Hortus Musicus

Hortus Musicus is an Estonian ensemble that was established in 1972 by Andres Mustonen, a violin student of the Tallinn State Conservatory. [cite web|url=http://uusweb.er.ee/index.php?lang=eng&main_id=414&text_id=219|publisher=Eesti Raadio|accessdate=2007-11-22|title=Hortus Musicus] Hortus Musicus specialises in performing early music, including 8th-15th century European forms such as; Gregorian Chant, Organum, Medieval Liturgic Hymns and Motets, the Franco-Flemish School, and Renaissance Music (including French chansons, villanelles and Italian madrigals). [cite web|url=http://www.concert.ee/index.php?sisu=tekst&mid=305&lang=eng|publisher=Eesti Kontsert|title=Hortus Musicus|accessdate=2007-11-22] The group also presents early, non-European styles including Indian Ragas, Israeli temple songs, Arabian mughams and Jewish music. The group's repertoire has also included pieces by 20th century composers (often created specially for Hortus Musicus, e.g. by Arvo Pärt).

Hortus Musicus has given concerts in the US, Japan, Israel, as well as having performed at several major early music festivals. They have recorded approximately 35 programmes, a portion of which is available from companies such as Erdenklang, Musica Svecia, Forte and Finlandia Records. The group's latest recording is "Ave..." (2005): 'music from the late Middle Ages in memoriam Helle Mustonen (1950-2005)'. [cite web|url=http://www.erpmusic.com/p_Ave.htm|title=Ave...|publisher=Estonian Record Productions|accessdate=2007-11-22]

Members

*Andres Mustonen - leader, violin, viola, recorder, cromorn
*Olev Ainomäe - shawm, oboe, recorder, shalmey, cromorn, rauschpfeiff
*Valter Jürgenson - trombone
*Tõnis Kuurme - curtal, shawm, bassoon, recorder, cromorn, rauschpfeiff
*Peeter Klaas - viol, cello
*Imre Eenma - violone, contrabass, viola
*Ivo Sillamaa - harpsichord, organ, piano
*Joosep Vahermägi - tenor
*Jaan Arder - baritone
*Riho Ridbeck - bass, percussion

Earlier Recordings

1. "Melodiya C 10-06499/06500" [LP]
Grigorian chorale - Early polyphony
Performers: Hortus Musicus [Joosep Vahermägi (tenor), Jaan Arder (tenor), Riho Ridbeck (bass), Taivo Niitvägi (recorder), Valter Jürgenson (trombone), Andres Mustonen (strings, recorder, chimes)] - Andres Mustonen, dir.
Recorded: 1974, Tallinn.

2. "Melodiya C 10-07935/07936" [LP]
Francesco Landino - Ballate, madrigali, caccia
Performers: Hortus Musicus [3 male and 3 female singers & 7 instrumentalists] - Andres Mustonen, dir.
Recorded: 1975, Tallinn.

3. "Melodiya C 10-15083/15084 & C 10-15085/15086" [LPx2]
France and Italy - Secular music of the 12th - 14th Centuries
Performers: Hortus Musicus [Tiit Tralla & 3 singers (voice), 9 instrumentalists (rebec fiddle, viola da gamba, crumhorn, beak, transverse flute, bagpipe, spinet, positive, pommer, zink, trombone, percussion)] - Andres Mustonen, dir.
Recorded: 1978, Tallinn.

References