The Harp Consort improvises within the distinct baroque, renaissance, and medieval music styles. The group takes its inspiration from the 17th-century harp consort formed in England at the court of Charles I: in contrast to the homogeneous string orchestra (also formed at this time), the Consorte brought together diverse types of solo instruments – harp, lutes, keyboards, strings – and voices, to create colourful new combinations in the fashion of the day. Like the 17th-century Consorte, the Harp Consort is formed around the accompanying instruments of the basso continuo. It brings together an international team of musicians who create a rich variety of timbres.
CDs and awards
The Harp Consort's debut CD, Luz y Norte (17th-century dance-music from Spain and South America, mainly from a collection by Ruiz de Ribayaz) gained a Diapason d’Or in France, Record of the Year from Amadeus magazine in Italy, and topped the classical charts for five weeks in Australia.[citation needed]
The ensemble's recordings on DHM include 'Carolan's Harp’; ‘Italian Concerto’ [Best Early Music CD, German Phonographic Academy]; the medieval ‘Ludus Danielis’; and La púrpura de la rosa [Noah Greenberg Award], the first New World opera, given in Lima, Peru in 1701. The ensemble has also recorded Lawes for Berlin Classics and Purcell for Astrée Auvidis, and formed the continuo band for Andrew Lawrence-King's recording of Handel's ‘Almira’ [American Handel Society CD of the year], for Vivaldi's ‘Four Seasons’ with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and for ‘Fire-Water’: Spanish renaissance ensaladas with The King's Singers.
The Harp Consort now records exclusively for Harmonia Mundi USA. Their first release was Missa Mexicana: festive polyphony and popular dances from 17th-century Mexico (The Times (London) CD of the Year). Their second CD, Miracles of Notre Dame (songs arranged by Gautier de Coincy, 13th-century Prior of Vic) won the Dutch "Edison" award: it was also Gramophone Magazine's Editor's Choice & London Telegraph CD of the Year.[citation needed]
Discography
Luz y Norte: Baroque Dance-music from Spain, Italy, South America and Africa. Music by Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz, Madrid 1677. BMG DHM 05472 77810 2 (1995)
Carolan's Harp. Music by Turlough O'Carolan. Andrew Lawrence-King (Irish harps, renaissance harp, French cittern, psaltery), with Caitríona O'Leary (voice, hurdy-gurdy), Nigel Rogers (tenor), with Steve Player as The Frenchman & the Jovial Crew; David Douglass (violin), Nancy Hadden (flute, recorder, gittern), Belinda Sykes (alto shawm, Renaissance bagpipes), Hille Perl (viola da gamba, lyra viol, violone, gittern); Lucy Carolan (harpsichord), Pat O'Brien (bandora, guitar), Paul O'Dette (theorbo, cittern, guitar), Steve Player (dancer,gittern, French cittern, guitar, whistle, drone pipes), Pedro Estevan (percussion). BMG 05472-77375-2 (1996).
Italian Concerto: The Italian "gusto" at home and abroad. Music by Vivaldi, Turlough O'Carolan, J.S. Bach, Handel. Andrew Lawrence-King (Italian arpa doppia). With Hille Perl (lira, violone), Paul O'Dette (theorbo), and many other performers. BMG DHM 05472-77366-2 (1997).
Fire-Water: Spanish renaissance ensaladas - The King's Singers
Miracles of Notre Dame
El Arte de Fantasía: Spanish romances and French chansons from the libre de cifra nueva para tecla, arpa & vihuela, transcribed by Luis Venegas de Henestrosa (1557). Music by Cabezón, Mudarra, Josquin, Narváez, Crequillon, et al. Andrew Lawrence-King (Spanish double-harp, renaissance harp, organ, harpsichord, psaltery), with Hille Perl (viola da gamba), Lee Santana (vihuela, cittern), Steve Player (renaissance guitar, percussion), Helen Coombs (organ, harpsichord). Harmonia Mundi USA HMU 907316 (2004).
Les travailleurs de la mer: Ancient songs from a small island. Music of Guernsey, after the novel by Victor Hugo. Directed by Andrew Lawrence-King (triple harp, medieval harp, psaltery, chifournie), with Clara Sanabras (soprano, baroque guitar) and Paul Hillier (baritone); and Jane Achtman (viola da gamba, fiddle), Nancy Hadden (flutes, baroque guitar), Ian Harrison (bagpipes, shawn, cornetto), Steven Player (baroque guitars, percussion), Richardo Padilla (percussion), Helen Coombs (chifournier). HMU 907330 (2004).
Andrew Lawrence-King is a harpist and conductor from Guernsey known for his work in early music.
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The citole was a string musical instrument, closely associated with the medieval fiddles and commonly used from 1200–1350. It was known by other names in various languages: cedra, cetera, cetola, cetula, cistola, citola, citula, citera, chytara, cistole, cithar, cuitole, cythera, cythol, cytiole, cytolys, gytolle, sitole, sytholle, sytole, and zitol. Like the modern guitar, it was manipulated at the neck to get different notes, and picked or strummed with a plectrum. Although it was largely out of use by the late 14th century, the Italians "re-introduced it in modified form" in the 16th century as the cetra, and it may have influenced the development of the guitar as well. It was also a pioneering instrument in England, introducing the populace to necked, plucked instruments, giving people the concepts needed to quickly switch to the newly arriving lutes and gitterns. Two possible descendant instrument are the Portuguese guitar and the Corsican Cetera, both types of cittern.
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Lee Santana is an American lutenist and composer, resident in Bremen, Germany.
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