EarlyMusicNews.Org

"BaroqueCompagniet is a newly formed ensemble with a focus on music from 1600 - and 1700's.

"BaroqueCompagniet Ensemble offers their services in various venues such as private celebrations, conferences, banquets, theme-kickoffs, restaurant-entertainment to more ceremonial occasions such as weddings, baptisms and the like.

The ensemble makes use of historic instruments and, if so desired, including period clothing. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 10, 2008 | Hits: 316

"Medieval music ensemble "Universalia in Re" was founded in 2001 with a view to revive a medieval attitude to music as an internal experience capable to change a man. This aim determinates unusual instrumental stuff of the ensemble as well as its repertoire (mostly European music of XIII-XIV centuries).

Together with careful study of musical treatises and analysis of medieval European manuscripts, which keep traces of a unique minstrel culture, the ensemble pays a significant attention to living verbal professional musical traditions of Central Asia and Middle East

The ensemble members participated in workshops of leading medieval music teachers and musicians. The ensemble made concerts in Russia,Ukraine, Switzerland, Estonia, Poland and took part in international early music festivals in Lviv (Lviv Early Music Festival, Ukraine, 2002), Tartu (VI Tartu Early Music Festival, Tartu, Estonia, 2003) and Nizhniy Novgorod (Russia, International Machaut Festival, 2004, EARLYMUSIC, 2005). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 24, 2008 | Hits: 759

"The ensemble «Soloists of Catherine the Great» (Saint-Petersburg) is a unique project of the Foundation for the Revival of Early Music, which aims to discover and return into the contemporary cultural context the rich heritage of 18th century music in Russia. The ensemble has been specifically formed for the performance of chamber music (duos, trios, quartets and quintets) and presents the core of the Catherine the Great Orchestra – Russia’s first professional baroque orchestra founded in 2001. In collaboration with a number of leading experts and musicologists, the ensemble musicians have undertaken research in the Russian archives in order to bring to light and present to the public the previously forgotten masterpieces by the Russian Court composers like Khandoshkin, Jarnovich, Tietz, Facius and others. The ensemble’s other major point of interest is music which was played at the Russian noble estates in the 18th and early 19th centuries and which still retains the unique atmosphere of this by-gone world. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 12, 2008 | Hits: 234

Early Music Ensemble. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 24, 2008 | Hits: 308

"Ensemble "Laterna Magica", or "Magic Lantern" (St.Petersburg, Russia), specializes in performing Western-European music of Middle Ages.

"Laterna Magica" combines original sounds of the period instruments with experiments in interpretation.

The ensemble unifies freedom, coming out of the performers' experience in playing Classical, Baroque, Rock, Folk, and Jazz music, with self-restriction resulting from the keen stylefeeling.

Non-academic voices add genuine expression to the ensemble's work.

Treating medieval music as a vivid art, which is able to live outside museums, but in concert halls, churches, clubs, or streets, the ensemble involves medieval repertoire in the various contexts of contemporary music life.

Since its' foundation in 1998, "Laterna Magica" became very well known not only in St.Petersburg, but also in Russia, Estonia, Poland, and Belarus. The ensemble took part in several International Early Music Festivals - in Tartu (Estonia, 1999, 2000), Moscow (1999), St.Petersburg (2000), Minsk (2002); it also gave concerts at the Chamber music festivals in Polotsk (Belarus, 2000), Veliky Novgorod (2003), Kostomuksha (2005), at the festivals "Jazz Spring", "Window to Netherlands" in St.Petersburg (2000, 2001) etc.; toured Belarus, Finland, Poland and USA (see review about concert at the United Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 17 October, 2001). ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 24, 2008 | Hits: 324

"Early music ensemble "Drolls" was established in 1999. The o­nly field of activity of the ensemble is western European music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

OUR CREDO:
The majority of people consider the Middle Ages to be the gloomy time of inquisition fires or the world of fantasy with the traditional set of elfs and dragons.

It is the contribution of courses of history and Hollywood movies. We chose another path.

We don't depict people of the past; it is impossible, because we are surrounded by other religions. We practice the following principle: during the last centuries the mankind has changed, but the Man has remained unchangeable. The Man still loves and has fun as eight centuries ago.

It is possible to feel the still living past by means of music. The music, which has been historical, unfairly forgotten and depreciatingly put off. We strive for proof and prove this principle by every our performance. We are always glad and happy when our creative work awakes response by different audience: from specialists to unsophisticated audience. It serves as the doubtless evidence of the fact that we are o­n the right way. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 334

"The Early Music Group " Contredanse " was created from the teachers of music. The ensemble helped to organize religious services of NewApostolic city community. A set of recorders (the firm Moeck) was brought and presented to the musicians for that purpose from Germany.

At the time the members of the ensemble were not permanent, mainly, the teachers of music played in it. Gradually the repertoire and the instruments were enlarging and the ensemble became an independent collective. They took part in a great number of perfomances in towns and cities.

By that time it consisted of four recorders, guitar and percussion in some works cembalo, mandoline, cornomuse and vocal were used. ...

At presrnt the group consist of the followning musicians : Andrew Konstantinov, the leader, recorders sopran, tenor Viktor Kerbul, recorders Eugeni Julan, guitar Andrew Dunchik, percussion. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 24, 2008 | Hits: 258

"The Ensemble "Brevis" was created in 1998 by Pavel Surahin. The "Brevis" has taken part in a great amount of festivals and competitions in Belarus ("Slavyansky Bazar v Vitebske 2002"(The first prise), "The VIII International Competition of Chamber Ensembles" (Smorgon 2006, the first prize), Knights' Fights and Festivals), Poland (II (2004) (also III (2005), V (2007), VI (2008)) International Festival of Old Culture in the Castle of Malbork", "XXX International Music Festival in Bydgoszcz 2007", a great lot of Knights' Festivals), Lithuania (III International competition of chamber Ensembles in Klaipeda 2007 (the second prize) and also Knights' Festivals), The South Korea (YoPeFe! 2005) and has also performed some concerts in Russia (Moscow) and UAE (Dubai). Every year The "Brevis" records its CD's with new compositions. Almost all the music can be heard on the radio and TV channels of Belarus. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 24, 2008 | Hits: 316

“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: 189

“Musicae Antiquae Collegium Varsoviense, a full time orchestra on original period instruments, was founded by Stefan Sutkowski  in 1957. It was the first early music vocal-instrumental ensemble in Poland. From the beginning, its members set themselves the goal of popularising newly discovered relics of Polish music. These musicians became founder members of Warsaw Chamber Opera, which was founded in 1961 by Stefan Sutkowski, who has served as its Managing and Artistic Director ever since. At present, the Warsaw Chamber Opera company consists of 2 directors, 2 designers, 7 conductors, over 75 soloists, and 3 full-time orchestras (period-instruments ensemble (orchestra) Musicae Antiquae Collegium Varsoviense and two small-size symphony orchestras - the Warsaw Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of Warsaw Chamber Opera ). It also has a the 40-strong Chamber Choir and the Choir specializing in Old Orthodox Music and a Mime Group.

While the opera company expanded, its repertoire enriched by works from the Classical era and later, whilst the Collegium cultivated and perfected the practice of performing early music. Yet music from several centuries ago cannot be given its proper tonal shape without the appropriate instruments, a complete set of which has been acquired thanks to the enduring efforts of the Warsaw Chamber Opera. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 04, 2010 | Hits: 297

"The ensemble Ars Cantus was established in the year 2000 as a vocal group associated with the Wroclaw Chamber Choir (Wroclawscy Kameralisci), under the artistic direction of Tomasz Dobrzanski.

Ars Cantus performs the music of bygone epochs, from the Middle Ages (songs from the medieval Carmina Burana manuscript) to the early Baroque (e.g. Salomone Rossi - Court and Synagogue Music). An essential part of the repertoire of Ars Cantus is the musical heritage of Lower Silesia, which reaches back to the 14th century and which, in many cases, is now being made available to listeners for the first time in centuries (Banquet at City Hall - works from Wroclaw and Silesia musical prints of the 16th and 17th centuries - and Serena mente jubilo - works from 14th and 15th century manuscripts from Wroclaw, Zagan and Zielona Gora). " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 446

"Wrocław's Period Instruments Ensemble "Altri Stromenti" exists since 1992. It's name - "other instruments", brings to mind baroque practice which allowed changing of voices in compositions, it also reveals the special character of the period instruments, that means "different" from contemporary, ensemble. Choice of performs varies and depends on the repertoire. Among the musicians working with Altri Stromenti are Olga Pasiecznik, Marek Toporowski, Mark Caudle to name a few.

The repertoire of Altri Stromenti comprises both "classical" as well as less well known 17th century baroque compositions which the group reconstructs and presents during "Baroque Concerts" organized in the House under the Golden Sun in Wrocław (these concerts were started by the group and already more than 50 were organized). Altri Stromenti performed also in Germany, France and Czech Republic ("Monuments en musique" festival in Strasbourg, International Festival of Early Music in Cracow, at the Royal Castle in Warsaw and three times during international festival "Wratislavia Cantans" in Wrocław. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 07, 2008 | Hits: 363

"Pro Musica Antiqua Oslo was formed in 1969. Using period instruments and performing in an historically informed style, they make medieval and renaissance music come to life in spontaneous and thrilling performances. PMA has toured in Scandinavia and Germany (Musikfestival Schleswig-Holstein, Festival for medieval music in Montalbane), and has recorded two CDs: "Valravnen", renaissance music from Denmark-Norway was well recieved by the press in 1995. "Cantio", church and school songs from Piae Cantiones (1999 - Simax classics) was called "the most successful recording of medieval music ever from a Norwegian ensemble".

Hans Olav Gorset, the director of the ensemble, co-founded the original PMA, Oslo, and teaches flute, recorder, and performance practice at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo. He also performs regularly as a soloist and in other groups, has made hundreds of radio programs about early music for the Norwegian radio, builds historical instruments, and for more than 20 years he taught students from all over the world at the Ringve Museum International Summer Course for Early Music. His research into the popular music of Denmark-Norway in the 17th and 18th century has been fruitful: The CD "For Citizens and Peasants", Norwegian popular music from 18th century manuscripts, was nominated to the Norwegian Gramophone Prize for 1990 (Spellemannsprisen). His solo recording of the flute music of the French composer Pierre Philidor (1681-1731) has received excellent reviews in the international music periodicals.

PRO MUSICA ANTIQUA, OSLO is a flexible group, from three to 7 musicians and singers. For certain projects they also invite choirs and local performers to join them. For the most part they are 2 singers and 3-5 instrumentalists. The current line-up is Marit Isaksen Solstrand, soprano and Staale Ytterli, baritone, Gisela Attinger and Elizabeth Gaver, fiddles and rebec, Vegard Lund, lutes and Hans Olav Gorset, flutes and recorders. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 283

“Gro Siri Johansen, soprano, has a degree in classical voice from the Rogaland Conservatory and a diploma in Gregorian chant from the National Conservatory of Music in Paris. She is a founding member of the Paris-based vocal ensemble Dialogos, whose recording Terra Adriatica won the diapason d’Or and Le Choc in Le Monde de Musique. She has also performed and recorded her own settings of texts by Knut Hamsun, and participated in theater productions and musicals. In 1999 she founded Modus Center for Medieval Music in Oslo, where, as artistic director, she organizes and teaches courses in Gregorian chant and medieval vocal music.

Elizabeth Gaver, vielle and rebec, earned degrees from Stanford University and Juilliard before deciding to specialize in early music. She soon joined the medieval ensemble Sequentia, with whom she performed concerts throughout Europe, the US, Israel, Japan and Morocco. She participated in over a dozen recordings with the ensemble, along with several theatre productions. Since moving to Oslo, she has performed and recorded with Pro Musica Antiqua, Oslo, Modus ensemble and The Norwegian Baroque Orchestra.

Hans Olav Gorset, flutes, teaches recorder, Baroque flute, and performance practice at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. He has toured as a soloist and ensemble member in the US and Canada, and in many European countries, and made solo recordings that have been well received in the international press. With his group Pro Musica Antiqua, Oslo, he has discovered and recorded Scandinavian music from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. His activities also include instrument making and freelance work for the Norwegian Radio.

Guest appearance
Morten Røhrt, is a well-known actor in Norway, where he has worked for theatres in Stavanger, Tromsø, Bergen and Oslo. His repertoire ranges from Dostoevsky to Wilde, from modern drama to musicals, cabarets and one-man shows. He voice is often heard in public radio, and he has also played an important part in a very popular television series, Hotel Cæsar.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2012 | Hits: 155

“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: 199

“Bergen Barokk was founded in 1994. Their repertoire consists of 17th and 18th Cent. vocal and instrumental music from Italy, France, Germany, England and Scandinavia.  Bergen Barokk is supported by the City of Bergen and the Norwegian Culture Council.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 09, 2009 | Hits: 347

“The William Byrd Vocal Ensemble was founded in 1981. The choirperforms a cappella music, though occasionally with accompaniment (piano, baroque ensemble) are used. The repertoire includes the entire choral literature of the last five hundred years.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 164

“Super Librum, founded in 1985, is internationally acclaimed for its historically accurate performances of medieval music. The name of the ensemble has been chosen with care: playing 'super librum' (literally 'above the book') was the traditional manner of performance during the Middle Ages. Super Librum is one of the few ensembles to incorporate this playing practice in its performances. Super Librum is directed by Jankees Braaksma, who plays the recorder and the organetto. In 1986, Super Librum was awarded the first prize at the 'Competition for Ensembles of Early Music' (now known as 'Van Wassenaer Competition') and in 1987 gained a distinction as one of the finalists at the Musica Antiqua Competition at Bruges, Belgium.

Super Librum often cooperates with specialists educated at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, the only College of Music in Europe to have a specialised course in medieval music on its curriculum. ..” Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 348

"The Foundation Musica da Camera Antica offers concerts' old 'music in The Hague and Voorschoten. With young talented musicians who have pledged their hearts to the historical practice. On beautiful locations and at an affordable price. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 312

"Sfera Armoniosa specialises in performance of music from the seventeenth century. The ensemble's name is derived from a work commissioned for a seventeenth century noble marriage, published for voice and basso continuo.

The group is based around an unchanging core of continuo players. Vocal soloists are then added to the ensemble according to the demands of the repertoire. The more commonly heard basso continuo combination of lute and viola da gamba is enriched by the use of less well known instruments such as the lirone and the baroque guitar.

In addition to the music of famous composers such as Monteverdi and Lully, the ensemble undertakes research into the manuscripts and printed works of Italian, French, Spanish, English, German and Dutch libraries in order to provide a rich spectrum of music from lesser known composers. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 304

“Conducted by Fritz Heller, the ensemble's repertoire focuses on music of the 16th century, including music from the Middle Ages and the early baroque period.

Repertoire by several big name composers like Josquin Desprez, Heinrich Isaac, Ludwig Senfl as well as lesser known ones, such as Johan Stokes, Lambertus de Monte de Ponta Adamus, are included in the programmes of the ensemble.

The main genres of music Rabaskadol perform are Motets, madrigals, instrumental fantasias, dance music.”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 177

"Started by Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel in 2001, Música Temprana specializes in the interpretation of Latin American Baroque music. So far, the ensemble has given concerts in the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Sweden, and Bolivia. The members of Música Temprana are professional musicians, acquainted with the performance practices of the traditional music of their countries of origin (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain). Their musical instruments include different types of guitar (characteristic of the various Latin American countries), viola da gamba, harp, dulcian, and percussion, while the ensemble generally works with specialized singers, among them Xenia Meyer, Barbara Kusa, Marisú Pavón, and Fabian Schofrin. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 14, 2008 | Hits: 323

"This idea, that ruled the aesthetics and the concept of baroque music especially in Germany inspired Jörn Boysen, harpsichordist and conductor to found the ensemble Musica Poetica in 1999.

The group is made up of young musicians from all over the world who specialise in early music, having done their studies in the conservatories of the Netherlands. They share an interest in performing music from the 17th and 18th centuries with an historically informed perspective, using instruments from that period and historical sources. The size of the group depends on the chosen programme. Musica Poetica performs as a chamber group as well as an orchestra including choir.

Their performance schedule has included concerts in Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and live radio broadcasts. Musica Poetica performs regularly in festivals and concerts around Europe such as the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, Festival Mitte Europa and the Holland Festival Oude Muziek. The ensemble opened the „Van Wassenaer Festival 2004“ in The Hague with two very successful concerts, and has taken part in the successful series „Oude Muziek - Nieuwe Generatie“ in the Prinsenhof Museum in Delft.

In March 2007, Musica Poetica collaborated with the choir „ars nova“ in Salamanca for performances of the St. John Passion, and in May 2007 performed in the International Buxtehude Festival in Lübeck. This year Musica Poetica is focusing on music by Buxtehude and his contemporaries. A recording with works by Flor, Buxtehude and their contemporaries is planned for the end of 2008. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 343

"Musica ad Rhenum has, since its founding in 1992, created a devoted following in the musical world. The intensely personal and highly emotional style which characterizes the performances of the group has earned them a special place on the early music scene. "Exhilarating", "controversial", "virtuoso" and "cutting-edge" are words which critics have used to describe the highly-charged atmosphere the group has created in concert at festivals and halls throughout Europe, North and South America, Iceland, Israel and Japan.

Blending an informed historical perspective with a lively artistic spirit, balancing the intentions of the composer against the needs of the creative performer, Musica ad Rhenum aims to make an impact on the audience; to move, amuse and delight them, through the music itself. The essence of the artistic experience, the meeting of minds separated by centuries, the moving of passions felt by hearts now turned to dust, needs no frivolous trappings, no gimmicks. Musica ad Rhenum is convinced, and has convinced audiences around the world, that Baroque music is as strong, expressive and free as the performers themselves, and as relevant to the world today as it was when first composed.

With more than 30 CDs on the market, with prizes and recommendations to their credit and repeated invitations to perform in the most prestigious venues, Musica ad Rhenum has proven its merit. The group has performed at festivals in York, London, Graz, Antwerpen, Madrid, Berlin and Utrecht, and on the concerts series of Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Frick Museum New York, Wigmore Hall London, Philharmonie Berlin and both Musikhaus and Musikverein Vienna. The core activity of the group is the performance of 18th-century chamber music: most recently the group has specialised in French music, which they approach with the enthousiasm, style and sense of fun which characterizes all their work. Their success with this repertoire can perhaps be judged by their 2004 recording of the complete chamber music of François Couperin, which has been highly praised in the press and has sold more than 20,000 copies. However, Musica ad Rhenum is not soley a chamber music group. Traverso-player and founder Jed Wentz also conducts the orchestral formation in large-scale works, and recent recordings and staged performances of operas by Mozart, Purcell and Handel have been hailed by critics for their verve and freshness. Whether the repertoire be intimate chamber music or grand, tragic opera, a concert by Musica ad Rhenum is not soon to be forgotten. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2008 | Hits: 368

"The Modena Consort is one of the first ensembles to perform Renaissance polyphony on the transverse flutes of the time.

The group was found in 1998 in The Hague, and consists of a singer, a four-part flute consort and a pair of lutes. The group’s repertoire explores different aspects of renaissance polyphony; from the meditative and intricate polyphony of the late fifteenth century of Josquin de Prez’s generation, through the jubilant and mischievous world of Italian Frottole and dance music. The consort has performed in various venues and festivals in Holland, Belgium, France and Switzerland, and was invited to perform in international meetings dedicated to the renaissance flute.

The group's first CD with the German Cornetto label, dedicated to music at the court of Maguerite of Austria, has appeared in August 2007. The instruments used by the consort were made by consort member Boaz Berney after originals in the Museé Instrumentale in Brussels. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 04, 2008 | Hits: 309