EarlyMusicNews.Org

"Formed in The Hague in 2004, the members of LOTUS have been working together since 2001 as students of the Royal Conservatoire.

Its repertoire consists of pieces from the 17th and 18th Centuries originally written for recorder and harpsichord or continuo and, when suitable and historically justifiable, transcriptions of works from that period originally written for other instruments.

The observation of sound stylistics and historical performance practices and a lively rendition of the music mark their presentation."

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Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 348

"Inspired by the 'Paris' Quartets of G.Ph. Telemann, the ensemble Le Mercure was formed in the Netherlands and concertizes throughout Europe. With an international core of members and a wide palette of instrumental colors, we are able to concentrate on music written in a true quartet style as well as trio sonatas for two upper voices and continuo. The quartet, however, is our starting point and remains as our main focus in concerts. The name Le Mercure was taken from various periodicals that existed in France during the 17th and 18th centuries, in which one often finds reports of important musical performances of the time. It also refers to Mercury, the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology. We feel ourselves as messengers who wish to transmit the richness and beauty of early music to our audience. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 536

"The ensemble Le Jardin Secret presents the wonderful treasure of Baroque solo vocal literature accompanied by the full colour and beauty of original continuo and obligato instruments. With soprano Elizabeth Dobbin, the ensemble performs a wide range of 17th and 18th century repertoire with dedicated attention to historical context and to the possibilities of creative continuo playing and improvisation.

The music is intimate and highly expressive, exploiting the powerful and contrasting affects of the poetry to which it is set, welcoming the listener into the most secret places of the heart. Le Jardin Secret (in French a metaphor for the heart) is a place of sensual beauty and delight, of mystery and contemplation, of lament, grief and suffering, of amusement and assignation.

The members of the ensemble, which won both the first prize and the audience prize in the Early Music Network International Young Artists’ Competition in York in 2007, are post-graduates of conservatories in Basel, The Hague and Brussels. It is the aim of the ensemble to bring to life the emotive energy of the music, opening the door to the aesthetic world of the Baroque in all its beguiling beauty. " ...

Added on: Aug 20, 2007 | Hits: 543

“All members of the Lacrimae Ensemble are experienced performers of early music on historical instruments and have participated in numerous recordings for both radio and CD. “ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 325

"La Suave Melodia was formed in 1998 to investigate more fully the trio sonatas of Dietrich Buxtehude and the Pieces de Clavecin of Jean-Philippe Rameau. They met with immediate success as prize-winners in the 1998 Van Wassenaer Concour for Early Music and have formed a unity of spirit and style that inspires and exhilarates audiences, bringing passion and a remarkable artistry to its performances.

La Suave Melodia brings together leading specialists in Early Music from the Netherlands; Rachael Beesley baroque violin, Cassandra Luckhardt viola da gamba & baroque cello, Regina Albanez theorbo & baroque guitar and Pieter Dirksen harpsichord & organ. Individually, the international musicians, from four different continents, are active performers and teachers in the early music arena and are dedicated to enriching the cultural and musical scene throughout the world as soloists in their own right. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 472

“La Barca Leyden derives its name from the two songs 'La Barca' ('the boat') and 'Fortuna guida' of 1611 of the Leiden composer, musician and organist of the city and Peter Hooglandse church Schuyt Cornelis (1557-1616). Together, the songs are a blessing and also an allusion to his own name: 'May the boat send Fortuna!'

This Baroque ensemble was founded in 2007 by flutist Raymond Honing and consists of prominent musicians who have specialised in authentic performance practice of early music and has a home in Leiden. La Barca Leyden joins the rich musical history of the city and revitalises Leiden as a residence by choice. La Barca Leyden starts where Cornelis Schuyt ended: in the early Baroque and occurs in both small and large occupation. “

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 185

“Literally translated Il Concerto Barocco means "the baroque concert". This name was chosen as it bests describes what this ensemble is about. Il Concerto Barocco is an ensemble accommodating a wide range of instrumentations ranging from the trio to the full baroque orchestra. The basic principle of the ensemble's performances is that the music played is best served by the instrumentation and performance practices developed and used in the period that the music was conceived.

Founded in 2001 Il Concerto Barocco has become an established link in the Netherlands music scene. Il Concerto Barocco presents a number of concert series per year with concerts performed in their home concert venue, The Waterstaatskerk in Hengelo (The Netherlands) and various other venues throughout the Netherlands and Germany. “

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Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 464

"Holland Baroque Society has combined innovative programming with a unique working style. Baroque music still takes center stage, but bridges are also being built to other traditions and arts such as Balkan music and the art of literature. The orchestra does not have a permanent director: that helps keep their ears sharp and makes the sense of ensemble both richer and more intense. For each new project, HBS invites a particular baroque specialist who has an innovative vision, one who has mastered a distinctive aspect of performance practice (such as ornamentation or improvisation), or in some other way has escaped the timeworn pathways of convention. HBS has worked for several years with some of them, including oboist Alfredo Bernardini, soprano Maria Keohane, and traverso player Alexis Kossenko; this has allowed ample room for growth and development. In recent years, the orchestra has collaborated with prominent musicians such as Michael Maniaci, Matthew Halls, Stephen Stubbs, Milos Valent, Jan Rokyta, Stefano Montanari, Paolo Pandolfo, Veronika Skuplik, and the actress Cox Habbema. HBS has undertaken projects with the Netherlands Chamber Choir and Cappella Amsterdam, and organizes six of its own concert series throughout the Netherlands. Hbs has also been invited to perform at renowned early music festivals at home and abroad. Educational projects such as ‘Kids only-concerts’ allow HBS to introduce thousands of children and young people to baroque music every year. In this way, too, Holland Baroque Society plays a dynamic role in society." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 367

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Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 440

“Inspired by the gloriously virtuosic music from the end of the 17th century, from which the name "Stylus Fantasticus" was coined, the aim of the ensemble is to recreate repertoire from the early seicento until the late baroque searching and exploring the extravagance that flourished when composers and instrumentalists dared to traverse the established limits of the usual.

From the excesses of Biber, through the unrestrained harmonic richness of Rameau and the ravishing melodic imagination of Pandolfi Mealli, to the vividness and passion of the forerunners of romanticism as depicted by the generation after Bach, Fantasticus makes no compromises with regard to authentic performance, fearlessly trespassing on the borders of correctness.”

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Added on: Mar 01, 2012 | Hits: 215

“Ensemble Rossignol (nightingale) owes its name to iths first series of performances in 1998 built around 'De virtuoze zang van het Engels Nachtegaeltje' (The virtuoso song of the Englisch Nightingale) by Jr. Jacob van Eyck (Amsterdam, 1648).

The virtuosity and the refined, musical, playful and inspiring performance of the ensemble immediately call to mind the nightingale's song.

Combining the chitarrone (theorbe) / liuto (lute) and the flauto dolce (recorder) results in a special mix of sounds. The sound of the flute together with the strings, combined with the varying pitch, is what makes the harmonization so special.”

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 159

“Ensemble Phoebus Amsterdam was founded in 1996 by students of Bob van Asperen, Marten Root and Wouter Möller. The ensemble followed a special old-music course in France, organized by UNESCO and received lessons from Chiara Banchini and Barthold Kuijken. ..“

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Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 353

“Fortuna presents a fresh approach to late medieval polyphony – brilliant voices, high-pitched instruments and vivacious tempi – thus Fortuna creates the distinctive sound the ensemble achieved critical acclaim for, both in The Netherlands and abroad.

 Fortuna performs Ars Nova from unknown manuscripts like Utrecht 6E37II as well as the works of famous composers like Guillaume de Machaut, Guillaume Dufay and Johannes Ciconia. Thereby always transforming meticulous research into the spontaneous music making that established the ensemble’s reputation in the field of Early Music – a performance today’s audiences can relate to: Early Music in Context.

Fortuna has participated in Early Music Festivals and chamber music festivals in The Netherlands and abroad, such as the Festival of Flanders Antwerp (Laus Polyphoniae), the Early Music Festival SEVIQC (Slovenia), the Festival de Musique Ancienne (Paris), and the Holland Early Music Festival (Utrecht). Concerts by Fortuna are broadcast by Dutch radio and television.”

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 176

"DIAPENTE is the ancient Greek and medieval name for the interval of a fifth, and originally means 'through five'. The newly founded 5-part viol consort Diapente is a truly international ensemble. The members come from the Netherlands, France, Russia, USA and Gemany and play in various leading European and North American early music ensembles as The Locke Consort, La Grande Écurie, Currende, Musica Eterna, Oberlin Consort of Viols and Tafelmusik. They called Diapente to life in 2001 in order to perform the most beautiful repertoire of the "golden age" of viol consort music. Using all instruments of the viol family in various combinations (here: treble, 2 tenors, bass and violone), Diapente seeks to bring out the charm, richness and beauty of its particular and idiomatic repertoire. The use of a violone - a historical but in our times unique feature in consort music - is already a hallmark of the sound of the ensemble. Diapente played at the 1. Festival de viole de gambe in Asfeld (France), June 2002 and at the Early Music Festival Utrecht (The Netherlands), August 2002. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 413

"The Speellieden van Gelre is an ensemble that focuses on the performance of vocal and instrumental music from medieval and renaissance. It is uses wherever possible - copies of - authentic instruments. The Speellieden van Gelre had their debut in 1975 during the Zomerfeesten in Nijmegen.

In addition to its own concerts, mostly in small circles, which was approved by the Speellieden van Gelre in the past regularly the ensemble cooperated with other concerts in the vocal ensemble PANiek, the Nijmegen Male Choir, the Chamber Choir Nijmegen, Audite Nova ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 25, 2008 | Hits: 385

“Datura plays medieval music. We have a divers medieval program with wild music to dance on, drinking songs, ballads, courtly- and secular music (o.a. from the Carmina Burana) and religious music (o.a.from the Cantigas de Santa Maria). We play with three or four musicians in matching medieval clothes.
   
Francesco Scafidi, Lies Sommer, Tom Haage and Nynke Glazema are together the band Datura. We work for more than ten years now as medieval musicians and have played in many castles, joustig events, medieval village parties, openings, ceremonies, weddings, gothic- folk- and fantasy festivals in the Netherlands and abroad.”

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Added on: Feb 19, 2012 | Hits: 267

“Capriola recorder quartet is playing early and modern music. Capriola gives own concerts and concerts with other instrumentalists and chamber choirs. The members of Capriola are Irene Hooimeijer, Kees Konings, Joost de Ridder and Frans Schröder.

Capriola has performed in many concerts in and outside the Netherlands. Capriola strives after a consort sound inspired by Renaissance ideas, also practiced on modern music.

The ensemble plays on a broad collection of mainly after historical examples handmade instruments (a=440 and 415), including except for many recorders also a bass dulcian (renaissance bassoon) and a baroque bassoon.“

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 192

“The Camerata Trajectina ensemble ('Utrecht Music Company', set up in 1974) has made a name for itself playing Dutch music from the Middle Ages through the 17th century. The nucleus of the ensemble consists of Nico van der Meel (tenor), Saskia Coolen (recorder, viol), Erik Beijer (viol, percussion) and Louis Peter Grijp (lute, cittern, artistic director), often joined by Hieke Meppelink (soprano), Sytse Buwalda (countertenor), Marcel Moester (baritone), Annelies van der Vegt (baroque violin) and many other musicians. ..“

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Added on: Apr 25, 2010 | Hits: 275

"The Caecilia Concert is a versatile international ensemble specialising in performance and research of 17th century music for instruments and voices. The group was formed in 2001 by four young instrumentalists working at the forefront of authentic performance practice in Europe. Since then, the Caecilia-Concert has not only made a name for itself as a virtuosic, flexible, small-scale recital ensemble of the highest international level, but has on occassion, expanded to incorporate other instruments and singers performing rarely heard masterpieces from Italy, Germany, Austria and The Netherlands. This flexibility allows us to experiment with various mixed ensembles therefore making accessible newly found compositions and other pieces that would otherwise not be programmed due to mixed or more unusual instrumentation. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 362

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

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 423

" The vocal group „Schola Cantorum Riga” was founded in 1995 as a unique ensemble focused on authentic interpretation of ancient music, especially Gregorian chants. It has developed into a group with a varied and wide repertory. One of its main professional goals is to perform music at a high artistic and professional level, which is reflected in great many concerts in Latvia and abroad, as well as in regular recordings. Nowadays „Schola Cantorum Riga” mainly performs medieval music, but also turns to interpretation of compositions of contemporary Latvian composers.

The singers of the group are professional musicians or music students who all have one thing in common – their passion for ancient music and desire to perform it following the latest trends in the field of authentic interpretation of ancient music. There is a special interest in performing the Gregorian chants and other medieval music. The group performs a Gregorian choral building it on interpretation references of Neumatic Notations, as well as the latest research in the field of semiology. The programs are mostly performed by male singers. For specific projects the membership of the group is enlarged and female singers are invited to join in to perform compositions for a mixed group of singers. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 14, 2008 | Hits: 299

“We, the Okamotos [Yoshiko (Oneh-san) and Hiromi (aHO) Okamoto], call our small musical space at home "Studio aHOYO", which is devoted mainly for the early European music of the medieval to the early baroque (17C) era.“

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Added on: Jun 17, 2010 | Hits: 272

“Ensemble Ricreation d’Arcadia was formed in 2001 by four young leading Japanese musicians (Ayako Matsunaga and Yukie Yamaguchi, violin, Takashi Kaketa, violoncello and Takashi Watanabe, harpsichord & organ) who regularly play with several baroque ensembles and orchestras in both Europe and Japan such as Bach Collegium Japan, La Venexiana, Il Giardino Armonico and Academia Montis Regalis. The group’s aim is to explore the diverse instrumental music and vocal music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, particularly focusing on the vast repertoire for the “trio sonata”. Since 2003, they have also taken part in the annual performances of the “Handel Festival Japan” in Tokyo as core members of the orchestra, conducted by Takashi Watanabe. Their diverse repertoire ranges from works by Monterverdi and Carlo Farina (Capriccio Stravagante, 1626) to Handel’s operas and even early Mozart's symphonies, joined by fellow musicians who share the same ideal.

In 2004, Ricreation d’Arcadia won the first prize at “Premio Bonporti” (President of Jury: Gustav Leonhardt) in Rovereto, Italy and also received the Audience prize and the ORF recording prize. Since 2005, they have been invited to several early music festivals in Europe, including Accademia Filarmonica (Bologna), Associazione Filarmonica (Rovereto), Amici della Musica, Musica e Poesia a San Maurizio, MITO Festival (Milan), Festival di Brezice (Slovenia), Festival Internationale di Musica Antica (Urbino), Grandezze & Meraviglie (Modena), Trento Musicantica (Trento), Nuove Settimane di Musica Barocca (Brescia). Their concerts have been received with universal acclaim.

In 2006, the ensemble performed with Gunar Letzbor in Mejiro Ba-Rock Music Festival in Tokyo. In 2007, they were invited to music festivals in Austria, including Internationale Barocktage Stift Melk, INNtöne Festival, Schlosskonzerte Eckartsau and Konzertreihe FIORI MUSICALI in St. Florian. In Mejiro Ba-Rock Music Festival 2007, they collaborated with Enrico Gatti and La Venexiana, which was filmed and broadcast by NHK. Some of their live concerts have also been broadcast by RAI and ORF. In May 2008, their recording of chamber works and sacred motets of F.A. Bonporti was released from the ORF label.

Future plans include performances of Biber’s complete Harmonia Artificioso-Ariosa, as well as trio sonatas by Locatelli, Caldara, Corelli, Leclair and C.P.E. Bach.“

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Added on: Jul 05, 2009 | Hits: 366

"The Early Music Company was founded in 1990 by Mamiko Hirai and Kenji Sano in Osaka, Japan, as a basic nucleus of voice and lute around which are built various combinations of voices and instruments for concerts centering mainly on the Renaissance and Baroque periods. They play European music from the14th to 19th century, give regular concerts in Japan, and record regularly for Aeolian records. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 10, 2008 | Hits: 320

"Alla Moderna is an ensemble founded in 2007 by Dmitry Badiarov. The group consists of musicians who have shared the utmost joy of playing together and are all renowned performers in the early music field. The name of the group derives from Bartolomeo Bismantova's Compendio Musicale (Ferrara 1677/1694), where he refers to Violoncello da Spalla Alla Moderna.

The history unveils that the early cello was frequently, if not predominantly, played on the shoulder when, in the 17th Century, it was still a 'modern' instrument. The group intends to perform the earliest violoncello repertory with instruments and voices using such a violoncello da spalla and other innovative bowed instruments re-created by the founder. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 346