Musicians with a common love of early music and uncommon invention, working and playing collaboratively since 1995.
"What a piece of work is the consort of viols ... the gorgeously many-stranded texture of viols and lute ... That beautifully fading unison diminuendo at the end of Orazio Vecchi’s Fantazia couldn’t have been better judged. …" Richard Buell in The Boston Globe.
In 1492, the fall of Granada led to a great migration of artists leaving Spain for Italy, France, the Low Countries, and England. Not long after, a set of viole da gamba ("viols of the leg") based on those of Spain, were ordered by Isabella d'Este from luthier Lorenzo da Pavia for the court of Mantua. Ensemble Soleil acknowledges this rich cultural heritage with music of mid 16th to mid 17th century Spain and Italy. Listen to Ensemble Soleil in an interview with Richard Knisely on Boston's WGBH Part 1.
WGBH Interview: Part II
"These performers don't call themselves an ensemble for nothing …the composed music itself began to flame with creativity at a consistent high temperature." Richard Buell in The Boston Globe.
Listen to Ensemble Soleil with guests Susanna Cortesio, Joelle Morton and Alexander Bauhart play Heinrich I.F. Biber's Mensa Sonora III
Ensemble Soleil's repertoire begins with the origin of the viol and early violin and traces their development through the 18th century. From Italy we include the music of the great 17th century composers like Arcangelo Corelli, Antonio Vivaldi, Biagio Marini and Antonio Bertali, heard here in a sonata for two violins and continuo.
Music of the continental courts includes diverse works by Schmelzer, Schenck, Marais, Rameau, Telemann, and the great J.S. Bach. Early in the development of sinfonia for violins and viols, one also finds Italian gems like music of Salamone Rossi, court composer at Mantua in the early 17C. With guest artists Dana Maiben, principal and Diana Brewer.
Peter Tourin, viola da gamba and luthier. Jean Twombly, violin and treble viol together with Rosalind Brooks Stowe and Hannah Davidson, viols and Margaret Angelini, organ with guest Lawrence Lipnik, viol. Listen to William Lawes Paven from Sett a'5 in C.
Jean Twombly, Rosalind Brooks Stowe, Hannah Davidson, Peter Tourin, Peter Lehman and Margaret Angelini perform in a SoHIP concert with guest Lawrence Lipnik, countertenor and viol. Listen to William Byrd's Preludium a'5.
A concert showcasing the splendid music of the 17C European courts of Italy and Austria, with violinists Dana Maiben and Diana Brewer. Listen to Rosenmüller's Sinfonia Prima.
"Seine Gnade reichet so weit" Soprano Margaret Hunter joins the Whitefield Trio: Peter Tourin, Jean Twombly, and Margaret Angelini with guests Laura Papandrea and Aundrey Mitchell in several Moravian Music concerts together with Jayne Tankersley, soprano.