Period

:

Renaissance

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Micrologus Ensemble is a classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of medieval and Renaissance music. The ensemble was founded in 1984 by three musicians: Patrizia Bovi, Gabriele Russo, and Goffredo Degli Esposti. The group takes its name from the Greek word "micrologus," which means "small discourse" or "short speech." The founding members of Micrologus Ensemble were all graduates of the Conservatory of Bologna, where they studied early music performance. They were inspired by the work of other early music ensembles, such as the New York Pro Musica and the Studio der Frühen Musik in Germany. They decided to form their own ensemble to explore the rich repertoire of medieval and Renaissance music. The ensemble's main members have changed over the years, but the founding members have remained at the core of the group. Patrizia Bovi is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in the performance of medieval and Renaissance music. Gabriele Russo is a multi-instrumentalist who plays a variety of early music instruments, including the lute, vielle, and rebec. Goffredo Degli Esposti is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who plays the recorder, shawm, and other early wind instruments. Over the years, Micrologus Ensemble has performed at many major music festivals and concert halls around the world. Some of their most notable performances include appearances at the Festival d'Avignon in France, the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, and the Early Music Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands. They have also performed at major concert halls such as the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The ensemble has received many awards and accolades for their performances and recordings. In 1992, they won the prestigious Diapason d'Or award for their recording of the music of Guillaume de Machaut. They have also been nominated for several Grammy Awards for their recordings of early music. One of the highlights of Micrologus Ensemble's career was their collaboration with the Italian director and playwright Dario Fo. Fo is known for his political satire and his use of medieval and Renaissance music in his plays. Micrologus Ensemble provided the music for several of Fo's plays, including "Mistero Buffo" and "La Grande Magia." The collaboration was a great success, and helped to bring early music to a wider audience. Another notable performance by Micrologus Ensemble was their participation in the soundtrack for the film "The Name of the Rose." The film, based on the novel by Umberto Eco, is set in a medieval monastery and features music from the period. Micrologus Ensemble provided the music for several scenes in the film, and their performances were praised for their authenticity and historical accuracy. In addition to their performances and recordings, Micrologus Ensemble is also known for their research and scholarship in the field of early music. They have published several books and articles on the subject, and have contributed to the development of early music performance practice. Overall, Micrologus Ensemble is a highly respected and influential ensemble in the field of early music. Their performances and recordings have helped to bring the music of the medieval and Renaissance periods to a wider audience, and their scholarship has contributed to our understanding of this rich and fascinating musical tradition.

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