The Ricercar Consort is a Belgian instrumental ensemble founded in 1980 together with the Ricercar record label of

Jérôme Lejeune Jérôme Jean Louis Marie Lejeune (13 June 1926 – 3 April 1994) was a French pediatrician and geneticist, best known for discovering the link of diseases to chromosome abnormalities, most especially the link between Down Syndrome and trisomy- ...

. The founding members were violinist

François Fernandez François Fernandez (born 22 February 1960) is a French classical violinist who specializes in historically informed performance. Career Born in Rouen in a family of musicians, Fernandez began learning the classical violin at the age of twelve ...

, organist Bernard Foccroulle, and viola da gamba player

Philippe Pierlot Philippe Pierlot (born 1958) is a Belgian viola da gamba player and a conductor in historically informed performance. He is also an academic teacher at the royal conservatories of The Hague and Brussels. Career Born in Liège, Pierlot learne ...

. The initial repertoire was focussed on the German Baroque, and the Consort was closely identified with the series ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten''. In recordings and concerts, the Consort was joined by baroque specialist singers including; Greta De Reyghere,

Agnès Mellon Agnès Mellon (born 17 January 1958) is a French soprano who specializes in baroque music. Biography Agnès Mellon started her career in 1981 with the baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants, directed by William Christie, with whom, between ...

countertenors A countertenor (also contra tenor) is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto or mezzo-soprano voice types, generally extending from around G3 to D5 or E5, although a sopranist (a sp ...

Henri Ledroit, James Bowman, tenor

Guy de Mey Guy de Mey (born 4 August 1955) is a Belgian tenor from Sint-Niklaas. He studied with Stella Dalberg, Erna Spoorenberg, Peter Pears and Éric Tappy. It all began in 1975 when he won the first prize at the Belgian National Pro Civitate competitio ...

, and bass Max van Egmond, as well as the cornett player Jean Tubéry. The consort is associated with the ''Festival Bach en Vallée Mosane'' held in the valley of the

Meuse The Meuse ( , , , ; wa, Moûze ) or Maas ( , ; li, Maos or ) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a t ...

.Festival Bach en Vallée Mosane (French)

Recordings

The consort has recorded over 50 discs. On Ricercar: * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.I :

Franz Tunder Franz Tunder (1614 – November 5, 1667) was a German composer and organist of the early to middle Baroque era. He was an important link between the early German Baroque style which was based on Venetian models, and the later Baroque style ...

Dieterich Buxtehude Dieterich Buxtehude (; ; born Diderik Hansen Buxtehude; c. 1637 – 9 May 1707) was a Danish organist and composer of the Baroque period, whose works are typical of the North German organ school. As a composer who worked in various vocal a ...

Heinrich Schütz Heinrich Schütz (; 6 November 1672) was a German early Baroque composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as one of the most important composers of the 17th century. He ...

Johann Philipp Krieger Johann Philipp Krieger (also ''Kriger'', ''Krüger'', ''Krugl'', and ''Giovanni Filippo Kriegher''; baptised 27 February 1649; died 7 February 1725) was a German Baroque composer and organist. He was the elder brother of Johann Krieger. Life Ea ...

Christoph Bernhard Christoph Bernhard (1 January 1628 – 14 November 1692) was born in Kolberg, Pomerania, and died in Dresden. He was a German Baroque composer and musician. He studied with former Sweelinck-pupil Paul Siefert in Danzig (now Gdańsk) and in Wa ...

Johann Rudolf Ahle Johann Rudolph Ahle (24 December 1625 – 9 July 1673) was a German composer, organist, theorist, and Protestant church musician. Biography Ahle was born in Mühlhausen, Thuringia. While not much is known of his early musical training, he attende ...

, Leopold I. Countertenor Henri Ledroit (RIC 034008) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.II :

, James Bowman (RIC 041016) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.III : Cantatas for two sopranos.

Johann Hermann Schein Johann Hermann Schein (20 January 1586 – 19 November 1630) was a German composer of the early Baroque era. He was Thomaskantor in Leipzig from 1615 to 1630. He was one of the first to import the early Italian stylistic innovations into Germa ...

Buxtehude Buxtehude (), officially the Hanseatic City of Buxtehude (german: Hansestadt Buxtehude, nds, Hansestadt Buxthu ()), is a town on the Este River in Northern Germany, belonging to the district of Stade in Lower Saxony. It is part of the Hamburg ...

(RIC 046023) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.IV : Nikolaus Bruhns (2CD) Greta De Reyghere, Feldmann, James Bowman,

, Max van Egmond (RIC 048035/36) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.V :

Christmas cantata A Christmas cantata or Nativity cantata is a cantata, music for voice or voices in several movements, for Christmas. The importance of the feast inspired many composers to write cantatas for the occasion, some designed to be performed in church serv ...

s –

Andreas Hammerschmidt Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611 or 1612 – 29 October 1675), the "Orpheus of Zittau," was a German Bohemian composer and organist of the early to middle Baroque era. He was one of the most significant and popular composers of sacred music in Ge ...

Thomas Selle Thomas Selle (23 March 1599 – 2 July 1663) was a seventeenth-century German baroque composer. Life There is practically no reliable information about the early years of Thomas Selle. Between his birth in 1599 and his matriculation in the U ...

(RIC 060048) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.VI : Trauerkantaten / Funeral cantatas –

Georg Philipp Telemann Georg Philipp Telemann (; – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family's wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hild ...

Christian Ludwig Boxberg Christian Ludwig Boxberg (Sondershausen 24 April 1670Görlitz 1 December 1729) was a German composer and organist. From 1692 to 1700 Boxberg was active as an opera composer. His operas were performed in Leipzig, Wolfenbüttel, Kassel and Ansbach. ...

, Georg Riedel (Altstadt Kantor), and

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

Egmond. (RIC 079061) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.VII :

(RIC 094076) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.VIII : ''Aus der Tiefe'' (2CD) Bach's cantata,

Balduin Hoyoul Balduin Hoyoul (1547-8 – 26 November 1594) was a Renaissance composer of the Franco-Flemish school. Hoyoul was born in Liège. From the age of 13 he was a discant singer at the Court in Stuttgart under Ludwig Daser. Between 1563 and 1564 h ...

, Lupus Hellinck, Leonard Lechner (RIC 193086-87) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.IX : Matthias Weckman (2CD) (RIC 1090097/098) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.X : Cantatas for bass –

Johann Christoph Bach Johann Christoph Bach (baptised – 31 March 1703) was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period. He was born at Arnstadt, the son of Heinrich Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach's first cousin once removed and the first cousin of J.S. B ...

Max van Egmond (RIC 206092) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.XI :

St Matthew Passion The ''St Matthew Passion'' (german: Matthäus-Passion, links=-no), BWV 244, is a '' Passion'', a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander. It sets ...

– Bach. RIC 160144 * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.XII : Schütz - ''

Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz ''Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz'' (The seven words of Jesus Christ on the Cross), SWV 478, is a German-language musical setting of the seven sayings of Jesus on the cross by Heinrich Schütz. It was written in Weissenfels around 1645 a ...

'', SWV 478; Historia der Auferstehung Jesu Christi SWV 50 ( Agnes Mellon, Steve Dugardin,

Mark Padmore Mark Padmore (born 8 March 1961) is a British tenor appearing in concerts, recitals, and opera. He was born in London on 8 March 1961, and raised in Canterbury, Kent, England. Padmore studied clarinet and piano prior to his gaining a choral ...

Paul Agnew Paul Agnew (born 1964 in Glasgow) is a Scottish operatic tenor and conductor. Biography Agnew read music as a Choral Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with various groups specializing in early music (Ex Cathedra, the ...

, Stéphane van Dijck, Job Boswinkel; Ricercar Consort, Philippe Pierlot) (RIC206412) * ''Deutsche Barock Kantaten'' Vol.XIII : Scheidt - Prima Pars Concertuum Sacrorum (La Fenice, Jean Tubéry; Philippe Pierlot) (RIC 206882) * ''Motetti ed Arie a basso solo'' : Brevi, Bassani, Francesca Caccini,

Maurizio Cazzati Maurizio Cazzati (1 March 1616 – 28 September 1678) was a northern Italian composer of the seventeenth century. Biography Cazzati was born in Luzzara in the Duchy of Mantua. In spite of being almost unknown today, during his lifetime he served ...

Benedetto Marcello Benedetto Giacomo Marcello (; 31 July or 1 August 1686 – 24 July 1739) was an Italian composer, writer, advocate, magistrate, and teacher. Life Born in Venice, Benedetto Marcello was a member of a noble family and in his compositions he is f ...

. Egmond, Pierlot 88 (Ricercar) * Henry Du Mont: ''Grands Motets''.

Carlos Mena Carlos Mena (born 1971) is a Spanish countertenor opera singer. He has previously worked with groups such as Al Ayre Español, Ensemble Gilles Binchois, and Ricercar Consort and has an interest in the twentieth-century repertoire. Life and car ...

, Arnaud Marzorati,

Stephan MacLeod Stephan MacLeod is a Swiss bass and conductor focused on Baroque music in historically informed performance who has performed internationally. He was first bass of the Huelgas Ensemble for five years and took part in the complete recording of Ba ...

, Philippe Pierlot, 2003. * Telemann: Les Plaisirs de la table. Tafelmusik. *

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

: Sonatas of III Parts; Sonatas in IV Parts. Ricercar Consort * Alfonso Ferrabosco &

William Byrd William Byrd (; 4 July 1623) was an English composer of late Renaissance music. Considered among the greatest composers of the Renaissance, he had a profound influence on composers both from his native England and those on the continent. He ...

: Consort Music. James Bowman, Suzan Hamilton, Philippe Pierlot. 2CD :* Compilation: ''Deutsche Barock-Weihnacht'' 2CD. On

Mirare Mirare is a French classical music record label founded by René Martin and François-René Martin. The label was created for recordings of the La Folle Journée La Folle Journée is a French annual classical music festival held in Nantes. I ...

: * ''De Aeternitate'' Cantatas by

Johann Michael Bach :''To be distinguished from Johann Michael Bach (1745–1820)'' Johann Michael Bach (baptised , Arnstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen – , Gehren) was a German composer of the Baroque period. He was the brother of Johann Christoph Bach, as w ...

Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer __NOTOC__ ) , baptised = ( cs, }), Royal Bohemia, Austria , death_date = , death_place = Rastatt, Margravial Baden , occupations = organist, composer, , flourished = , era = Baroque , known_for = bringing many French elements through ...

, Christian Geist, Nikolaus Hasse, Melchior Hoffmann,

Johann Adam Reincken Johann Adam Reincken (also ''Jan Adams, Jean Adam'', ''Reinken, Reinkinck, Reincke, Reinicke, Reinike''; baptized 10 December 1643 – 24 November 1722) was a Dutch/German organist and composer. He was one of the most important composers of the ...

, Christian Spahn. Countertenor

. Philippe Pierlot. 2004. *

: '' Actus Tragicus''.

, Katharine Fuge,

Jan Kobow Jan Kobow (born 1966) is a German classical tenor in concert, Lied, and Baroque opera. Professional career Jan Kobow was born and raised in Berlin. He was a singer and soloist of the ''Staats- und Domchor, Berlin'' with Christian Grube. He stud ...

, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort. 2005. * Giovanni Battista Pergolesi: '' Stabat Mater''.

, Nuria Rial, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort. 2005. *

Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widespread a ...

: '' Stabat Mater''.

, François Fernandez, Marc Hantai, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort. 2006. *

: ''Tombeau de Sa Majesté la Reine de Pologne''.

, Stephan MacLeod, Francis Jacob, Katherine Fuge, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort. 2007. *

Giovanni Felice Sances Giovanni Felice Sances (also Sancies, Sanci, Sanes, Sanchez, ca. 160024 November 1679) was an Italian singer and a Baroque composer. He was renowned in Europe during his time. Sances studied at the Collegio Germanico in Rome from 1609 to 1614. ...

: ''Stabat Mater''.

, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort.

Johann Heinrich Schmelzer Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c. 1620–1623between 29 February and 20 March 1680) was an Austrian composer and violinist of the middle Baroque era. Almost nothing is known about his early years, but he seems to have arrived in Vienna during the 1630 ...

Johann Fux Johann Joseph Fux (; – 13 February 1741) was an Austrian composer, music theorist and pedagogue of the late Baroque era. His most enduring work is not a musical composition but his treatise on counterpoint, '' Gradus ad Parnassum'', which has ...

, Marco Antonio Ziani 2008. * ''De Profundis''. Bass cantatas by

Nicolaus Bruhns Nicolaus Bruhns (also ''Nikolaus'', ''Nicholas''; late 1665 – in Husum) was a Danish-German organist, violinist, and composer. He was one of the most prominent organists and composers of his generation. Biography Bruhns was born in Schwabst ...

Dietrich Becker Dietrich Becker (ca. 1623 – Hamburg, 12 May 1679) was a German Baroque violinist and composer. Little is known about Becker's musical education. His first position was as organist at Ahrensberg. In his second position, in the service of the ...

, and Dietrich Buxtehude. Stephan MacLeod. 2009. *

: '' Aus der Tieffen''.

, Katharine Fuge,

Hans Jörg Mammel Hans Jörg Mammel (born in Stuttgart) is a German tenor in opera and concert. Mammel received first musical training as a member of the boys' choir Stuttgarter Hymnus-Chorknaben. After aborted legal studies, he studied at the Hochschule für M ...

, Stephan MacLeod, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort. 2009. *

: ''

Magnificat The Magnificat (Latin for " y soulmagnifies he Lord) is a canticle, also known as the Song of Mary, the Canticle of Mary and, in the Byzantine tradition, the Ode of the Theotokos (). It is traditionally incorporated into the liturgical servic ...

''.

, Anna Zander,

, Stephan MacLeod, Francis Jacob, Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort. 2010.

References

External links

Homepage of Ricercar Consort
{{Authority control Early music groups Musical groups established in 1980