Showing 26 - 50 of 55
Artist: Jacques Morel
Morel was a student of Marin Marais and dedicated "Ler livre de pieces de violle" to Marais. Within his compositions Morel used the same signs for bowing and ornamentaion as his teacher. Comparatively, the context of his suites for the viol were often much simpler than those of Marais. He composed a French setting of the "Te Deum" and composed... [+] Read More
Artist: Salomone Rossi
The first published work attributed to Salamone Rossi was the "Canzonette" written in 1589. Rossi himself, however, also attributes "Il primo libro de madrigali a 5 voci" as his first publication. It is more than likely that Rossi had contacts with the Mantuan court as a number of his early works were dedicated to Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga. It is... [+] Read More
Artist: Domenico Dragonetti
An Italian composer and virtuostic double bass player who spent 50 years of his life in London. By the age of 13 he was the principle bass player at the Opera Buffa in Venice and was described as having tamed the ferocity of his instrument. His bass viol was over-sized with three strings. Dragonetti traveled to London playing at the Haymarket... [+] Read More
Artist: Aleksander Zarzycki
As a pianist, Zarzycki had studied with Viole in Berlin and gave concerts in Poznan, Krakow, Warsaw, Germany and England. He also studied composition in Paris with Reber and Reinecke. In Poland Zarzycki helped to establish the Warsaw Music Society and the Musical Institute with Paderewski as one of its teachers. In education Zarzycki was... [+] Read More
Artist: Jordi Savall
Jordi Savall is among the leading instrumentalists and conductors of the European early music scene, specializing in Renaissance and Medieval music.
He began studying music when he was six, learning cello and pursuing that instrument at the Barcelona Conservatory. He took an interest in early music, and began learning the viola da gamba. That... [+] Read More
Artist: Antonio Caldara
An Italian composer of an estimated 3, 400 pieces. The majority of his compositions were vocal pieces although he also composed instrumental works (sonatas). The genres he employed in vocal music included primarily opera, cantata and oratorio. The better parts of his works are characterized by drama, effective melodic structures, affinities... [+] Read More
Artist: Edward Johnson
Johnson was a well-thought of composer in the England of the late sixteenth century. He was asked by Morley to contribute to "The Triumphes of Oriana," was described as one of England's leading composers, and Byrd arranged a keyboard setting of one of his dance pairs. From the references to his music titles, Johnson probably played the viol and... [+] Read More
Artist: Florentio Maschera
The compositions by Maschero that survive were all composed as four-part instrumental canzonas. He studied with his father at Brescia Cathedral and then was an organ student of Claudio Merulo. He was the organist for Santo Spirito in Venice and later succeeded Merulo as the organist for Brescia Cathedral. Known as an organist and composer... [+] Read More
Artist: Guillaume Morlaye
Morlaye was a performer on the lute as well as a composer and music editor. He also played the guitar and viol and transcribed and composed works for the former instrument. Though he was involved in a number of enterpises he printed works for his teacher, Ripa, including intablatures for the spinet and guitar. Fezandat stood the costs of... [+] Read More
Artist: Richard Nicholson
In 1595 Nicholson was probably appointed as the organist at Magdalen College. Nicholson's musical life centered around Oxford where in 1596 he received a Bachelor's degree in Music. In 1626 he became the first Master of Musical Practice at Oxford and held this position until 1639. This position was developed into a professorial position. From... [+] Read More
Artist: Robert Parsons
If Robert Parsons had connections with Lincoln, he probably had an influence on the music of Byrd. Their settings of "Libera me, Domine" are surprisingly similar. Parsons was a Gentleman of the Royal Chapel in London and respected for his compositions for both the Latin and English rites for which he wrote numerous compositions. The Latin Rite... [+] Read More
Artist: Thomas Robinson
Robinson was considered to be a fine lutenist and instructor having taught Anne, the future Queen of England and wife of James I. The legacy he left is primarily contained in the book "The Schoole of Musicke" which addressed lute technique in London, the first such instruction written by an Englishman. Other works were translated into English... [+] Read More
Artist: Thomas Simpson
This expert viol player from England was also a musical editor who collected a number of works by other composers utilizing them as pieces paired with galliards that he composed. Simpson served at courts in Heidelberg, Buckeburg and Copenhagen and in all wrote over fifty consort compositions as well as single piece dance pairs, mostly galliards... [+] Read More
Artist: Thomas Vautor
"The First Set, beeing Songs of Divers Ayres and Natures, of Five and Six Parts, Apt for Viols and Voyces," was a single madrigal volume that contains the extant works of this English composer. Vautor received his Bachelors of Music from Oxford in 1616 and served a number of years for the Duke of Buckingham. A number of his madrigals were... [+] Read More
Artist: Robert White
White received his Bachelors of Music in 1560 from Trinity College in Cambridge. He served as a chorister under Thomas Preston, became the Master of the Choristers at Ely in 1562, Master of the Choristers at Chester Cathedral in 1567 and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey between 1569 and 1570. Most of the compositions by White that... [+] Read More
Artist: Bartolomeo Montalbano
Montalbano's primary contribuion to music were the two volumes of music he published while in Palermo. "Sinfonio ad uno, e doi violini, a doi, e trombone, con il partimento per l'organo, con alcune a quattro viole" and "Motetti ad 1, 2, 3, 4, et 8 voci, con il partimento per l'organo, et una messa a 4 voci" were respectively scored as four... [+] Read More
Artist: Valentin Haussmann
An enigmatic character in the history of music, Haussmann had no difficulty in finding a station wherever he went. It seems that he did not hold one position for a lengthy period of time but pursued travels, composition and editing thoughout Germany. He collected, edited and published a series of Polish dances and much of his music, at least... [+] Read More
Artist: Christopher Tye
Tye was an English organist and composer of choral and instrumental music. Apparently a native of East Anglia, Tye received a doctorate in Music from Cambridge in 1537 and was later associated with the Priory of Ely. Tye was a contemporary of Thomas Tallis, and contributed to the assimilation of continental structural principles into English... [+] Read More
Artist: John Danyel
English lutenists and composers of Danyel's calibre were few and far between. Some of Tomkins' madrigals were dedicated to him and Dowland placing him in company with the best lute player of the day. Many lute pieces were composed by Danyel and can be found in the forms of duets, songs, and ensembles (lute, viol and voice). He served the public... [+] Read More
Artist: Richard Farrant
Singing in the chorus for Edward VI and Mary Tudor, Farrant became a composer and musician as a Master of the Chapel Royal in Windsor. His compositions included a number of secular consort songs, and dramatic pieces for the Queen to be presented every winter. Unfortunately none of Farrant's plays are extant but some titles through reference have... [+] Read More
Artist: Gottfried Finger
Serving in the court of James II, Finger was not a popular musician in England as he was just one of many foreign musicians serving in the Catholic chapel when it opened in 1686. Prior to this he did work in Munich for a brief period and is thought to have traveled to Italy. When James II fled England in '88, many of the foreign musicians also... [+] Read More
Artist: Mathias Mercker
It is possible that Mercker was trained by Conradus who had been a student of Sweelinck. Mercker became an instrumentalist and composer with his first reported performances and interests focusing on the cornett. At this time he was in service to King Christian IV of Denmark and in 1602 he travelled to Russia in service to Christian's brother.... [+] Read More
Artist: Johann Christoph Pez
As an Italian tenor Pez sang in the choir at St. Marks in Munich where he also attended school. He later played the lute and the viol in the orchestra at St. Peter's, Munich, singing in the choir and becoming maestro in 1687. During the course of his career Pez also served the Elector Max Emanuel in Munich, Joseph Clemens in Bonn and the... [+] Read More
Artist: Orlando Gibbons
Gibbons was the leading English composer of his generation. He was born in Oxford, and held positions as Organist of the Royal Chapel, as keyboard player in the privy chamber of the all-important court of Prince Charles, and finally as organist at Westminster Abbey. He died an early death at Canterbury Cathedral, while awaiting the arrival of... [+] Read More
Artist: Alessandro Stradella
For most of this Italian composer's career, time was spent in Rome where he lived independently and was fortunate to compose on commission for Queen Christina of Sweden and the Colonna family. He also wrote prologues and intermezzos for the operas of Cesti and Cavalli until he found his own voice. After a scandal in Rome, 1677, Stradella went to... [+] Read More
