Period

:

Medieval

 

 

Renaissance

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

The Waverly Consort is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1964 by Michael Jaffee and Kay Jaffee. The ensemble is known for its performances of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music, as well as its collaborations with other artists and ensembles. Michael Jaffee, who served as the Waverly Consort's artistic director until his death in 1994, was a musicologist and performer who specialized in early music. He was a graduate of Harvard University and studied musicology at Columbia University. Kay Jaffee, who served as the ensemble's executive director, was a singer and instrumentalist who also had a background in early music. The Waverly Consort's name is derived from the Waverley Novels by Sir Walter Scott, which were popular in the 19th century. The ensemble's founders chose the name because they felt that it evoked a sense of history and tradition, which was important to their approach to early music. The Waverly Consort's early performances were characterized by their use of period instruments and their commitment to historical accuracy. The ensemble's repertoire included music from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque periods, as well as traditional folk music from various cultures. One of the Waverly Consort's early highlights was their performance at the 1967 Newport Folk Festival, where they played a program of medieval and Renaissance music. The ensemble's performance was well-received, and it helped to establish their reputation as one of the leading early music ensembles in the United States. Over the years, the Waverly Consort collaborated with a number of other artists and ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the New York City Opera. They also worked with a number of prominent conductors, including Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and James Levine. In addition to their collaborations with other artists, the Waverly Consort also produced a number of recordings over the years. Some of their most notable recordings include "The Christmas Story," which features music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and "The Christmas Album," which features traditional Christmas carols from various cultures. The Waverly Consort's commitment to historical accuracy and their use of period instruments helped to establish them as one of the leading early music ensembles in the United States. Their performances were characterized by their attention to detail and their ability to bring historical music to life for modern audiences. In recognition of their contributions to early music, the Waverly Consort received a number of awards and honors over the years. In 1989, they were awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George H.W. Bush. They were also awarded a Grammy Award in 1993 for their recording of "The Christmas Story." Despite the death of Michael Jaffee in 1994, the Waverly Consort continued to perform and record music for many years. They remained committed to their mission of bringing historical music to modern audiences, and their performances continued to be characterized by their attention to detail and their commitment to historical accuracy. Today, the Waverly Consort is remembered as one of the most important early music ensembles in the United States.

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