the verbal texts and to the music's rhetorical force, as well as to acoustics. Its performances also take into account the various concepts of stylistic decorum that were strongly articulated by humanist writers in the Renaissance and provide an essential part of the context in which these repertoires were composed, performed, and first appreciated. Chalice Consort aims to communicate the emotional power of this music to modern listeners.

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Added on: Jan 28, 2011 | Hits: 242

"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: 581

"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: 476

“In the lute songs of the Elizabethan masters, music is at the service of poetry. This age of Shakespeare, Jonson, Spenser, and Donne saw English verse rise to heights of expressivity still unsurpassed. To sing to the lute is an art barely separate from the art of declaiming verse. It requires clarity and beauty of tone, a natural flow of language, and a delicate sense of dialogue with the lute the instrument of courtly love. Morrongiello and Young bring to life the flower of Elizabethan music in their programs of lute songs, fantasias and instrumental dances for lute, voice, and renaissance harp.”

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Added on: Mar 15, 2012 | Hits: 142

"Ciaramella brings to life Medieval and early Renaissance music from historical events and manuscripts. Praised for performing intricate fifteenth-century counterpoint "with the ease of jazz musicians improvising on a theme," its members are united by the conviction that every omposition conceals a rich story waiting to be unlocked through historical research and speculative performance.

Founded on a core of winds: shawm, sackbut, recorder, organ, and voice, Ciaramella takes its name from the Italian shawm and from a fifteenth-century song about abeautiful girl whose clothes are full of holes. When she opens her mouth, she knocks men flat. Ciaramella's members met as graduate students at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. They first performed together on Christmas Day 2003, in Spoleto, Italy. There they collaborated with musicologist Gioia Filocamo to perform music from the manuscript Panciatichi 27, much of which had not been heard for centuries. In 2004, the group performed in a staged production of the first Hebrew play, A Comedy of Betrothal by Leone de'Sommi (c.1550) at the Cleveland Museum of Art. "

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Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 320

"Clerestory is named for the architectural element of certain churches whereby daylight enters the sanctuary through a row of windows at the top of the nave. This name represents the illumination that serious music brings into our lives. We tell the "clear story" of the music we sing, through sophisticated, historically-informed performances, as well as through original, scholarly notes on the program. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 02, 2008 | Hits: 342

"Con Gioia, based in Claremont, California, presents some of the best performers concertizing on period instruments. Following its debut in 1982, the ensemble continues to enchant its audiences with outstanding concerts of well-known masterpieces and rarely performed works of the baroque and classical repertoire.

The ensemble has featured such internationally acclaimed musicians such as violinists Eduard Melkus, Monica Huggett, Chiara Banchini, Daniel Stepner, and Elizabeth Blumenstock; harpsichordist and fortepianist Preethi de Silva; flutists John Solum and Stephen Schultz; viola da gambists, Wieland Kuijken, Laura Jeppesen, and Mark Chatfield; recorder player Matthias Maute; oboist Gonzalo X. Ruiz; sopranos Julianne Baird and Sharon Baker; glass harmonicist Dennis James; and harpsichordists Jennifer Paul and Robert Zappulla, among many others. In recent seasons, Con Gioia has performed concerts at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Caltech in Pasadena, and the San Diego Museum of Art. During the seasons 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, Con Gioia presented a concert series in Claremont and Los Angeles devoted to the very rare performance of all of Bach's concertos for one or more harpsichords, together with strings and winds. These extraordinary concerts were supported by Friends of Con Gioia; and generous grants from Claremont McKenna College, Scripps College, the Claremont Community Foundation, as well as a benefactress. Con Gioia's recording of several of these concertos was released in 2004 by Centaur Records and has received high critical acclaim in the USA and Europe. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 26, 2008 | Hits: 346

“Taking its name from the Italian concitare ("to incite or provoke"), Concitato electrifies listeners with insightful interpretations of rarely performed repertoire, while redefining the way audiences hear the more well-known works of the Baroque canon. Concitato tastefully combines the latest discoveries in musicological research with cutting-edge training. Founded in 2008 by violinist Joan Plana, this trio of dynamic young players—violinist Joan Plana, cellist Ezra Seltzer, and harpsichordist Jeffrey Grossman—performs a vast repertoire of diverse instrumental music from the baroque era. Concitato’s flexibility allows for the inclusion of additional musical collaborators for larger ensemble or vocal works. After a stunning Chicago début in November 2008, Concitato has performed concerts in Montreal, Cleveland, and New York. In 2009, Concitato was named a finalist of the York International Early Music Competition.“

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Added on: Mar 29, 2012 | Hits: 114

“Consort Anon. (named after the most prolific composer of the Middle Ages) has been performing at concerts, weddings, festivals, church services and other events since Kevin, Eric and Mary Anne formed the group (with Chuck Norris - not THE Chuck Norris) in 1979. Our performing specialty is music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance but we also make very pleasant excursions into the Baroque, Colonial American, Jazz and 20th Century musical forms. …”

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Added on: Nov 12, 2012 | Hits: 83

"De Organographia performs the music of Ancient Greece on a myriad of faithful reproductions of period instruments. Their concerts are informative and entertaining presentations using period text and song to bring to life the musical art of the distant past. The ancient Greek repertoire of De Organographia is brought alive in an improvisatory style based on precepts preserved in the writings of antiquity.

De Organographia performs on a collection of instruments of their own making: aulos (double reed pipe), lyra (Lyre), kithara (the ornate lyre of the professional musician), syrinx (panpipes), syrinx monokalamos (vertical flute), trichordon (small 3 stringed lute), psythirã (rattle), tympanon (drum), kymbala (cymbals), and salpinx (trumpet). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 04, 2009 | Hits: 432

"Dulces Voces (Sweet Voices) is a vocal ensemble which specializes in performing secular and sacred music composed before 1750. The group has an eclectic repertoire which spans periods from chant and Burgundian motets to Monteverdi and Purcell.

Dulces Voces is comprised of a group of five singers based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The ensemble performs mostly a cappella music and has no conductor or advisor, therefore it draws on its members for repertoire and performance practice. The members of Dulces Voces come from varying backgrounds and professions, but all members have a profound love for the music performed. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 384

“Cellist Fred Edelen and harpsichordist and fortepianist Christina Edelen have performed together throughout the United States and Northern Europe since 1983.  Both received Performer's Certificates from the Indiana University School of Music for outstanding performance.  Their extensive repertoire includes lesser-known music of the French Baroque, more familiar repertoire of Bach, Geminiani, and the Italian masters, to early Classical.

They have appeared at the early music festivals of Boston, Berkeley, Bloomington, Columbus, and San Antonio. As Artistic Co-Directors and founders of Early Music Southwest in Houston, Duo Edelen have performed regularly with internationally acclaimed Baroque specialists including Baroque violinists Stanley Ritchie and Amy Kauffman, flutist Colin St. Martin, and tenor Tony Boutté.

In conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston they have created a highly successful Baroque concert series in the museum's Rienzi collection.  Duo Edelen are founding members of Trio La Poplinière, and are sought after as recitalists, continuo players, and  teachers.  They currently reside in Amsterdam.“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 351

“In the summer of 2005, a few singers in the Madison Early Music Festival decided that it was a fine idea to get together and delight themselves with singing madrigals. The group's first piece—William Byrd’s “This sweet and merry month of May”, whose ending celebrated Queen Elizabeth I with the words

And greet Eliza with a rhyme:
O beauteous Queen of Second Troy,
Take well in worth a simple toy.

provided a great name for the group. Eliza’s Toyes was born, and existed every summer in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 2008, a fair number of singers who were in Eliza's Toyes are living in Madison once again. Thus we gather, outside of the Festival, for the joy of music making. It is our pleasure to continue sharing this wonderful body of music with you for the second year!”

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Added on: Mar 23, 2012 | Hits: 115

“Based in Washington, DC, Ensemble Gaudior is dedicated to performing masterpieces of chamber music from the Baroque and Classical eras, using instruments from those periods or careful modern copies. By presenting this repertoire to modern concert audiences, we hope to contribute to the process of moving our world toward greater harmony. (The name Gaudior is borrowed from the musical unicorn in Madeleine L’Engle’s book A Swiftly Tilting Planet, who time-travels through the universe joyfully harmonizing with the music of the stars and planets.)”

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Added on: Mar 02, 2012 | Hits: 197

“Ensemble Impromptu rotates its musical artists, providing a unique experience for each event. Michelle D. Cosgrove is the founder of Ensemble Impromptu. Her experience with creating a variety of different chamber ensembles led her to developing a home base for each project- Ensemble Impromptu. Each concert features rotating guest artists, fashioning a new texture of instrumentation for each ensemble. This provides an opportunity for audiences to hear chamber music that is not regularly found in the mainstream classical venues.“

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Added on: Apr 14, 2010 | Hits: 280

"Ensemble Leonarda was formed at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where its founding members were participating in the early music program. Named after the composer Isabella Leonarda (1620–1704), this group of gifted individuals have come together to form an ensemble dedicated to performing works of the Baroque masters with vim, vigor, and enthusiasm. Past performances have included recitals at the Church of the Epiphany as part of the “Washington Musicians for Nuclear Disarmament” series; Squires Recital Salon at Virginia Tech; St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Chapel–Columbia University, the Donnell Library Center, Music in Chelsea, and Church of the Transfiguration concert series. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 377

"Founder and artistic director, Lisette Kielson, presents L’Ensemble Portique as a rare ensemble in today’s chamber music genre. Its conception emerged from Lisette’s passion for playing Baroque and contemporary music on the recorder and flute. Its name was inspired by the sculpture “Portique” designed and crafted by her grandmother, internationally renowned artist Madeleine Stanley-Jossem. Two forms of steel interlaced with silver stand boldly apart, creating an opening, a gateway, yet both are connected to the solid base that supports and unites them. “Portique” is the visual representation of L’Ensemble Portique’s mission to explore the independence and interdependence of the distinct and separate musical worlds of early and contemporary music. Lisette’s vision of integrating the two provides the guiding force behind this unique ensemble. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 440

"Since 1995 Ensemble Soleil has given concerts and presented multi-media theatrical events in the United States and Europe. In 2001 Ensemble Soleil became a juried ensemble of the Vermont Arts Council.

Known for innovative programming and lively performances, we play period instruments and authentic modern copies. We were recognized by the I.R.S as a non profit organization in 1999.

Our programs feature the beautiful viol consort music of the Renaissance from Spain, Italy, England and the Low Countries, and the multi-faceted Baroque chamber music of Italy, Austria, Germany and France. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 24, 2008 | Hits: 284

"Ensemble Vermillian was founded to explore the potential for color and texture possible in transcribing the virtuosic repertoire of the seventeenth and eighteenth century for recorder, cello and continuo. Based in Davidson, North Carolina, and Berkeley, California the members of EV, sisters Frances Blaker (recorders) and Barbara Blaker Krumdieck (Baroque cello) joined by Katherine Heater (harpsichordist and organist) have traveled to meet, research, rehearse and perform together since 2000. The ensemble is expanded to include other musicians depending on the project at hand. Viola da gambist Elisabeth Reed joined Ensemble Vermillian for the two-CD Stolen Jewels project. Having studied at conservatories in Denmark, the Netherlands, Ohio and Indiana, the performers blend their approach to the music to create a sound which inspired one audience member to write, “A beautiful performance. The chemistry between you is special.”

EV explores less-familiar repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries and makes it their own through transcription for their particular instruments. The very special group chemistry that these players create together makes for compelling performances, both for the audience and the performers. The combination of music research and vibrant performance are what make Ensemble Vermillian stand out from the crowd. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 654

"Pursuant to its mission to reclaim early music for contemporary audiences, Ensemble Voltaire presents engaging concerts of Baroque chamber music. Gifted musicians, skilled in playing period instruments, bring their rich understanding of the repertoire and culture of the period to bear on each time-bridging performance. At ease with today's audiences, Ensemble Voltaire brings the Baroque period to life with story and even humor, subtly surrounding the listener with the cultural context from which the music emerges."

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Added on: Apr 15, 2007 | Hits: 329

"Performers of Medieval & Renaissance Music ... The Everyman Guild was founded in 1977 and is an ensemble of friends (none an original member) who sing and play a wide variety of early instruments.

Performing in renaissance costume, we recreate early dances, and use poetry and drama to build informative, theatrical and engaging programs. The simple elegance of this music, with its complementary melodic lines, clean, spare harmonies, poetic texts and engaging rhythms make it relevant and accessible today. An Everyman Guild concert is music sung and played by a small group of musicians who work together closely on interpretation, and who know each other well. This offers the musicians and the audience a personal and direct musical experience. Renaissance music is an authentic living history of people of the past, and perhaps the most intimate way we can connect with them. We hear in their music the same elemental feelings, emotions, and rhythms that we experience in our own lives. Come with us into the Renaissance, and be moved to a deeper understanding of our world today. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 383

“Eya is a new ensemble based in Washington, DC specializing in the interpretation of medieval music for women’s voices. Directed by Allison Mondel, Eya presents concert programs that interweave diverse repertories of the 12th through 15th centuries, from Hildegard von Bingen to Notre Dame to the flyleaves of early English manuscripts and beyond. Through this lens, these programs seek to tell a story that forges new points of connection between contemporary audiences and ancient repertoire.

Eya (prounounced “eh-yah”) is a Latin exclamation of joy.“

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Added on: Feb 19, 2012 | Hits: 206

“Florida Pro Musica was founded in 1998 by George F. Gramling, III and Larry Kent. We presented our Inaugural Concert at the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida in May of 1999.

Our concerts over the first ten years have included some wonderful highlights, from large-scale works like Mozart's Requiem and Handel's Messiah to intimate offerings such as the complete Masses by William Byrd, baroque trio sonatas, madrigals in costume, and a whole spectrum of choral and instrumental programs. We have performed in Largo, Clearwater, Sun City Center, and Ocala, as well as in St. Petersburg and Tampa. Our main performance home since 2002 is Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa.  “

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Added on: Jun 10, 2009 | Hits: 338

"Flying Forms – To be a presence that transforms communities and inspires expression through excellence in performance, innovative education and creative collaboration.

Flying Forms consists of members Sang Joon Park (traverso), Marc Levine (baroque violin), and Tami Morse (harpsichord). Already experienced modern instrument musicians with Doctor of Musical Arts degrees we formed Flying Forms out of our passion for performing early chamber music. In order to broaden our repertoire choices, and to experiment within the chamber music concert genre, Flying Forms collaborates regularly with other musicians and artists, including gambist Martha McGoughey and baroque dancers Dorothy Olsson and Mark Mindek.

Flying Forms performs regularly on the St. Mark’s Concert Series in Islip, and has upcoming concerts throughout the New York metropolitan area and in Boston. They regularly give lecture demonstrations at Stony Brook University, in the Islip Public School System, and Long Island museums and libraries.

In addition, Flying Forms has many on-going projects including performing the modern premieres of Carlos Canobio’s duos for violin and flute, recording and performing the complete Telemann “Paris” Quartets, recording a companion CD to a book written by baroque dance specialists Dorothy Olsson and Kaspar Mainz, and collaborating with singers and dancers in a fully-staged chamber opera performance. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 667

“Folger Consort is recognized nationwide as a model chamber music ensemble, performing music from the twelfth through eighteenth centuries. Artistic Directors and Founding Members Robert Eisenstein and Christopher Kendall form the core of the ensemble and are joined by internationally noted guest artists, both singers and instrumentalists. Folger Consort was voted Best Classical Chamber Ensemble at the 2009 and 2010 Washington Area Music Awards. …”

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Added on: Sep 29, 2011 | Hits: 139