EarlyMusicNews.Org

"British lutenist Nigel North has been sharing music with audiences for nearly 30 years. His quiet and gentle personality goes, literally, "hand in hand" with his choice of instrument; the lute is one of the most gentle, subtle yet technically demanding of "ancient" instruments. Through this medium, as soloist, accompanist and ensemble musician, Nigel has inspired appreciation from concert public and recording listeners ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 16, 2008 | Hits: 358

“Lutenist/theorbist Andreas Martin is perhaps best known for his recent splash in the early music world with his recording of Bach works for lute in 2004. This Harmonia Mundi disc, rated 5/5 stars in Goldberg magazine, represents a culmination of years of his close musical study and interest. It has led to comments such as “[Martin]...shows a deep knowledge of Bach’s music...an intensive Bach, brilliantly and marvellously distinguished...“(Pablo Vayón), „Meditative…subtle dynamics and evident lyricism…dance-like” (Michael Ullman, Fanfare Magazine), or “his phrasing [is] almost vocal in nuance” (Anna Picard, The Independent on Sunday).

Native to Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Martin’s early studies include the classical guitar in the Musikhochschule with Mario Sicca (Stuttgart), in the Conservatorio de Musica Giuseppe Verdi with Ruggero Chiesa (Milan), and Anglo – Saxon and Romance Languages and Philosophy at the University of Heidelberg. In order to expand upon his interest in Renaissance literature and music, he next enrolled in the esteemed Schola Cantorum in Basel, under the tutelage of lutists Eugen Dombois, Hopkinson Smith and Peter Croton. There he was also influenced by such artists as Emma Kirkby, Evelyn Tubb, Anthony Rooley and Nigel North.

His current life as a concert artist has taken Martin round the world. Recent highlights of solo appearances include the Festival de Musica Antigua, Barcelona (2004) or the Europabachfestival of Paris (2005).

He has also performed on television (Arte, Südwest 3) and radio (SWR 2 and BBC 3--concerts in Wales 2005 “Bach by Candlelight at Ewenny”).“

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Added on: May 20, 2009 | Hits: 352

"Debra Lonergan performs with the early 17th century ensembles La Gente d’Orfeo and Anaphantasia, as well as Milwaukee's Ensemble Musical Offering, and the period string quartet Mirabel. She has played continuo in concert for several of today’s leading soloists, among them, Enid Sutherland, Jaap Schroeder, Stanley Ritchie, Marilyn McDonald and John Holloway.

Ms. Lonergan has made an extensive study of string pedagogy, and with nearly 30 years of experience teaching all ages, maintains an active studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 351

"The members of the Quatuor Mosaïques, Erich Höbarth, Andrea Bischof, Anita Mitterer and Christophe Coin, met in Vienna when they were playing with Concentus Musicus Wien, and it was the great names of the classical Viennese repertoire that brought them together as a quartet.

Right from the beginning of the Quartet’s career in 1985, the Mosaïques performances were marked by both a new clarity stemming from their use of period instruments, and a poetic attention to detail that was typical of the central European tradition of chamber music.

The Mosaïques have forged ahead ever since, concentrating on the core of the classical repertoire with Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 04, 2008 | Hits: 351

"The "Liuto" (or "lute") derives both in name and form from the Arab instrument known as "al 'Ud" (in spanish "laúd"), which means literally "the wood". Normally a lute is described as a musical instrument which has a body with a round back and a flat top, a long neck and strings which are played with the fingers. We associate this instrument with the classic painting of the renassaince with an angel playing a "lute" while fliying. Is not so simple but is a good first contact with the lute.

We would consider a "lute" or "liuto" as a concept more than a single instrument.

Liuto com want to be a full web resource of lute, old plucked instruments and early music. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 31, 2008 | Hits: 346

"Ex classical guitar player, after this I dedicated at Lute (Renaissance and Baroque), Theorbo and Baroque Guitar with T. Stone, T. Bagnati and F. Torelli. I hearned my Diploma in Lute at the Italian State Conservatory "A. Pedrollo" in Vicenza under the guidance of T. Stone. I attended several courses with Nigel North, R. Cicero, A. Curtis and D. D. Sherving. With bursarship I attended a course with J. Lindberg by G. Cini Foundation in Venice. I make an intense concert activity as soloist and with little ensemble and orchestras. I'm member of Ensemble Foscarini, NovArt Baroque Ensemble and in the "Ancient Orchestra" of the Conservatoire in Vicenza directed by M. Paolo Faldi. I Work with the theatre company "Bel Teatro" in Padua for which I play the music, with original instruments, in the production af ancient theatre. Since four years I teaching guitar and lute at "Centro di Educazione Musicale Beethoven" in Padua where I've founded the "Accademia di Musica Antica del Centro di Ed. Mus. Beethoven".

I make an intense research activity working on ancient musical manuscript, besides I make pubblications by the editor "Armelin" in Padua. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 29, 2008 | Hits: 344

"1st prize in cello playing under André Navarra at the Paris Conservatory. Completes his studies in early music in Vienna with Nikolaus Harnoncourt and viola da gamba with Jordi Savall at the Schola Cantorum in Basel.

Together with Erich Höbarth, Andrea Bischof and Anita Mitterer, he founded the Quatuor Mosaïques in 1984. The quartet is specialised in music from Vienna classic repertoire.

Besides activities as a chamber musician, Christophe Coin is regularly invited as a soloist and conductor in France and abroad.

Since 1991, he has directed the Ensemble Baroque de Limoges in a repertoire of 17th and 18th century music.

Musician and research worker, he has organised international Symposa to examine playing techniques and fabrication of early instruments since 1992 in Limoges.

His recordings have been well-received by the critics; two Gramophone Awards successively for Haydn's Opus 20 and Opus 33 quartets played by the Quatuor Mosaïques, and a Classical Music Victoire Award for his recording of the “cello piccolo” cantatas by Bach with the Ensemble Baroque de Limoges.

Christophe Coin teaches at the Paris Conservatory and at the Schola Cantorum in Basel. "

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Added on: Aug 04, 2008 | Hits: 344

“The Hurdy-gurdy Forum was started as an online forum for hurdy-gurdy enthusiasts on the 31st of May 2006 by Scott Marshall, then a newcomer to hurdy-gurdies. Although there was an existing hurdy-gurdy mailing list in the US, Scott wanted to contact and meet players from the UK. Somehow the idea of meeting up grew into the First UK Hurdy-gurdy Festival, which took place on the 20th-22nd of April 2007 in Lancaster. Ever since the Forum has been growing and thriving, and we have new subscribers every week! It has become an important hub for friendship, discussion, resources and trade for hurdy-gurdy fans worldwide. ..“

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Added on: Jun 05, 2010 | Hits: 342

Federation of Viola da Gamba Societies.

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Added on: Jul 11, 2009 | Hits: 339

"Bill Taylor is a specialist in the performance of ancient harp music from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and is one of very few players investigating these repertoires on medieval gut-strung harps, wire-strung clarsachs and harps with buzzing bray pins.

He is the foremost interpreter of the Robert ap Huw manuscript, containing the earliest harp music from anywhere in Europe, employing the fingernail technique specified in the manuscript, whilst reading from a facsimile of the tablature and using modern copies of historical harps. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 10, 2008 | Hits: 338

“Harp Spectrum is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization dedicated to gathering and sharing information about all kinds of harps and harp music. We are mainly composed of a group of harp players and harp music fans. Our article contributions come from harpists all over the world and we are continually seeking additional material.  ..“

There is a section on Historical Harp.

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Added on: May 04, 2010 | Hits: 338

"Lex Eisenhardt is one of Europe's foremost experts on early guitars, like the Vihuela, the Baroque- and Romantic guitars. He currently teaches both classical guitar and historical plucked instruments at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

He has been a soloist in the Holland Early Music Festival in Utrecht. He also has given concerts in the Early Music network, both as a soloist and together with soprano Maria-Luz Alvarez. He was invited for concerts and classes throughout Europe, the United States and Australia. He has made extensive study of the vihuela literature and playing technique, as well as of the very specific technique of the baroque guitar. As a result he made recordings of vihuela works by the sixteenth century Spanish composer Luys de Narvaez and several with music for the baroque guitar (see discography).

Lex Eisenhardt has also made recordings of music by Fernando Sor on an original period instrument. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2008 | Hits: 337

“Alfonso Marin began his musical studies in the “Conservatorio Superior de Tenerife” (Spain), and afterwards in the “Conservatorium van Amsterdam” were he continued his classical guitar and vihuela studies under Lex Eisenhardt.

From 1998 he devoted himself entirely to the study of early plucked instruments as the lute, theorbo and vihuela, continuing his studies in the same conservatory for five more years with the lutenist Fred Jacobs. ..

His collaboration with the soprano Valeria Mignaco is one of his most rewarding and fruitful musical activities, having performed with her in numerous recitals and festivals in Holland, Germany, England, Belgium and Spain. ..”

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Added on: Dec 27, 2009 | Hits: 337

"Essi Iso-Oja (Ellonen) holds a Master's degree in the harp performance from Sibelius Academy and the additional studies of history at The University of Tampere. She has over twenty-years experience as an orchestral and chamber music harpist with the major Finnish orchestras (for example Lahti Symphony Orchestra) and with the various ensembles ranging from Early Music to the Contemporary field. She has also given lectures about the harp music in Finland as well as composed and arranged music for the harp.

During the recent years Essi has focused in Early Music and the historical pedal harp (the single action harp) by playing and researching the instrument and its original repertoire. She owns currently five harps, among them is a Louis XVI harp by Beat Wolf, built after historical models (Naderman, Cousineau).

You can hear Essi's harp also in the numerous film soundtracks, like the awarded documents Mechanical Love (dir. Phie Ambo 2007), Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman (dir. Jennifer Fox 2006) and Along the Road Little Child (dir. Virpi Suutari & Susanna Helke 2005).

Essi Iso-Oja is a member of the Historical Harp Society, the Finnish Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies and a founding member of the Finnish Harp Society. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 334

"My name is Olve Utne, and I play the Baroque Violin and the Baroque Viola. I have a Cand.Philol. degree (roughly equivalent to an advanced thesis MA) in Musicology from the University of Oslo (1996), with Arvid Vollsnes as my advisor and Richard Gwilt as my Baroque Viola teacher. I have also studied one year as a guest student at the Early Music programme of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (Royal Conservatory of Brussels) in Belgium on a Flemish State Scholarship (1997/98).

My main teacher in Brussels was François Fernandez — a violinist with a truly stunning technique, great musical insight and an open mind. I consider it a true honour to have had the chance to learn from him.

Orchestral practice includes playing the viola in the Oslo Baroque Orchestra, leading the 2nd violins and violas in Lofoten og Vesterålen Orkesterforening, and participating in various orchestral projects during my year in Belgium. Of those projects, the three that I feel I learned the most from were the Beethoven concert (4th Symphony, 5th Piano Concerto, Egmont Ouverture) conducted by Phillippe Herreweghe; the C.Ph.E. Bach concert (two symphonies and two cello concertos) lead by the impressively virtuoso Baroque cellist Hidemi Suzuki; and Haydn’s oratorio Die Schöpfung, conducted by Sigiswald Kuijken — a baroque violin pioneer and conductor whose orchestral leading skills and insight in Haydn’s music is truly exceptional. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 30, 2008 | Hits: 334

"Gerard REBOURS is the only French holder of the Diplôme Supérieur in baroque guitar from the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, and was the first musician to obtain the Diplôme d'Etat in renaissance and baroque guitar.

In addition to a solo and duet recording he has made a CD with the group "Les Sonneurs", another with the "Compagnie Maitre Guillaume", has recorded music on historical instruments for the Paris "Cité de la Musique" and has performed on the sound track of several films such as Pirates (Polanski), Cyrano de Bergerac (Rappeneau), Mansart (Delaborde). ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 19, 2008 | Hits: 333

“An internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, Tim Rayborn has been active in the fields of world and early music for nearly 20 years. He plays dozens of musical instruments from medieval Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Asia, including: lutes, plucked strings, flutes,
and percussion, as well as being a singer.

Tim lived in the UK for seven years, studying for his M.A. and Ph.D. in medieval studies at the University of Leeds. He concurrently worked as a musician, performing and recording.

He has toured the U.S. and Europe extensively (from Ireland to Turkey), performing with the London-based medieval group Tintagel, and his own group, Ensemble Florata (including concerts at the York and Beverley Early Music Festivals, Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, Bunyola in Majorca, and the Spitalfields Festival in London). He has given a number of performances for BBC (in the UK and Jersey), appeared on Belgian classical radio in a live concert broadcast, toured in Canada and Australia, and worked with folk musicians in Marrakech and Istanbul. He has also taught at the San Francisco Early Music Society Medieval/Renaissance summer workshop.  …“

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Added on: Feb 07, 2011 | Hits: 331

"Sergio Zigiotti and Fabiano Merlante Duo has been created in 1996 with the purpose of studing and performing the vast original repertoire for mandolin and guitar, that includes a large number of baroque sonatas – which manuscript are scattered everywhere in the european libraries – the 18th century’s works of the Italian and German instrumental schools, up to modern and contemporary music which research of the timbre pursuits go well with the crystalline sonority of these instruments. This stimulating historical sphere is on the same wavelenght as the musicological interests of the musicians that in this case have got the opportunity to have not only a techincal-executive musical approach with these works. All of this had led the Duo to an in-depth knowledge of the plucked instruments and to interest themselves to the execution – in particular occasions – of the 18th century repertoire with copies of instruments of those ages (Lombard, Brescian, Milanese, Genoese mandolin – Louis Panormo's guitar, London 1838). In 1997 the Duo had won the first award at the XI National Competition “Nei Giardini dell’Aulòs” in Rimini; in 1999 had been among the winners of the VII° Internationa Competition “Città di Cortemilia” (Cuneo), and had been shortlisted for the IX International Exhibition for young musicians in Macerata Feltria (Pesaro), had won the second prize (first prize had not been awarded) at the II International Competition Giacomo Sartori in Ala (Trento) on mandolin and guitar specific category. In 2000 had won had won the first award at the National Competition “Città di Castelfidardo” for guitar in chamber groups category and another first prize at the National Competition “G. Ansaldi” in Villanova Mondovì (Cuneo).

Sergio Zigiotti and Fabiano Merlante edit for Armelin Musica Edition the collection of music for plucked instruments "Conserto Vago". ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 29, 2008 | Hits: 329

"Lynda Sayce is one of the UK's leading lutenists, and is noted both as a performer and as a musical scholar with a strong interest in history, literature and the visual arts. She studied at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, where she matriculated in History and graduated in Music. She then studied lute with Jakob Lindberg at the Royal College of Music, and also took continuo classes with Nigel North. She holds a Ph.D for her research on the history of the theorbo, which is to be published as two books in 2005-6. Lynda has contributed articles to Early Music, the Revised New Grove Dictionary of Music, and the art journal Apollo, and has edited many music publications. She performs regularly with leading period instrument ensembles, including The King's Consort, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the Musicians of the Globe. For many years she was lutenist with the award-winning ensemble Charivari Agréable. Lynda appears on more than 100 CD recordings, and has broadcast on radio and TV stations throughout Europe, and in the USA, Japan and South America. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 328

“Mara Galassi graduated from the Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano and the Pesaro Conservatory of Music with honors. Subsequently, she studied pedal harp with Luciana Chierici, David Watkins, and Emmy Huerlimann, performance practice with harpsichordist David Collyer and lutenist Patrick O'Brien and musicology with Michael Morrow in London. She served as principal harpist for the Teatro Massimo Opera House in Palermo, Italy. She currently lives in Milan where she teaches modern and historical harps at the Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano. She develops her activities as soloist and as a member of the most famous early music Ensembles in Europe: Concerto Vocale (dir. René Jacobs), Concerto Italiano (dir. Rinaldo Alessandrini), Mala Punica (dir. Pedro Memelsdorff), Cantus Cölln (dir. Konrad Junghänel). As musicologist she has done extensive research in the field of historical harps. She recorded for Tactus, Symphonia, Ricordi, Harmonia Mundi, Opus 111 and Glossa. ..“

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Added on: May 18, 2009 | Hits: 326

"The Swedish Guitar and Lute Society, SGLS was founded 1968 by Jörgen Rörby. It is a non-profit organization open to all those interested in guitar and lute. A magazine is published four times a year, Gitarr och Luta. The SGLS arranges a course (Liten Gitarrakademi) every year with well known guitar and lute personalities as guest teachers. The Society works towards qualified guitar and lute playing and supports ensembles in varioes ways in Sweden. The SGLS has many members in differents countries and strives for broad international contact. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 324

“Claas Harders began learning viola da gamba at the age of seven. He continued his studies with Jaap ter Linden and Sarah Cunningham at the Akademie für Alte Musik Bremen as well as at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon with Marianne Muller.

Further studies with Freek Borstlap, Paolo Pandolfo, Wieland Kuijken, Jordi Savall, Wendy Gillespie, and Ariane Maurette.

In addition to the viola da gamba, he is a much sought-after lirone player. He plays regularly with chamber music ensembles throughout Europe and has appeared at festivals such as Ambronay (France), Abu Gosh (Israel), Styriarte (Austria), Barockfest Münster, Musikfest Bremen, and the Festival Oude Muziek (Netherlands).“

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Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 323

"Peter Wendland performs as a soloist, specializing in the repertoire for unaccompanied solo viola da gamba, and is a member of various ensembles in the UK and Germany, including the acclaimed Rose Consort of Viols. Peter has made numerous recordings for radio and television and CD, including Bach’s Art of the Fugue with the Kölner Violen Consort, the first recording of the twelve sonatas for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo by Johann Philipp Krieger (1649-1725) with the Baroque violinist Mihoko Kimura, and a recording of contemporary music by the American cult composer, "Moondog". Recent recordings with The Rose Consort of Viols on Naxos include "Elizabethan Songs and Consort Music" with Catherine King, Mezzo-soprano. Peter is also an experienced teacher and lecturer. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 316

“Annette Otterstedt 

I should have invented the lyra viol if Frank Traficante had not discovered it for me beforehand. I was very young yet when I asked my teacher Johannes Koch to tell me about scordaturas for the viol. The only instance he knew was tuning the bottom string to C. I was disappointed, since I had already marked down the viol with its six strings as ideally suited for chordal play and various tunings. So I was not surprised when, browsing through my doctoral supervisor's (Carl Dahlhaus's) library, I came across a 'Musica Britannica' volume containing works by William Lawes, among them a suite for three lyra viols. There was the instrument to fill the gap. ..“

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Added on: Jul 14, 2009 | Hits: 315

"David Parsons studied at the Royal College of Music as a pupil of Diana Poulton. Since his Wigmore Hall debut he has performed at many of the principal European Early Music events as well as touring in the USA. His recent recordings include a critically acclaimed CD of Elizabethan Lute Music from Robert Dowland’s Varietie of Lute Lessons (Metronome) which was followed by the Haydn Lute Trio’s recording of 18th century German Galant chamber music (ASV). Most recently he has recorded a programme of Guitar Music and Songs by the Catalan guitarist and composer, Fernando Sor together with soprano Evelyn Tubb. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 314