EarlyMusicNews.Org

“For thousands of years, the sound of the lyre dominated European and Celtic music.  Today it is almost unknown.

Rediscover the sound of this captivating instrument, and of the bone flutes, skin drums and songs that shared its musical world.

Thor Ewing, the Lyre Man, is deeply versed in the lyre’s history, and in the music and song of the Early Middle Ages, from Anglo-Saxon and Viking times to the last days of the lyre in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.  The repertoire can include music from as far apart as Ancient Greece, and modern British and Scandinavian folk traditions.

He is also an accomplished exponent of the storytelling traditions and verse of early Britain and Scandinavia.

The Lyre Man can call on other musicians where appropriate, to create a unique Ancient Ensemble.“

Visit webiste for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 11, 2009 | Hits: 377

"This chapter of the Viola da Gamba Society of America (VdGSA ) is based in sunny Tucson, AZ. It was incorporated as a non-profit and tax-exempt [501 (c) 3] organization in October 2001. It pursues the same goal as its parent organization, i.e. the enjoyment of playing the viola da gamba, a musical instrument of the Renaissance period. To facilitate this goal, the VdGS - Southern AZ will conduct monthly meetings during the school season and it will organize an annual workshop."

Visit website for more information.

Added on: Sep 04, 2010 | Hits: 379

"Benjamin Narvey was born in Montréal in 1978 and began his musical training at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). Upon completion of his conservatory training in classical guitar in Canada, he took a Bachelor of Music degree from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where he studied the lute and continuo with David Miller. Benjamin has also benefited musically from studies with Paul O'Dette, Nigel North, Robert Barto, Pat O'Brien, Stephen Stubbs, Jacob Heringman, Elizabeth Kenny, and William Carter on the lute, as he has further refined various aspects of period practice with Emma Kirkby, Anthony Rooley, Rachel Podger, Nancy Hadden, Stephen Preston, Nicholas Parle, Pamela Thorby, and Rachel Brown. After having taken a Master of Studies degree from the University of Oxford in 2004, where he researched elements of enlightenment tonal theory with special reference to the writings of Jean-Philippe Rameau, Benjamin has continued at Oxford pursuing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Music. In 2005, Benjamin was awarded the Lute Society of America Scholarship, and became the Invited Lecturer and Guest Performer at the Lute Society of AmericaWestern Seminar 2005, which was held in conjunction with the Vancouver Early Music Festival (Canada). Benjamin currently resides in Paris where he pursues his research, whilst continuing as an active professional lutenist performing both as a soloist and with numerous singers and ensembles. Recent performance highlights include appearances at the Brighton Early Music Festival, the City of London Festival, the Mars en Baroque Festival (Marseille & Aix-en-Provence) and in concerts accompanying singers Matthew Vine, Robert MacDonald, and Ian Honeyman."

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2008 | Hits: 380

"The Viola da Gamba Society of America (VdGSA) is a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to the support of activities relating to the viola da gamba in the United States and abroad. It is a society of players, builders, publishers, distributors, restorers and others sharing a serious interest in music for viols and other early bowed string instruments."

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 05, 2007 | Hits: 381

"Born in Holland in 1961 and after his cello studies Coen Engelhard is living in France, where he learns to play the viola da gamba and how to make them.

In Foix (Pyrenees) he discovered an unknown manuscript of viola da gamba music which he has revived. The CD ‘Le Manuscrit de Foix’ is part of this adventure.

Since 1996 Coen has been teaching viola da gamba at the Conservatory of Toulouse. He is an appreciated gamba soloist in Bach's Passions and is leader of Consortoulouse. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 04, 2008 | Hits: 383

"From 1971 to 1981 he studied violin and viola (with A. Casagrande) and composition (with M. Perrucci) at the musical Institute "G.B.Pergolesi" in Ancona and at the musical highschool Conservatorio "G.Rossini" in Pesaro. Later he joined the Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana and played with various chambre orchestras, ensembles for early music, baroque and contemporary music. In 1982 he founded in Innsbruck with P. Rabanser the international early music ensemble Oni Wytars and he is still performing with this group. In 1989 he worked for the Royal Swedish Concert Agency. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 10, 2008 | Hits: 384

“Miguel Yisrael - formerly Miguel Serdoura, now carrying the surname of his mother -  was born in 1973, in Lisbon, where he began his musical and artistic career. Miguel Yisrael is at the forefront of the new generation of European lutenists. He completed his musical education with the renowned master Hopkinson Smith, who as referred to him in 2005 as a "passionate and intelligent musician who deserves to be heard in the world".”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 384

“ .. . She now performs widely as a viola da gamba soloist, having appeared with the Britten-Pears Baroque Orchestra, the Essex Baroque Orchestra, the Lecosaldi Ensemble, the Choir of St. John’s College Cambridge and the Sweelinck Ensemble among others. In 1995 she performed a viola da gamba concerto by Leonard Salzedo at Benslow Hills Music Trust in the presence of the composer.
Since 2000 Mary Pells has worked for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music as an examiner and as a mentor on their Certificate of Teaching course. ..“ Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 384

"I am a performer and teacher, specializing in the viola da gamba, violone and contrabasses of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. People regularly ask me how to get more information about the history of these instruments and their repertoires and where to buy instruments and supplies for period instrument performance. After all, one cannot walk into just any shop to buy a good instrument or bow, nor does one usually find music or books for them on the local shelves. Yet these items are available, if one knows the right places to look. And with the convenience of the internet, it is now fast and easy to purchase many items online."

Visit website for more details. There is an extensive list of musical iconography in art listed on this site. (ed.)

Tags: Great Bass Website; 

Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 385

"Manuel Minguillón was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. He obtained his bachelor degree in guitar performance from the Conservatorio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial where he studied with Gerardo Arriaga. Captivated by the music of the Renaissance, he continued his studies in Early Plucked Instruments at the Conservatorio de Arturo Soria, in Madrid, with Jesús Sanchez. Subsequently, Minguillón studied in Seville with Juan Carlos Rivera at the Conservatory Manuel Castillo, and thereafter perfected his skills under the guidance of master lutenist Hopkinson Smith in Basel, Switzerland. In 2005 he completed a Master's Degree in Lute and Early Plucked Instruments with the world renowned lutenist Paul O'Dette at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he is currently completing a Doctorate in Musical Arts. Since 2004 he has served as Professor O'Dette's primary teaching assistant for lute at the Eastman School. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 385

Part of the Music Institute of Chicago, ‘Viols in Our Schools’ is organized by Dr. Phillip W. Serna of the Spirit of Gambo – a Chicago Consort of Violsand is supported by the Viola da Gamba Society Third Coast as well as a pilot program of the Viola da Gamba Society of America.

Added on: Dec 10, 2008 | Hits: 385

"Alison Crum is one of the best known British exponents of the viol. As teacher, performer, and moving-spirit behind several well-known groups, she travels all over the world giving recitals and lectures, and teaching on summer schools and workshops.

She got her first viol while studying music at Reading University, and went on to study it in Brussels with Wieland Kuijken and, later, with Jordi Savall in Basle. She has made around eighty recordings - mostly with the Consort of Musicke, the Dowland Consort, Musica Antiqua of London, and the Rose Consort of Viols - but also featuring as a soloist on two discs of Marais, and most recently with Laurence Cummings, on a recording of the three Bach gamba sonatas, and playing Italian Virtuoso divisions on renaissance viols with Musica Antiqua on their latest release 'Word Play'.

She is President of the Viola da Gamba Society of Great Britain, and is Professor of Viol at Trinity College of Music in London.She directs many courses for viol players, including the International Viol Summer School, attracting players from all over the world, and has had published a series of graded music books centred around her highly acclaimed textbook 'Play the Viol' - now in its fifth reprint. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 18, 2008 | Hits: 387

“Rob MacKillop - Rob has recorded seven CDs of historical music, three of which reached the Number One position in the Scottish Classical Music Chart. In 2001 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship for his research into medieval Scottish music, which led him to studying with Sufi musicians in Istanbul and Morocco. He broadcast an entire solo concert on BBC Radio 3 from John Smith's Square, London. He has presented academic papers at conferences in Portugal and Germany, and has been published many times. Rob has been active in both historical and contemporary music. Three of Scotland's leading contemporary composers have written works for him, and he also composes new works himself. In 2004 he was Composer in Residence for Morgan Academy in Dundee, and in 2001 was Musician in Residence for Madras College in St Andrews. He created and Directed the Dundee Summer Music Festival. He works as a Reader of schools literature for Oxford University Press, and as a reviewer for Music Teacher. He has also been Lecturer in Scottish Musical History at Aberdeen University, Dundee University (where he created an evening class), and at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He is presently Musician In Residence to Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 25, 2009 | Hits: 388

"Although in the past, the Society organised courses in making as well as many in playing these instruments, at present the activity of both branches of the Society is fairly dormant due to the apathy of the membership. On the positive side, there are several good gamba makers as well as lute makers. Special mention should be made of Petr Vavrous (gambas) and Jiri Cepelak (lutes) who have both been very supportive to the work of the Society. However we do continue to lend out many instruments both gambas and lutes. The Society also lends out music and CDs. ... "

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 30, 2008 | Hits: 390

"PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY

• To cultivate, foster, sponsor, and develop appreciation of the art, history, literature and uses of historical harps.

• To promote appreciation of and to raise the level of proficiency in the performance and use of historical harps.

• To keep historical harp makers and performers, along with other friends of the historical harp, informed about literatureand activities pertaining to historical harps, and to provide occasions for them to meet.

• To promote the use of historical harps as professional instruments, and to encourage their use among amateurs.

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 391

The Lute Society of Japan. Visit website for more information. (site is in Japanese with no English, ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 392

"Dmitry Badiarov was born in Russia, lived and worked in Saint-Petersburg, Brussels and Tokyo. Dmitry Badiarov's career is a symbiosis of two professions: violin playing and making. As a luthier he made approx. 60 instruments, including the innovative violoncellos da spalla for players such as Ryo Terakado and Sigiswald Kuijken. In 2007 he made a set of innovative early baroque violins which have been played by La Petite Bande in March and October 2007. As a soloist on the violoncello da spalla he performed with Bach Collegium Japan and La Petite Bande. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 395

"London born gambist Claire Bracher, completed her undergraduate studies with Hille Perl in Bremen Germany, and her postgraduate studies with Richard Boothby and Reiko Ichise at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London.

Claire's postgraduate studies were supported by a Douglas & Hilda Simmonds Study Award and a Hester Laverne Award. At the RCM, Claire received the 'McKenna Baroque Prize'.

With her ensemble 'Amaranthos', she reached the final of The York Early Music Young Artists Competition 2007, and with the trio, 'Musici Infaticabili', Claire won first prize at the 2008 Fenton House Chamber Music Competition.

Claire now teaches the RCM viol consorts, and in 2007 organised the first 'International Festival of Viols', held at The Royal College of Music.

Claire has performed with many renowned early music specialists, including; Ton Koopman, Hille Perl, Harry van der Kamp, Harold Vogel and Peter Holtslag. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 22, 2008 | Hits: 395

“ .. His abiding interest in early music naturally led him to the lute.  His primary area of performance is in the baroque lute, especially very late music in the classical style.  Wilke is also one of the few performers who concentrates on solo music for the theorbo.  His album on Centaur Records of Charles Hurel’s suites for the instrument was the debut recording of this music and remains one of only a handful of solo theorbo recordings available.  Today Wilke is pursuing his doctorate in early music at the Eastman School of Music with Paul O'Dette.

Wilke performs widely, having given solo recitals in Italy and Germany as well as throughout the United States.  He has done live on-air performances and interviews for WGUC, WNKU and WVXU radio stations.  Selections from his Hurel album were featured on NPR's national early music show, Sunday Morning Baroque. Wilke recently performed for the Lute Society of America's "Emerging Artist Series" at the 2009 Boston Early Music Festival.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 19, 2010 | Hits: 396

“

Susan King followed her passion for the music of this unique and lovely instrument from her home in Australia to the other side of the world. Today she lives in Paris, where she’s realising her dream of performing the original manuscripts written for the French Baroque lute at the court of Louis XIV in Versailles.

Whether  through intimate home concerts or private lessons, Susan aspires to introduce people to the quietly uplifting sound of her beautiful lute.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 19, 2010 | Hits: 396

“Born in Prague in 1969, Petr Wagner studied cello at the Prague Conservatoire with Josef Chuchro. This was followed by studies in musicology at Charles University in Prague and at Royal Holloway College at the University of London. There he was introduced to the viola da gamba by Richard Boothby, later continuing his development as a gamba player with Jaap ter Linden at the Akademie für alte Musik Dresden.

After having completed his studies in Dresden, Petr Wagner was invited to study with Wieland Kuijken at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague where he received the prestigious Uitvoerend Musicus solo diploma.

Petr has appeared at numerous European festivals (Festival d’Ile de France, Prague Spring Festival, Sopron Early Music Days, Mitte Europa Festival, Brežice Early Music Festival, Forum Musicum Wrocław), both as a soloist and continuo player, and collaborates with musicians such as Jacques Ogg, Shalev Ad-El, Mitzi Meyerson, Bruce Dickey, Brent Wissick, Miklós Spányi, Péter Szüts, Simon Standage, Ophira Zakai, Magdalena Kožená, Noémi Kiss, and ensembles such as Concerto Palatino, Orfeo Orchestra, Les Inégales Köln, Concerto Armonico Budapest and Oslo Baroque Soloists. ..“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 397

"Marc Lewon specialises in medieval instruments of the lute family and medieval Germanic languages and literature. After gaining a Master's degree in musicology and medieval German from Heidelberg University (Germany), he moved to Basel to further his practical music studies in the Medieval Department of the Schola Cantorum. There he studied lute with Crawford Young, vielle with Randall Cook and singing with Kathleen Dineen. In 2006 he completed his diploma in medieval lute, graduating with honours. In 2007 he will conclude his studies in medieval fiddle and publish a facsimile edition of the fragmentary ”Frankfurt-Neidhart Manuscript” (c1300) containing early minnesang melodies.

He plays regularly with a number of ensembles including Freiburger Spielleyt, Dulce Melos, and Le Basile and is head of the project ensemble ”Leones”. Besides being a busy performer, he gives courses in medieval music and publishes articles and editions on the subject. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 399

“Eric Bellocq studied the guitar with Alexandre Lagoya at the Paris Conservatory, where he also graduated with a First Prize. He played the theorbo in the Baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants, directed by William Christie from 1983 to 1990. He also regularly took part in opera productions and concert performances with La Chapelle Royale, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Les Talens Lyriques, La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy, Le Concert Spirituel, Akâdemia, Le concert d'Astrée and La Fenice. ..”

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 18, 2009 | Hits: 400

"The Deutsche Lautengesellschaft e.V. (German Lute Society) was founded in Stuttgart 1996. To support research, to encourage the performance of lute music and to increase the public awareness of this instrument are the main aims of the activities in international contacts, like to the other European Lute Societies and the Lute Society of America for example. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 402

“Michael Craddock studied music at the University of North Texas, where he was the first guitarist to complete the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree. He was also a performer in master classes of Oscar Ghiglia and José Tomás. An interest in early music eventually led him to study the lute and related historical plucked instruments with Hopkinson Smith at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland. He has performed as a soloist and member of
several ensembles in Europe and the United States. A former faculty member of Texas Christian University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he now lives in Switzerland. His first CD, Tabulatures de Guiterne, was recently released on the Cantus label.“

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 18, 2009 | Hits: 402