EarlyMusicNews.Org

“MaryAnn Shore ~ Recorder & Baroque Oboe & Susan Patrick ~ Harpsichord”

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Added on: Mar 01, 2012 | Hits: 192

"Fortune’s Wheel made its debut at the 1996 International Festival of Early Music in Mexico City, where critics acclaimed the group’s “style, diction, tuning, perfect balance, and total engagement with the music.” Since then, the ensemble has been presented by early music concert series in San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Tijuana, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Houston, Jackson, Tucson, Columbus, Cambridge, and Duke University. They have also appeared at the Boston Early Music Festival, the Berkeley Early Music Festival, the Amherst Early Music Festival, The Cloisters and the Frick Collection in New York City, Yale University’s Collection of Musical Instruments, and many other series." See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 420

"THE GOLIARDS present authentic medieval music in a lively and entertaining style. We perform on reproductions of actual medieval instruments and sing in the various dialects and languages of the period. We wear costumes based on the clothing of period musicians, completing the feeling of long ago.

The music is a wide variety of medieval tunes, chiefly from the 13th and 14th centuries. Selections can range from bouncy dances and drinking songs to hauntingly beautiful devotional and art melodies. In the style of medieval musicians, large sections of music are improvised, adding an unforgettable excitement to the songs. The Goliards can play, lead and teach dances to allow the audience to completely experience the music as it was originally presented. We have in the past worked with other performers in poetic and dramatic recitations. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 435

“Welcome to the official Gravitación website. The quartet with guest performers are proud to present virtuosic programs of early music. Our focus is under-performed repertoire of the medieval, renaissance and baroque periods.“

Matthew Leese, baritone
Jay Carter, counter-tenor
Daniel Carberg, tenor
Sherezade Panthaki, soprano

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Added on: Jun 08, 2011 | Hits: 322

"With their historical instruments, the Grenser Trio and friends explore late-classical and early-romantic chamber music as it sounded to its first audiences. Present-day audiences hear the Trio at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and SUNY Stony Brook as well as in New York City's Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Interchurch Center. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 470

"Harmonia Baroque Players was established to perform the rich and plentiful small ensemble repertoire of the Renaissance and Baroque period, playing not only the popular works, but also the lesser-known masterpieces of this era. We are also deeply committed to providing affordable, high quality performances, thus making the enjoyment of live music concerts available to a wide audience which might not be able to afford higher priced events. Ticket prices are kept very low, but anyone who cannot afford even that will be admitted for free. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 301

“Harmonious Blacksmith combines the best of creative conceptual programming with the fire of virtuoso performing and improvising. Uniquely focused on the connection between composition and improvisation in Renaissance and Baroque music, Harmonious Blacksmith looks back to the age-old practices of improvising dance music and ornamenting songs. …

Harmonious Blacksmith was founded in 2006 by harpsichordist Joseph Gascho and recorder player Justin Godoy. They met while studying at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, performing together in the Peabody Renaissance Ensemble under the direction of Mark Cudek. They also performed together at the Amherst Early Music Festival, the International Baroque Institute at Longy, and in numerous recitals in the Baltimore/DC area.  …”

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Added on: Mar 02, 2012 | Hits: 170

“Innovative, historically-informed and multi-cultural, HESPERUS’ collaborative artists perform a variety of programs designed to bring musical history alive including silent movie soundtracks of early and traditional music, musical portraits of a single culture through time, fusions of European early music with American traditional styles, and single-genre early music programs from medieval to Spanish and British Colonial music. Whatever the genre, HESPERUS performs with creative energy, technical assurance and a sense of fun.“

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Added on: Nov 12, 2012 | Hits: 242

“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. …”

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Tags:“Indianapolis Early Music Festival”

Added on: Jul 30, 2011 | Hits: 199

"Istanpitta is a United States based ensemble performing music of the 10th to 14th century Middle Ages including many traditional Middle Eastern dance tunes. The ensemble consists of 3-5 musicians playing a variety of period instruments including oud, lute, saz, early percussion, shawms, recorders, transverse flutes, krummhorns, vielles, Medieval harp, bagpipes and voice. The ensemble performs live at formal concert venues, universities, and festivals. " See website for more details. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 397

"THE IVORY CONSORT, founded and directed by Jay Elfenbein, is an ensemble that specializes in medieval music performed in an exciting and historically informed manner. For over ten years, they have brought ancient music to life on stage and over the radio with stunning clarity and bold improvisation. The Consort presents a fascinating mosaic of songs from the Golden Age of Spain, when Jews, Muslims, and Christians forged a common musical language. The live program and CD Music in the Land of Three Faiths feature 10th through 13th century songs in Ladino, Hebrew, Arabic, and Galician-Portuguese and provide a historical context for the intermingling of cultures that took place before the 1492 Expulsion. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 376

"Carol Lisek, Director After receiving a Ph.D. in chemistry and working as a research scientist for several years, Carol Lisek decided to pursue what was a hobby – music – as a full time endeavor. She earned her M.F.A. in Vocal Performance from the California Institute of the Arts and her D.M.A. in Early Music Performance from USC. Dr. Lisek performs as a contralto soloist and as a chorus member in many area choruses, including Vox Femina Los Angeles. She is an adjunct music faculty member at El Camino College and the Claremont Graduate University.

Continuing a Legacy of Early Music. Since the 1960s, Jouyssance and its parent organization, the Foundation of the Neo-Renaissance, have been dedicated to performing both familiar and obscure repertoire of the 14th through mid 17th centuries. Although primarily a vocal ensemble, Jouyssance often features performances and accompaniments by period instruments. " ...

Added on: Aug 22, 2007 | Hits: 325

"La Donna Musicale was formed in 1992 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research and the historical performance of Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Contemporary music by women composers. The group presented three concerts in its inaugural year, using scores discovered through the research of its director, Laury Gutiérrez. Sponsored by Indiana University, the performances took place in Bloomington, Indiana during Women's History Month. An enthusiastic reception to those events prompted additional research and performances. Professional musicians and music producers in Bloomington and Boston encouraged the participation of the ensemble as a concurrent event during the 1993 Boston Early Music Festival. Its success attracted more performers to the group and led to the establishment of a Boston-based ensemble.

The ensemble is presently guided by a group of prominent individuals who, through the dedicated work as Boards of Directors and Advisors, represent both the artistic and business community. Since its inception, the researchers and performers of La Donna Musicale have studied more than 17 women composers, performed 100 pieces in 18 concerts, and gathered over 1,000 works. The ensemble has premiered the works of Milanese nun Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Venetian courtesan Barbara Strozzi and the mysterious Antonia Bembo. Other composers include Julie Pinel, Bianca Maria Meda, Caterina Assandra, Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, and Madalena Casulana. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

La Donna Musicale is a non-profit research, education, and performance organization devoted exclusively to the discovery, preservation, and promotion of sacred and secular music by women composers.  The internationally acclaimed ensemble uses period instruments and historically-informed performance practice to showcase the work of women composers from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, as well as contemporary works. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, La Donna Musicale performs throughout the U.S. and internationally.

La Donna Musicale brings together world-renowned musicians and scholars to unearth, perform, and record music that, in many instances, has never been performed or recorded previously. Concerts have featured modern world premieres of works by Antonia Bembo, Anna Bon, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Julie Pinel, and Caterina Assandra, among others. Under the leadership of founding director Laury Gutiérrez, the ensemble translates the concept of historical performance into live and recorded music. Collaborating scholars, experts in their field, include Claire Fontijn, Robert Kendrick, Thierry Favier, Catherine E. Gordon-Seifert, David Lasocki, and Rebecca Messbarger.

Since its inception, La Donna Musicale has educated listeners through outreach programs, workshops, pre-concert lectures, extensive and informative CD liner and program notes, radio programs, and via its website which features online audio files. The Ensemble has also participated in music education series such as Harvard University’s Meet the Performer, and has been lauded by Early Music America as an ensemble that performs “…outstanding music stylishly performed…”  Each of La Donna Musicale’s four ground-breaking CDs of music by Antonia Bembo and Julie Pinel and Anna Bon has received national and international accolades."

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Added on: Mar 08, 2008 | Hits: 362

“La Follia has appeared throughout Texas, and its members have recorded and performed throughout the world as soloists and with other ensembles. La Follia helped establish the annual Early Music Festival at the Festival-Institute at Round Top, Texas. The ensemble has performed throughout Texas and has appeared frequently on John Aielli's Eklektikos radio program on KUT, and Classical Austin on KMFA.

La Follia's name comes from folia (meaning folly), the name of a 16th-century Spanish dance. The music for this dance was based on a characteristic harmonic pattern, which became associated with a particular melody in the 17th century. This dance has fascinated composers down to our own time. Variations on La Follia have been written by Alessandro Scarlatti, Marin Marais, Arcangelo Corelli, J.S. and C.P.E. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Luigi Cherubini, Franz Liszt, Carl Nielsen, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. ..”

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 324

"The mythic figure of Orpheus – who moved men, beasts, woods, and rocks with the music of his lyre – is considered the patron saint of all musicians. When Claudio Monteverdi wrote his opera “L’Orfeo: in 1607, he introduced a completely new style of music which influenced generations of composers after him. La Gente D’Orfeo (The People of Orpheus) was formed in 2001 to play the chamber music repertoire of 17th century Italy, the time when Monteverdi’s new style began to flourish in the works of other composers as well.

La Gente has performed at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Art in connection with its exhibit “Women Who Ruled: Queens, Goddesses, Amazons 1500-1650,” and at the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Fine Arts Friday Series, and has recently collaborated with the vocal ensemble, Vox, at the DIA for the opening of the exhibit “Magnificenza! The Medici, Michelangelo, and the Art of Late Renaissance Florence,” as well as on the Academy of Early Music’s 2002-2003 concert series in Ann Arbor. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 300

"In 1602, Giulio Caccini, the noted Italian composer and singer, wrote that the main aim of the composer and performer is to “stir the passions of the soul (muovere l’affetto dell’anima)”. Sparked by that thought, harpsichordist Lionel Party founded La Mela di Newton, a dynamic trio featuring Mr. Party and the dazzling artists Jonathan Keren (violin) and Ira Givol (cello).

La Mela di Newton performs the great Baroque repertoire in a style uniquely its own, bringing forth aspects of manuscripts that have been passed over for centuries, infusing timeless masterpieces with a fresh and powerful interpretation. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 354

"With each vibrant performance, La Monica engages the music and the audience with passion and affection. Their artful programming and dramatic flair have established this dynamic combination of solo soprano voice and string ensemble at the forefront of the American early music scene.

La Monica delivers refreshing recitals exploring the depths and heights of 17th and 18th century music, whether theatrical or lyrical, obscure or celebrated. The ensemble has appeared on New York’s prestigious concert series, Music Before 1800, and has also been presented by the J. Paul Getty Museum, Houston Early Music, the Pittsburgh Renaissance & Baroque Society, San Francisco Early Music Society, and early music festivals of Bloomington, Indianapolis, Amherst and Washington’s Whidbey Island. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 02, 2008 | Hits: 370

“Les Délices is quickly establishing its reputation for polished, expressive, and dynamic performances of masterpieces and little-known works from the French Baroque. Founded by baroque oboist Debra Nagy, Les Délices is comprised of some of the nation’s top early music specialists, each with notable careers as soloists, chamber musicians, and teachers. In addition to touring engagements, Les Délices presents two to three concert sets per year in Northeast Ohio in intimate settings that encourage cooperation and mutual interest between local visual and performing artists. Les Délices' performances on period instruments allows them to explore the rich tapestry of tone colors available in this repertoire, and the group's name conveys their approach to the music of this era: a delight, a fine delicacy, sumptuous, and exciting. Audience members have called their performances “exquisite,” “superb,” and “breathtakingly gorgeous,” while the Cleveland Plain Dealer has lauded the ensemble’s “rhythmic buoyancy, suave phrasing and seamless interplay.” Les Délices has been delighting audiences with regional concerts in the midwest since 2006, made their Boston recital debut in June 2009, has had live performances featured on WKSU’s In Performance, and will have their new recording featured as part of the Audio-guide for an upcoming exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (Watteau, Music, and Theater).“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 259

"The Baroque ensemble Les grâces formed in the spring of 2008 in order to explore seventeenth- and eighteenth-century music. The ensemble’s performances are equally inspired by the four young performers’ passionate musicianship, as well as their collective study of historical performance practices at leading conservatories in Europe and the US. The name Les grâces stems from a long literary and artistic tradition. The number of graces varies in different depictions, but there were usually three. Daughters of Zeus and Hera, they were representations of brightness (Aglaia), joyfulness (Euphrosyne), and bloom (Thalia). Seventeenth- and eighteenth-century artists frequently depicted them as nude females, united by a sash, representing harmony. Taken as general symbols of love, beauty, and fertility, they are often accompanied by Cupid or Mercury, their male counterparts. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 15, 2008 | Hits: 483

"For more than a decade, LIBER (formerly Liber unUsualis) has been the foremost interpreter of late medieval music in the United States.  LIBER’s artistic director and founding member, William Hudson, is doggedly devoted to rediscovering and performing this ancient repertoire.  His extensive research and meticulous preparation of the music of the late medieval period highlights the vitality of this music.  Audiences leave a LIBER performance entertained, enlightened, and energized by their new experience of this ancient art form."

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Added on: Mar 08, 2008 | Hits: 368

" Using historic instruments, the professional musicians of the Ensemble recreate the unique characteristics of style and musical expression known to the composers of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classic eras. The Long Island Baroque Ensemble is committed to authentically duplicating the sounds and ambiance of times gone by." See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 354

"The group was organized in the spring of 1983 and are recognized as an important early music ensemble performing on period instruments.

Frances von Seggern Bach, viola da gamba and baroque cello; Adriana Zoppo, baroque violin; Anthony Brazier, baroque flute; Wm Neil Roberts, harpsichord. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 26, 2008 | Hits: 313

"Machicoti (Ma-Shee-Co-Tee) is dedicated to creating exhilarating interpretations of medieval music. The group debuted in 2003 and has performed medieval music from France on concert series around the city, including Midtown Concerts, Salon Concerts at Stern, the New York Early Music Series, the 2007 and 2004 New York Early Music Celebrations, and recent concerts in conjunction with NY Public Library's "Splendor of the Word" exhibition. Individually, the members have sung with such early music groups as Ensemble for Early Music, Pomerium, New York Collegium, Infiorare, and City of Ladies. The original machicoti were the skilled vocal soloists at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in the twelfth century, who created virtuosic improvisations on the liturgy and beyond-a tradition later preserved in manuscripts. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 277

"The Madison Bach Musicians ensemble is dedicated to presenting the music of Johann Sebastian Bach—as well as works by other great composers of the Baroque, Renaissance, and Classical periods—through performances, lectures, and workshops. Bach’s music was chosen as a focal point because of its outstanding beauty, variety, and profundity and because it speaks with urgency to modern audiences; it is the high water mark of musical expression and craft in western culture. In pursuit of the greatest clarity we perform primarily on period instruments, and our ensemble sizes are typical of those used by Bach himself. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 23, 2008 | Hits: 451

"Magnificat was formed in 1991 by its conductor, Philip Cave, to explore the rich diversity of choral music from the last five centuries. The ensemble specializes in the restoration and performance of neglected choral masterpieces of the 16th and 17th centuries. The choir ranges from four to forty voices and has performed a wide range of music, both a cappella and with its own orchestra of period instruments. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 08, 2008 | Hits: 276