EarlyMusicNews.org

“Cellist Fred Edelen and harpsichordist and fortepianist Christina Edelen have performed together throughout the United States and Northern Europe since 1983.  Both received Performer's Certificates from the Indiana University School of Music for outstanding performance.  Their extensive repertoire includes lesser-known music of the French Baroque, more familiar repertoire of Bach, Geminiani, and the Italian masters, to early Classical.

They have appeared at the early music festivals of Boston, Berkeley, Bloomington, Columbus, and San Antonio. As Artistic Co-Directors and founders of Early Music Southwest in Houston, Duo Edelen have performed regularly with internationally acclaimed Baroque specialists including Baroque violinists Stanley Ritchie and Amy Kauffman, flutist Colin St. Martin, and tenor Tony Boutté.

In conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston they have created a highly successful Baroque concert series in the museum's Rienzi collection.  Duo Edelen are founding members of Trio La Poplinière, and are sought after as recitalists, continuo players, and  teachers.  They currently reside in Amsterdam.“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 1347

“La Follia has appeared throughout Texas, and its members have recorded and performed throughout the world as soloists and with other ensembles. La Follia helped establish the annual Early Music Festival at the Festival-Institute at Round Top, Texas. The ensemble has performed throughout Texas and has appeared frequently on John Aielli's Eklektikos radio program on KUT, and Classical Austin on KMFA.

La Follia's name comes from folia (meaning folly), the name of a 16th-century Spanish dance. The music for this dance was based on a characteristic harmonic pattern, which became associated with a particular melody in the 17th century. This dance has fascinated composers down to our own time. Variations on La Follia have been written by Alessandro Scarlatti, Marin Marais, Arcangelo Corelli, J.S. and C.P.E. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Luigi Cherubini, Franz Liszt, Carl Nielsen, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. ..”

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 1551

“Drawn from three continents, musicians from My Lady's Chamber have studied in New York, Brisbane and Toronto as well as in London at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music. The group aims to communicate the passion of the Baroque, whilst retaining its essential poise and elegance. ..“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 1222

“Originally formed when two of our members were studying at the Royal College of Music, The 1607 Ensemble is unique in that we perform early consort repertoire alongside 20th-century vocal jazz—both to a high professional standard—and create our own eclectic compositions using elements from both styles. We draw our inspiration from a cappella groups like The Real Group, Take 6, Manhattan Transfer, and the New York Voices; mainstream early music groups such as The Consort of Musicke, I Fagiolini, and Le Poème Harmonique; and “third stream” jazz/classical fusion groups like The Modern Jazz Quartet. ..“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 1354

“The Wessex Consort recreates a late 16th century European music ensemble. Similar groups worked in towns, churches and at courts, and were found throughout continental Europe and Great Britain.

Our ensemble consists of five musicians who play modern reproductions of historical instruments. The Wessex Consort has a variety of programs suitable for any occasion. Let us create a memorable musical experience for you. “

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 1428

“Young early musical ensemble devoted to the repertoire of the  XII-XIVth centuries. The group is interested in reliving the multiple aspects of the repertoire of the day from the motet to vernacular song.

Some of the instruments used by the ensemble were constructed by Bruno Cognyl-Fournier, Robert Gagnon et Micheline Racicot.“

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Added on: Apr 23, 2010 | Hits: 1385

“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: 1437

“Les Délices is quickly establishing its reputation for polished, expressive, and dynamic performances of masterpieces and little-known works from the French Baroque. Founded by baroque oboist Debra Nagy, Les Délices is comprised of some of the nation’s top early music specialists, each with notable careers as soloists, chamber musicians, and teachers. In addition to touring engagements, Les Délices presents two to three concert sets per year in Northeast Ohio in intimate settings that encourage cooperation and mutual interest between local visual and performing artists. Les Délices' performances on period instruments allows them to explore the rich tapestry of tone colors available in this repertoire, and the group's name conveys their approach to the music of this era: a delight, a fine delicacy, sumptuous, and exciting. Audience members have called their performances “exquisite,” “superb,” and “breathtakingly gorgeous,” while the Cleveland Plain Dealer has lauded the ensemble’s “rhythmic buoyancy, suave phrasing and seamless interplay.” Les Délices has been delighting audiences with regional concerts in the midwest since 2006, made their Boston recital debut in June 2009, has had live performances featured on WKSU’s In Performance, and will have their new recording featured as part of the Audio-guide for an upcoming exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (Watteau, Music, and Theater).“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 1215

“RENAISSONICS music lives in the robust performances of Renaissonics. Simultaneously historical and contemporary in its approach, the group plays as musicians of the era played --vigorously and improvisationally. Renaissonics' stylish performances allow audiences to experience the elegance and excitement of Renaissance music as it was intended to be heard. Music of the past is suddenly music of today. Virtuoso solos, chamber music, dance music and dazzling improvisations combine in a program that joyously bridges the gap between the artistic and pop. Renaissonics is a unique blend of members, all of whom are internationally recognized soloists, dance musicians, and improvisors. Their playing vibrantly blends this extensive expertise into performances that are continually original. Renaissonics is the resident ensemble for the Historical Dance Foundation's annual International Early Dance Institute.

RENAISSONICS is acknowledged as a leading ensemble of Renaissance Chamber Music, Dance Music, and Improvisation. They have appeared at the Festival Cenomanies in Le Mans, France; Musique en Catalogne Romaine, Perpignan, France; and may be heard on Ken Burn's PBS Documentary "The West". They were a featured ensemble for the Christmas Revels where they performed for a public of over 15,000 and for Early Music America's Star Spangled Season. Other appearances include the Boston Early Music Festival, the Cambridge Society for Early Music's International Candlelight Concerts, the Castle Hill Pop Music Series, the Indianapolis Early Music Festival, the New England Conservatory of Music's Improvisation Festival, Plimouth Plantation, and at Boston's First Night Celebration. RENAISSONICS is the resident ensemble of the Killington Vermont Shakespeare Festival.  ..“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 1405

“Our mission is to promote and encourage the performance and appreciation of Early Music, principally but not exclusively in East Cork.

By the term "Early Music" we understand music composed before 1750, performed with instruments appropriate to the period. We aim to integrate the authentic style and spirit of an earlier time with performances which are vital and coherent in the present. Therefore, later music may be included and connections made to contemporary music, traditional music from various cultures, non-written-down forms of music, and other art forms such as dance, theatre, literature, visual art, film etc. In this way, we acknowledge 'Early Music' as a vital root of our present culture.

East Cork Early Music will work to nurture and support Irish and Irish-based musicians at every level, as well as attracting specialist performers from overseas. Our audiences should be both local and international. We will promote concerts of the highest quality and innovation. Together with concerts we will create an educational programme consisting of intensive masterclasses, lectures and school performances. Theses are aimed at a wide range of students: from primary school-children to college level and adults, both music students and non-specialists. We will encourage participation in masterclasses by those who are new to Early Music performance, as well as by those already specializing in it.“

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Added on: May 03, 2010 | Hits: 3639

“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. ..“

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Added on: May 04, 2010 | Hits: 1383

“Marianne R. Pfau created Toutes Suites in 2006 to restore magnificent but little known or entirely forgotten music of the Baroque. Toutes Suites, on period instruments and prominently featuring the hautbois, works in California and in Germany.

Scrutinizing Baroque hautbois music in the great European archives that in many cases has not been heard since the 18th century, has revealed some astonishingly beautiful works by largely unknown composers.  Ms. Pfau, musicologist-cum-hoboista, takes great pleasure in bringing these gems to light again and exposing modern audiences to their sonic beauty, in CD recordings, on radio, and in live concerts.  She also publishes modern editions of the works recorded. “

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Added on: Jun 16, 2010 | Hits: 1400

“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: 1043

“Recently founded by four of the most promising young period instrument players in Europe, Ensemble Diderot is already renowned for its lively virtuoso interpretations of 17th- and 18th- Century music, and is rapidly evolving into one of Europe's most ingenious chamber music groups.

Named after the brilliant, versatile, and prolific writer of the Enlightenment, Denis Diderot, the Ensemble devotes itself to the performance and research of the trio sonata repertoire in its original and most sonorous combination: two violins, harpsichord and cello. ..“

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Added on: Jun 17, 2010 | Hits: 1935

“Andreas Helm
Shawm, vocals, yodeling. Born and raised in the area of Mostviertel in Niederösterreich, Andreas Helm received his musical education at the Brucknerkonservatorium Linz and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam , where he studied recorders and early oboes. He is the permanent oboist of the L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra, the Wiener Akademie, Concilium Musicum Wien. ..

Albin Paulus
Bag pipes (Schaeferpfeife, Bock), jaws-harp, vocals, yodeling. Born and raised in Germany, Albin Paulus obtained a classical education in clarinet. ..

Simon Wascher
hurdy gurdy. Born and raised in Oberoesterreich in a family known for its folk music tradition, Simon Wascher studied hurdy gurdy with Valentin Clastrier, Gilles Chabenat, Matthias Loibner, and Riccardo Delfino. ..”

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Added on: Jul 06, 2010 | Hits: 1819

“Described as one of the discoveries of the 2001 early music festival in Regensburg, Germany, Musicians of the Old Post Road has been captivating audiences in the US and abroad with its exciting programming and virtuoso performances. As a chamber ensemble specializing in the period instrument performance of music from the Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic periods, the ensemble specializes in offering a dynamic and diverse repertory that includes rediscovered works that have been lost to audiences for centuries.“

Also, visit these associated Old Post Road sites:

Podcasts: Discover Podcasts
YouTube Channel: musiciansopr
OPR Editions: Old Post Road Editions

Added on: Jul 27, 2010 | Hits: 3056

Kotchnak, founded in 1976, performs traditional Armenian folk songs as well as songs by ashoughs, or troubadours, especially those of Sayat Nova who lived in the 18th century.

Kotchnak has performed in numerous cities of Europe and North America.

Kotchnak specializes in the modal and monophonic interpretation of Armenian music.

Ensemble based in Paris.

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Added on: Jan 08, 2011 | Hits: 1249

In just a few years, Concerto Soave has become a leading reference in the interpretation of Italian music of the Seicento. Born from the meeting of soprano Maria Cristina Kiehr and harpsichordist Jean-Marc Aymes, the ensemble draws together soloists specialised in the 17th century repertoire, essentially Italian. The ensemble takes the form of a Concerto in the historical sense:  « an instrumental jewel case richly coloured (archlute, harp, viola da gamba, violins, harpsichord, organ...) destined to enshrine one or more voices ».

Every concert and recording of Concerto Soave, with L’Empreinte Digitale and now under an exclusive contract with Harmonia Mundi, has been unanimously praised by audiences and critics alike. The ensemble is regularly invited to the most prestigious festivals: Utrecht, Ambronay, Montreux, Bruges, Innsbruck, Nantes (« La Folle Journée »), and performs in major European cities: Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, London, Brussels, Berlin…as well as in the USA and Canada.

María Cristina Kiehr, soprano
Over a number of years, María Cristina Kiehr has come to be recognised as one of the greatest interpreters of baroque music. She combines suavity of timbre with an accurate respect for text, which she defends with humility and warmth. Perhaps it is her Argentine nationality and her Danish origins which create a magical combination of warm Latin sensuality and great musical and stylistic rigour?

Following study with René Jacobs, she has participated in countless concerts and opera productions with the most renowned conductors (René Jacobs, Philippe Herreweghe, Franz Bruggen, Jordi Savall, Gustav Leonhardt, Nikolaus Harnoncourt...), and with the most prestigious ensembles (Hesperion XXI, Concerto Köln, Ensemble 415, Seminario Musicale, Concerto Vocale, Elyma, La Fenice...). She has travelled around the world (Europe, Japan, Australia, Central and South America..) and has taken part in more than one hundred recordings. Her passion for Italian monody of the 17th Century is fully expressed with Concerto Soave, of which she is co-founder with Jean-Marc Aymes. Maria Cristina Kiehr reveals her talents as a story-teller, careful to express the most minute details of the nuova musica, which makes her not only a singer with a unique timbre, but an accomplished artist.

Jean-Marc Aymes, organ, harpsichord & direction
Jean-Marc Aymes is one of the most brilliant harpsichordists of his generation. He has recorded Girolamo Frescobaldi’s entire music for keyboard, all the volumes of which (Primo Libro delle Toccate and Capricci) have been greeted with critical acclaim in the international specialised press (Diapason d’Or, Joker from Belgian magazine Crescendo, 5 Goldberg…).

Jean-Marc Aymes is the artistic director of Concerto Soave. He founded the group, now considered a reference for the interpretation of early Italian baroque music, with the Argentinian soprano, Maria Cristina Kiehr. Recordings for the Harmonia Mundi label have won a succession of international prizes. He travels the world with Concerto Soave (U.K, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Austria, U.S.A, Canada...) performing in some of the most prestigious early music festivals. He has played with a wide range of early music groups (Janequin, Talens Lyriques, Grande Ecurie, Daedalus, Akademia...) and still performs regularly with the ensemble La Fenice, conducted by his great friend Jean Tubéry, also an Italian music specialist. He has participated in more than sixty recordings and innumerable concerts and radio broadcasts. He is also known for his contributions to the word of contemporary music as a concert and recording artist with Marseille’ ensemble Musicatreize. He is now the artistic director of the “Mars en baroque” festival in Marseille.

Added on: Jan 20, 2011 | Hits: 1262

“Formed in 1973 by five Juilliard graduates, THE AULOS ENSEMBLE was at the forefront of a movement that was to capture the imagination of the American listening public. In 1978 with the release of their recording, "Masterpieces of the High Baroque", AULOS' reputation for exhilarating performances informed with scholarly insight was firmly established. In those groundbreaking years, the group's innovative programming featured a blend of flute, oboe, violin, cello, and harpsichord, later adding a viola da gamba.  With its conservatory based training, Aulos brought an uncompromising standard of excellence in performance that resulted in invitations from virtually all of this country's major chamber music presenters. This exposure helped create a new audience awareness for the rich rewards of this repertoire performed on "period instruments" and comments such as "scintillating", "virtuosic", and "authentic baroque performance at its best" from America's most respected music critics.  …“

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Added on: Jan 21, 2011 | Hits: 1283

“Pro Musica Rara, Baltimore's “premier early music ensemble”, is a period instrument chamber music ensemble performing baroque, classical, and early romantic repertoire. Founded in 1974, its musicians include Baltimore area professionals, early music specialists from throughout the eastern seaboard and world-renown guest artists. As Artists-in-Residence at Towson University Center for the Arts, PMR presents an annual subscription series and offers pre-concert lectures, master classes, and open dress rehearsals for students. In recent years, PMR has also given performances in important area venues such as the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, Peabody Conservatory, and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.”

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Added on: Jan 22, 2011 | Hits: 1222

Chalice Consort collaborates with early music scholars and musicians in helping little-known works from the Renaissance and early Baroque eras become more widely appreciated by the modern music-loving public. The Consort pays special attention to the verbal texts and to the music's rhetorical force, as well as to acoustics. Its performances also take into account the various concepts of stylistic decorum that were strongly articulated by humanist writers in the Renaissance and provide an essential part of the context in which these repertoires were composed, performed, and first appreciated. Chalice Consort aims to communicate the emotional power of this music to modern listeners.

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Added on: Jan 27, 2011 | Hits: 1236

“Cançonièr is a Bay Area-based early music group devoted to medieval repertoire from the 12th to the 15th centuries, and some traditional music from related regions (Scandinavia, the Balkans, and the Middle East).

Created in the summer of 2008 by multi-instrumentalist Tim Rayborn and recorder virtuoso Annette Bauer, the group appears both as a duo, and in an expanded form, featuring the talents of Bay Area favorite Shira Kammen on bowed strings, and the beautiful voice of Phoebe Jevtovic.

In a short time, the group has gained the attention of the early music community, and received acclaim for its musicianship, unusual and exciting concert programs, and its debut CD.  … “

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Added on: Feb 07, 2011 | Hits: 1325

Los Músicos de su Alteza is a vocal and instrumental ensemble founded by Luis Antonio Gonzalez in 1992. Their repertoire ranges from early Baroque to Viennese classicism.

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Added on: Apr 14, 2011 | Hits: 1470

“Cincinnati Chamber Music -- The Catacoustic Consort performs music from the Renaissance to the Baroque on historical instruments with the intent of recreating the sound of the music when it was originally performed. Early instruments include the bass, tenor and treble viola da gamba, lirone, pardessus de viole, Renaissance cittern, bandora, Baroque flute, lute, theorbo, cornetto, Baroque harp, chamber organ, and harpshichord, among others. We offer early music workshops and classes. Performances include music by such composers as Marin Marais and St. Colombe (Tous les Matins du Monde — All the Mornings of the World). Our baroque performances in Cincinnati have been as diverse as seventeenth-century German sacred music and Italian love songs. Performers have included Ronn McFarlane (lute — Boston Early Music Festival, Amherst Early Music Festival, Baltimore Consort), Michael Leopold of Milan, Italy (chitarrone), sopranos Youngmi Kim and Cassie Webster, baroque flute virtuoso Sang Joon Park, Lucas Harris (baroque guitar and theorbo), and Wendy Gillespie (viola da gamba —Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Early Music Institute — Bloomington Early Music Festival). Fans of chamber music in Cincinnati as well as classical music will find this baroque music group quite extraordinary. Mark Cudek (Indianpolis Early Music Festival) has appeared with the Catacoustic playing cittern.”

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Added on: Apr 14, 2011 | Hits: 1592

“Bacchanalia Baroque Ensemble was founded in 2002 by flutist Laura Thompson. This period-instrument ensemble comprised of talented and dynamic musicians from all over the world engages New York audiences with unusual programming - including works that have never been heard in America's concert halls. Bacchanalia brings to audiences baroque and early classical music -from the intimate flute sonatas of Hotteterrre and Blavet, to the virtuosic concerti of Quantz and music by composers such as Gehot and Mozart.

Bacchanalia gave their debut at the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe in 2002, and have since been heard in many venues and early music series' in New York, such as Riverside Church's Christ Chapel, Midtown Concerts, Saint Peter's Classical Concert series, as ensemble-in-residence at the Church of the Resurrection, Music at Our Saviour's Atonement, Sundays on the Island, and Trinity Church in New York City.

Awarded grants from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council in 2008 and 2010 for live concert programming, and from the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance for the recording and production of a CD of American Federal era music, Bacchanalia is set to release their first recording, of trios by American immigrant-composer and violinist Joseph Gehot, which will be released on the Eroica label in 2011.“

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Added on: Apr 21, 2011 | Hits: 1129