EarlyMusicNews.Org

"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: 336

“Winners of the 2008 Midem Baroque Award and the 2007 Classic FM Gramophone Award for Best Baroque Vocal Album for their recording of Handel’s Dublin Messiah (Linn CKD 285), Dunedin Consort & Players, under the combined Artistic Direction of John Butt, Susan Hamilton and Philip Hobbs, performs throughout Scotland and Europe

Under the musical direction of John Butt the group has consolidated its existing strength in the Baroque repertoire. Dunedin's commitment to excellence in both live performances and recordings, coupled with the latest research in historical performance, is complemented by its strong belief in supporting new music. As part of its contemporary strand, Dunedin has commissioned and performed works by living composers - including William Sweeney, Errollyn Wallen, Peter Nelson and Sally Beamish - to complement and enhance the meaning of the old masterpieces.

Dunedin has performed at music festivals in Scotland - including the Edinburgh International Festival -, Canada, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Israel and France, and broadcasts frequently on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland.  …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 20, 2011 | Hits: 300

"The Dufay Collective has been performing and recording its unique brand of early music for twenty years. During this time the group has performed at major festivals and toured throughout the world, receiving critical acclaim from Cairo to Carlisle. The group has made a series of successful recordings of a wide ranging repertoire of instrumental and vocal music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, including the Grammy nominated 'Cancionero'.

They can also be heard on the soundtracks of several feature films including. The Dufays have just recorded their second disc for Harmonia Mundi USA, being 'The Play Of Daniel'. To mark their twentieth anniversary, the group has embarked upon a series of long term projects, including the forthcoming ‘Alchemy’ project with Andalusian ensemble Al Quimia. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 412

"Four Temperaments, previously known as Donum Musicum was established at the Royal Academy of Music in September 2005. The group benefitted from coaching with Historical Perfomance specialists such as Lisa Beznosiuk, Laurence Cummings, Nicolette Moonen and Jenny Ward-Clarke.

The quartet was awarded a prestigious Leverhulme Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music for 2007/2008. The group will act as an ensemble-in-residence at the Academy, working alongside current students in various areas of performance

In June 2006 Donum Musicum were awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Music Friends' Early Music Prize. Representing four different nations (Finland, Great Britain, Hungary and Poland), the group derives its name in the neutral language of Latin, from the piece with which they won the RAM Friends prize and which was written specifically for their combination of instruments – The Musical Offering Trio Sonata by J. S. Bach. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 358

"We are a merry band of professional minstrels who provide a truly authentic flavour of Elizabethan England. Our music, instruments and costumes are all accurately researched, but we're not hardened academics. We play music that's an instant hit with most audiences.

We use 16th century improvisation techniques to keep the music fresh. Every performance is different, and we make sure that the tempo, style and instrumentation change regularly. No-one gets bored at a Diabolus gig. " ...

Added on: Aug 22, 2007 | Hits: 403

"Daughters of Elvin were formed in 1996 with the aim of presenting early music in a new and exciting way and of reaching as diverse an audience as possible. Evoking the spirit of Medieval Europe with music, masks, dance and giant stilt puppets, they give powerful displays of colour, movement and sound. Based around carefully researched music, they bring to life images inspired by medieval paintings, carvings and literature and are equally at home at festivals, churches, art centres, street and outdoor events. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 383

“If Wales is known as the Land of Song, the tunes have had to take a back seat until the arrival of Crasdant - the foremost instrumental band of the country.

Take four gifted instrumentalists, all with impeccable solo musical credentials, combining out of mutual respect and with a focussed aim of placing the Welsh instrumental canon alongside its Celtic brethren.

Crasdant mix the traditional harp of Wales, the unique triple harp, with flutes, fiddle, accordion, guitar and Welsh reed instrument - the pibgorn. Adding a terpsichorean spice to the mix is the flamboyant step-dancing of a champion clogger. …”

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Added on: Mar 15, 2012 | Hits: 135

"Courtlye Musick is a group of three versatile musicians who specialise in the authentic presentation of Renaissance and Medieval music.

During 2001 Courtlye Musick was restructured as a trio. Anita and Martin Felton and Anne Gray are all part of the former four part ensemble and since 1984 have performed at concerts, workshops, festivals, receptions, historic events, weddings, civic occasions, banquets and many diverse functions far and wide. Performances have been broadcast on radio and television. The repertoire includes music from all over renaissance Europe and the huge collection of authentic instruments continues to grow.

In performance, the ensemble is surrounded by a fascinating display of instruments which includes Renaissance woodwind, (crumhorns, rauschpfeifen, shawms, racketts, curtal and recorders); strings, (viols, rebec, lute and harp); brass, (sackbuts, cornetti, and lysarden), and others such as gemshorns, bells, pipe and tabour. The clear voices of the consort are a feature of every performance. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 411

"Costume Bands presents musicians in period costume for every occasion, from concert performance to weddings, ceilidhs, historical banquets, birthday and anniversary parties, fairs, festivals and much more besides.

Whether you are looking for a solo instrumentalist, a trio or a seven-piece band your needs will be met at this site. The superbly costumed musicians play a wealth of traditional instruments that include lute, cittern, pipe and tabor, harpsichord, serpent, harp, concertina and hurdy-gurdy.

Lively dance tunes, wedding processionals, lusty rounds and tranquil airs... all form part of a repertoire extending from the Mediaeval, Tudor, Stuart and 18th-century eras, to Victorian times.

Musicians represented on this site have provided music for film and TV work, as well as sound tracking for BBC radio productions. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 299

"Based in Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland, the enterprising group of instrumentalists have specialised for over 17 years in performances of the courtly and popular music of Renaissance Scotland on a wide range of early wind, stringed and keyboard instruments and more recently a concort of voices.The Music is researched and edited for the group by its director James Ross, who has also written a comprehensive and copiously illustrated book on music in renaissance Scotland, 'Musick Fyne, Robert Carver and the Art of Music in Renaissance Scotland' (The Mercat Press, Edinburgh 1993). CORONACH now present a season of around twenty concerts a year, bringing this fascinating repertoire to a wider audience through a series of commercial recordings issued on their own CMF label. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 432

"Concordia plays the magical English music of the golden age and a wide range of renaissance and baroque repertoire from Italy, Spain, Germany and France. Concordia often works with guest artists on other instruments and, above all, the human voice, regular collaborators including countertenors Robin Blaze and James Bowman, tenor James Gilchrist, baritone Peter Harvey and soprano Rachel Elliott. Perhaps because of the breadth and appeal of its stimulating programming, which also includes new commissions, contemporary dance and poetry, Concordia is now one of the most active British chamber groups, appearing at the Wigmore Hall, festivals throughout the country and major venues across Europe.

The regular members of Concordia are Mark Levy, Joanna Levine, Emilia Benjamin, Reiko Ichise, Alison McGillivray and Markus Tapio viols, Elizabeth Kenny lute and Gary Cooper organ & harpsichord. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 12, 2008 | Hits: 408

"Concerto Caledonia is Scotland’s early music group, bringing to life the classical and traditional music of the nation’s history.

The group’s seven CD recordings include Robert Burns songs in their original versions, classical symphonies from Fife , early Scots fiddle music, and the unique sound of 18th-century Scottish-Italian crossover. Its contemporary recordings include music by Frank Zappa, Astor Piazzolla, Daniel Johnston and The Buzzcocks. The album Mungrel Stuff was a Sunday Times Record of the Year, and besides appearing regularly on BBC Radio 3, the group has also been broadcast on Radios 1, 2, and 4. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 09, 2008 | Hits: 400

"CONCERTANTE OF LONDON
Director: Sir Nicholas Jackson

CONCERTANTE OF LONDON is a versatile ensemble performing with as few as 4 musicians playing baroque instruments for Nicholas Jackson's new realisation of Bach's 'A Musical Offering' expanding to10 or more players when performing works such as Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. It also frequently adds 4 young solo singers for the performance of choral works. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 24, 2008 | Hits: 314

"Concert Royal recreates the elegant sound worlds of the baroque and classical eras through historically informed performance. For over thirty years the ensemble has delighted audiences with enthusiastic and informative presentations.

Concert Royal has toured in Europe, the USA and for the British Council in South America and has given concerts in every corner of the UK, performing for festivals, music and arts societies, theatres, churches, schools, arts centres and in country houses.

Concert Royal's 2006 - 7 schedule included concerts for the Bideford, Hoylake, Totnes and Matlock music societies and festival appearances in Howden and Leicester. The ensemble entertained in Appleby Castle and in the splendid Georgian setting of Sledmere Hall near York.

Concert Royal is actively involved in education initiatives, visiting more than 50 schools in 2006. Young people participate in informative and entertaining workshops, learning about their musical heritage through singing, playing, composing and dancing. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 12, 2008 | Hits: 362

“Since its formation in 1996, Concanentes has established itself as one of the leading ensembles specialising in the performance of music from the Middle Ages and the sixteenth century. Winner of the 1998 Bankers' Trust Pyramid Award, Concanentes went on to be selected for the 1999-2000 Classics West Business & Arts Partnership scheme. In 1999 the ensemble appeared in the International Early Music Network Young Artists' Competition and was selected for the late Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now! scheme. The year 2000 saw a debut recital in the Purcell Room in London as part of the Intrada series, as well as concerts in the Barcelona and Bruges Early Music Festivals and the National Early Music Showcase. As recommended artists for the 2000-2001 NFMS Concert Promoters' Network, Concanentes gave a number of tours around Britain. These successful performances led to the group being reselected for the 2003-2004 season. Earlier this year Concanentes gave a tour of the Netherlands for the Oude Musiek Organization in Utrecht (where one of their concerts was recorded for a later broadcast on Dutch Radio).

Concanentes has been featured on BBC Radio 3's early music programme Music Restored and Radio 4's Woman's Hour and has worked with actors by providing music for the medieval mystery plays. Their education programmes have led to projects with The Centre for Young Musicians in London, The National Centre for Early Music and The Pied Piper Project in Yorkshire, as well as recitals at a number of Universities in the UK.

Musicians who form the ensemble Concanentes: Faye Newton, Catherine Fleming and Hazel Brooks“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 14, 2009 | Hits: 341

"With a riot of period instruments, lusty voices and all the exuberance of an early street or theatre band, THE CITY WAITES perform popular English songs, ballads and dance music from the Tudor period to the early 19th century. Street cries, theatre songs, bawdy broadside ballads, early Music Hall, Coffee House catches, courtly dances and the foot-stomping rhythms of a village dance band.

Performances in concert halls, festivals, historic houses, corporate functions and cultural events throughout the world; British Council tours to Middle and Far East; universities in USA, major London venues incl Queen Elizabeth Hall; collaborations with Shakespeare’s Globe, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, RSC; Royal National Theatre; TV, radio and film soundtracks. …”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 363

"The Ciconia Ensemble is dedicated to the music of the late 14th/early 15th centuries, especially the so-called Ars Subtilior, that uniquely difficult and wonderful music that flourished briefly in France and northern Italy. The group consists of Anna Maria Friman (soprano), John Potter (tenor), Susanna Pell and Jacob Heringman (lutes & vielles) and made its debut in York in 2006. Programmes have included music by Ciconia himself, including rarely heard masses and motets, as well as troubadour songs and Minnelieder. The group performed an all-Machaut programme entitled La Parole et la Puissance: Guillaume de Machaut and the way to eternity in the 2007 Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz Festival A recording of highlights from the festival features several tracks from the Ciconia Ensemble; complimentary copies are available from Robert White Artist Management. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 314

"Schubert played on a quartet of rubber trout, pieces introduced in Japanese, Wagner grand opera seen through the wrong end of the telescope. Blissfully unaware of the limitations of an instrument with a range of just over an octave, the Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet take their small clay instruments through a dazzling array of improbable pieces, played with wit, musicality and occasional bursts of breathtaking speed. To add variety to the mix, the quartet also play guitar, charango and a few other surprises.

Since its debut at the Wigmore Hall, the Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet's talent has been appreciated in such prestigious venues as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Royal Festival Hall and Barbican Centre in London, and the Festival of Flanders. In 2005 the quartet appeared as the headline act at the 3rd international ocarina festival in Budrio, Italy, and in 2006/07 made six visits to Spain. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 271

"Charivari Agréable is recognized as ‘one of the classiest baroque bands’ (The Observer), and ‘certainly one of the most original and versatile groups on the Early Music scene today’ (Hexachord), whose musical ‘intuitions are always captivating’ (Goldberg). The group has been hailed for its ‘thinking musicians who treat music of the past more creatively’ via their arrangements of music, ‘based on a greater knowledge of the historical and social contexts for the music’. They represent ‘a new and very exciting phase of the early music revival, one that enriches the existing repertory and can bring us ever closer to the spirit of the original music’ (Gramophone).

Under the artistic direction of Susanne Heinrich and the musical leadership of Kah-Ming Ng, the ensemble specializes in the ingenious use of period instruments to produce ‘ravishing sonorities and full-bodied textures’ (Gramophone) with ‘their powerful cohesion, warm sound, and their eloquent authority’ (Diapason). The group has ‘carved something of a niche for itself in imaginative and well-thought-out programming’; ‘its work is the fruit of both scholarly research and charismatic musicianship, a combination that puts it at the forefront of period-instrument ensembles’ (BBC Music Magazine). With a chronological remit spanning epochs from the Renaissance to the early classical, the ensemble appears in many guises, from a continuo band (accompanying the recitals of such artists as Emma Kirkby, John Holloway and Simon Standage), a viol consort, and an Elizabethan mixed consort, to a baroque orchestra and many other surprising - yet historical - combinations. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 286

"Chanterye is a group devoted to presenting aspects of medieval life to modern audiences. In its simplest form, three performers - Helen, Alison and David Cooke - offer a range of music from the 13th to 15th centuries. But they are often supplemented by other singers and instrumentalists.

In its largest form to date, the group expands to take in actors and other entertainers to put on representations of medieval life and literature in a musical context. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 362

"Chalemie is a group of musicians, dancers and actors whose aim is to explore the theatrical side of early music - from the dance and pantomime of eighteenth century London to the court spectaculars of earlier centuries.

Chalemie is motivated by a belief in total theatre; the combining of different performance arts to create new dramatic forms. Its own particular focus is on early music, dance and commedia dell'arte. With these as its primary materials it seeks to create a style of theatre that is close to the popular stage of the early 18th century. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 13, 2008 | Hits: 358

“Carreg Lafar means 'speaking stone', an echo stone. At the forefront of the Welsh traditional music scene, the group has changed many peoples' view of traditional Welsh music with their passionate and lively performances. Through a mix of traditional and original music, Carreg Lafar presents a vibrant spirit whilst remaining rooted in the language and living tradition of Welsh song and dance music. The music is arranged for traditional and contemporary instruments including fiddle, flute, pibgorn (hornpipe), pibau (bagpipes) and guitar, together with dynamic vocals. The group has made three albums with Sain records, 'Ysbryd y Werin', 'Hyn' and 'Profiad'.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 14, 2012 | Hits: 161

"Founded in 1989, The Cardinall’s Musick is a highly successful and innovative ensemble. Taking its name from the 16th-century cardinal, Thomas Wolsey, the group is known for its extensive study of English Renaissance music. Although primarily a vocal group, The Cardinall’s Musick also has its own period instrumental ensemble, and now embraces a wide range of styles and periods: from complete reconstructions of historical events (the Field of the Cloth of Gold) to world premieres of commissioned music from composers such as Michael Finnissy, Simon Whalley, Matthew Martin and Judith Weir. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 433

"Cappella Nova, founded in 1982 by Alan and Rebecca Tavener, has an unrivalled reputation as champions of Scotland’s unique treasury of early vocal music. The group is also “famous for its performances of contemporary music” (The Guardian), having commissioned and premiered more than 60 new works since 1986. These include John Tavener’s monumental three-hour oratorio, Resurrection (1990), broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and James MacMillan’s cantata for Holy Week Seven Last Words from the Cross (1994), which was the subject of seven short films for BBC2 TV. In 1996 they recorded the award-winning soundtrack by William Sweeney for the Tartan Short film an iobairst. In 2003 they provided ensemble vocals for the critically-acclaimed album Hate by The Delgados. In 2009 they premiered Red, the first a cappella work by Craig Armstrong. Also in 2009, the group appeared in the BBC Scotland television documentary Grace Notes, singing medieval and renaissance Scottish sacred music.

Cappella Nova and its medieval offshoot ensemble, Canty, has made 15 CDs, including ten of medieval and renaissance music for the Sanctuary Classics (Universal) Gaudeamus label, all of which are ‘world premieres in modern times’, and the group is particularly well-known for championing the music of the 16th century Scottish polyphonist, Robert Carver. Besides appearances in many British festivals, the group has toured many times abroad, including several visits to Germany and France, and tours in Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, Russia and the USA. Among Cappella Nova’s awards are several Enterprise Awards from the Performing Right Society and a Glenfiddich Living Scotland Award for their ground-breaking performances of Scottish early music. Cappella Nova is Vocal Ensemble in Residence at the University of Strathclyde and the Company has an office sponsored by the university which also hosts this website."

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 23, 2008 | Hits: 440

“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