Birth

:

December 7, 1946 in New York City, NY

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Hopkinson Smith is a renowned classical music artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of early music. He was born on February 22, 1946, in New York City, USA. Smith grew up in a family of musicians, and his father was a professional jazz pianist. He started playing the guitar at the age of 13 and soon became interested in early music. Smith studied music at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in musicology. He then went on to study lute and early music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, under the tutelage of Eugen Dombois. Smith also studied with other renowned lutenists, including Robert Spencer and Julian Bream. Smith's career as a professional musician began in the early 1970s when he started performing with various early music ensembles, including Hesperion XX, The New York Pro Musica, and The Boston Camerata. He also performed as a soloist and recorded several albums, including "The Art of the Lute" and "Bach on the Lute." One of the highlights of Smith's career was his performance at the 1977 Boston Early Music Festival, where he played the lute in a production of Monteverdi's "L'Orfeo." The performance was a huge success and helped establish Smith as one of the leading lutenists of his time. Smith has also been recognized for his contributions to early music. In 1980, he was awarded the prestigious Erwin Bodky Award for Early Music by the Cambridge Society for Early Music. He was also awarded the Noah Greenberg Award by the American Musicological Society in 1985. In addition to his performances and recordings, Smith has also been active as a teacher and scholar. He has taught at various institutions, including the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, the Hochschule für Musik in Basel, and the University of California, Berkeley. He has also written several articles and books on early music, including "The Lute in the Dutch Golden Age" and "The Baroque Guitar." Smith's repertoire includes music from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical periods, and he is known for his virtuosic performances on the lute and other early instruments. He has recorded over 30 albums, including solo recordings and collaborations with other musicians. In recent years, Smith has continued to perform and record, and he has also been involved in various projects to promote early music. In 2013, he founded the ensemble "Accademia del Ricercare," which focuses on the music of the Italian Renaissance. He has also been involved in the "Lute Society of America," which promotes the study and performance of the lute and other early instruments. In conclusion, Hopkinson Smith is a highly respected classical music artist who has made a significant contribution to the world of early music. His virtuosic performances on the lute and other early instruments, as well as his recordings and scholarly work, have helped to promote and preserve this important musical tradition. Smith's legacy will continue to inspire and influence future generations of musicians and music lovers.

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