RinascitaConsort is one of the few ensembles that has devoted itself to the music for violin consorts from the 16th and the early 17th centuries. Already in its year of foundation, 2008, it succeeded in qualifying for the International Young Artist's Presentation in Antwerp and was awarded a praiseworthy mention as “highly recommended” from an international jury of specialists.
The violin consort spread out immediately after its origin in the 16th century in Italy and met unparalleled success throughout Europe. Comprising the registers descant, contralto, tenor and bass, this ensemble offers a great number of fascinating opportunities in its repertoire. Whether it is courtly dance music, an alternative instrumentation in a-cappella ensembles or the resultant independent instrumental music from the genres ricercar, rondo, canzone and sinfonia, but also diminutions from popular motets and madrigals – hardly any other instrumental ensemble from that period offers all these options at the same time as well as multiple technical and tonal possibilities as the instruments of the violin family.
The core instrumentation from 4 or 5 violins can be completed with additional instrumentalists and singers. RinascitaConsort works regularly together with soprano Anja Lipfert (descant from the Calmus Ensemble) and lutenist Ziv Braha.
RinascitaConsort's approach is quite exeptional. The ensemble plays mainly facsimiles from historical voicebooks with pure catgut stringing up to the lowest strings and often in the underhand grip of the bow – ameasured by the standards of today's digital age in fact no more risks could be taken (...?) The members of the ensemble take it with humour and calmness and it convinces both critics and the public.
The special charm of those instruments, which were built after original instruments from Andrea Amati, Gasparo da Salo (16th century) and Matteo Gofriller (early 17th century), lies in their unusual sound which attracts the current audience.
These instruments, which emerged already in the Renaissance, differ greatly in their acoustic pattern from the later baroque instruments thanks to an almost sharp and open sound, rich in overtones and which is shown to its fullest advantage among the consort's mix.
It is our pleasure to guide our audience through the world of sounds of this fascinating period.
|
RinascitaConsort would like to thank the violinmakers Andre Mehler (Leipzig), Friederike Dudda (Halle), Valentin Oelmüller (Potsdam) and Sebastian Mende (Potsdam) for their friendly support!
