Genre

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Vocal

 

The Folger Consort is a classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. Founded in 1977, the ensemble has become one of the most respected and acclaimed early music groups in the United States. The Folger Consort was founded by Robert Eisenstein, Christopher Kendall, and Scott Reiss, who were all graduate students at the University of Michigan at the time. The three musicians shared a passion for early music and decided to form an ensemble to perform the music they loved. They named the group after the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., where they had all worked as research assistants. The original members of the Folger Consort were Robert Eisenstein (violin, viola da gamba, recorder), Christopher Kendall (lute, theorbo, guitar), Scott Reiss (recorder, crumhorn, shawm), and Wendy Young (soprano). Over the years, the ensemble has had many different members, but Eisenstein and Kendall have remained the core of the group. The Folger Consort's repertoire includes music from the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, with a particular focus on English and Spanish music. The ensemble performs on period instruments, which are replicas of instruments from the time period in which the music was composed. This allows the musicians to recreate the sound and style of the music as it would have been heard when it was first performed. One of the highlights of the Folger Consort's career was their performance at the White House in 1982. The ensemble was invited to perform for President Ronald Reagan and his guests at a state dinner. The performance was a great success and helped to raise the profile of the ensemble. The Folger Consort has also performed at many prestigious venues and festivals, including the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institution, the Boston Early Music Festival, and the Berkeley Early Music Festival. The ensemble has also toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, performing in countries such as Spain, Italy, and Germany. In addition to their live performances, the Folger Consort has also recorded many albums. Their recordings have received critical acclaim and have won several awards, including a Grammy nomination for their album "The Art of the Bawdy Song" in 1993. Over the years, the Folger Consort has collaborated with many other musicians and ensembles. They have worked with the vocal ensemble Anonymous 4, the viol consort Fretwork, and the early music ensemble Piffaro, among others. In 2017, the Folger Consort celebrated their 40th anniversary with a series of concerts and events. The ensemble continues to perform and record, and their dedication to early music has helped to inspire a new generation of musicians and music lovers. In conclusion, the Folger Consort is a classical music ensemble that has made a significant contribution to the performance and appreciation of early music. Founded in 1977, the ensemble has become one of the most respected and acclaimed early music groups in the United States. With a repertoire that includes music from the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, the Folger Consort has performed at many prestigious venues and festivals, and their recordings have received critical acclaim. The ensemble's dedication to early music has helped to inspire a new generation of musicians and music lovers, and their legacy will continue to be felt for many years to come.

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