- The Harp Consort
The Harp Consort is an international
Early Music ensemble directed byAndrew Lawrence-King , specialising in Baroque Opera, early dance-music, and historicalWorld Music .The Harp Consort excels at improvisation within the distinct styles of baroque, renaissance and
medieval music . The group takes its inspiration from the 17th-century harp consort formed in England at the court of Charles I: in contrast to the homogeneous stringorchestra (also formed at this time), the Consorte brought together diverse types of solo instruments –harp ,lutes ,keyboards , strings – and voices, to create colourful new combinations in the fashion of the day. Like the 17th-century Consorte, The Harp Consort is formed around the accompanying instruments of thebasso continuo and brings together an international team of musicians who create a rich variety of timbres.Repertoire
Although continuo-players have a written bass-line, they must improvise harmonies and melodic figures on different instruments and in the appropriate style for the period and country. The Harp Consort takes continuo as a model for all kinds of performance, combining the spontaneity of improvisation with careful attention to the particular colours of each repertoire.
The Harp Consort’s programmes range from medieval drama and solo songs to baroque opera, from new works for early instruments to exuberantly danced suites. The ensemble’s stage-shows of 17th-century Spanish dances, early Irish planxties, and German baroque dances have delighted audiences around the world.
CDs and Awards
The Harp Consort’s debut
CD , "Luz y norte" (17th century dance music fromSpain andSouth America ) was a world-wide hit, gaining aDiapason D’Or inFrance , Record of the Year from "Amadeus magazine " inItaly , and topping the classical charts for five weeks inAustralia .The ensemble’s recordings on DHM include 'Carolan’s Harp’; ‘Italian Concerto’ [Best Early Music CD, German Phonographic Academy] ; the medieval ‘Ludus Danielis’; and "
La púrpura de la rosa " [Noah Greenberg Award] , the first New World opera, given in Lima, Peru in 1701. The ensemble has also recorded Lawes for Berlin Classics andPurcell for Astrée Auvidis, and formed the continuo band for Andrew Lawrence-King's recording ofHandel 's ‘Almira’ [American Handel Society CD of the year] , forVivaldi ’s ‘Four Seasons’ with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and for ‘Fire-Water’: Spanish renaissanceensalada s withThe King’s Singers .The Harp Consort now records exclusively for Harmonia Mundi USA. Their chart-topping first release was Missa Mexicana: festive polyphony and popular dances from 17th-century
Mexico ("The Times " (London) CD of the Year). Their second CD, "Miracles" (songs by Gautier de Coincy, 13th -century Prior of Vic) won the Dutch “Edison” award: it was also Gramophone Magazine’s Editor’s Choice & London Telegraph CD of the Year. Their latest recording is "Arte de Fantasía": "tientos ", "chanson s" & dances of the Spanish Golden Age.External links
* [http://www.harmoniamundi.com CDs featuring The Harp Consort]
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