Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Medieval

 

 

Renaissance

 

 

Baroque

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Studio der frühen Musik is a classical music ensemble that specializes in performing music from the medieval and Renaissance periods. The ensemble was founded in 1974 by Thomas Binkley, a lutenist and musicologist who was passionate about reviving early music and bringing it to a wider audience. Binkley was born in 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio, and studied music at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music. He became interested in early music while studying in Europe in the 1950s, and went on to earn a PhD in musicology from the University of Basel in Switzerland. Binkley was a pioneer in the early music movement, and was instrumental in developing historically informed performance practices that sought to recreate the sound and style of music from earlier periods. Binkley founded Studio der frühen Musik in Basel, Switzerland, with a group of like-minded musicians who shared his passion for early music. The ensemble's name translates to "Studio of Early Music," and reflects its mission to explore and revive the music of the medieval and Renaissance periods. The ensemble's early members included Binkley on lute and vihuela, Sterling Jones on bass viol, Andrea von Ramm on voice and percussion, and Hopkinson Smith on lute and vihuela. Studio der frühen Musik quickly gained a reputation for its innovative and engaging performances of early music. The ensemble's members were all highly skilled musicians who were committed to researching and interpreting the music of earlier periods. They used period instruments and historical performance practices to recreate the sound and style of music from the medieval and Renaissance periods, and their performances were characterized by their energy, precision, and attention to detail. One of the ensemble's early highlights was its performance at the 1975 Festival of Early Music in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The festival was a major event in the early music world, and Studio der frühen Musik's performance was widely praised for its virtuosity and authenticity. The ensemble went on to perform at other major festivals and venues throughout Europe and the United States, including the Edinburgh Festival, the Salzburg Festival, and the Lincoln Center in New York City. Over the years, Studio der frühen Musik's membership changed as some members left and new ones joined. However, the ensemble's commitment to early music and historically informed performance practices remained constant. Some of the ensemble's most notable members over the years have included Crawford Young on lute and vihuela, Ellen Hargis on voice, and Elizabeth Gaver on harp and psaltery. Studio der frühen Musik has recorded numerous albums over the years, many of which have received critical acclaim. Some of the ensemble's most notable recordings include "Music of the Gothic Era," "Music of the Troubadours," and "Music of the Spanish Renaissance." The ensemble's recordings are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail and their commitment to historical accuracy. In addition to its performances and recordings, Studio der frühen Musik has also been involved in music education and outreach. The ensemble has conducted workshops and masterclasses for students and musicians interested in early music, and has worked to promote the study and appreciation of early music around the world.

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