Ruth Wilkinson

Ruth Wilkinson is a recorder and viol player whose musical expertise and passions are based on the performance of music from the 12th to the 18th century. Her performances have been praised for their musical integrity, imagination and brilliance.

As a member of many of Australia's most established early music ensembles including, La Romanesca, Capella Corelli and Consort Eclectu, she has toured extensively throughout Australia, Europe and South East Asia for Musica Viva. More recently she was invited to perform with the plucked instruments ensemble Ludovico's Band.

Ruth has been involved in many recording projects with the Ensemble of the Fourteenth Century, La Romanesca and the Elysium ensemble, as well as a solo recording of the Suites for Voice Flute by Charles Dieupart — all with the Move label.

The breadth of Ruth’s musical expertise is reflected in her extensive discography.

She studied the recorder with Hans-Martin Linde and viola da gamba with Jordi Savall at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Switzerland. Ruth teaches recorder and viola da gamba at the Early Music Studio of the University of Melbourne and is Director of Junior School Music at St. Michael's Grammar School, Melbourne.

Ruth Wilkinson is featured on the following titles

Music for the Countess of Sandwich

First release of the complete suites for Flûte du Voix by Charles Dieupart, includes two suites copied by J.S. Bach.

Performer: Harpsichord

Performing as Capella Corelli

Capella Corelli, one of Australia's foremost baroque chamber ensembles, was formed 21 years ago. The violin works of the great Italian virtuoso Arcangelo Corelli and of his Italian predecessors were the initial inspiration for the group.

La Prima Stravaganza

Sonatas of 17th century Italy performed by Capella Corelli. A glimpse into the rich world of instrumental music in seventeenth-century Italy from the experimental works of Cima, Castello, Montalbano, Fontana, Frescobaldi, Marini and Uccellini to Corelli.

Performer:

Capella Corelli Plays Handel and Telemann

Capella Corelli has long been one of Australia's foremost baroque chamber ensembles. In this recording they present a collection of sonatas by Handel and Telemann written for various combinations of the baroque violin, recorder, violin da gamba and harpsichord.

Performer: Recorder, Viola da Gamba

Duos

An extraordinary setting befits the extraordinary music performed by the duo of Ruth Wilkinson (recorders and bass viola da gamba) and Cynthia O’Brien (baroque violin), known in musical circles as Capella Corelli.

Performer: Recorder

Performing as La Romanesca

A leading force in early music in Australia since 1978, La Romanesca has developed a special interest in the performance of mediaeval monophonic and polyphonic song, although the group's repertory spans the twelfth to seventeenth centuries.

Via Frescobaldi

17th century Italian composer Girolamo Frescobaldi was conservative in style and yet an innovator in many ways. La Romanesca presents some of his improvisatory toccatas, imitative polyphonic instrumental music, and songs from his 'arie musicale' of 1630.

Performer: Recorder, Viola da Gamba

Iberian Triangle

La Romanesca presents a portrait of the musical diversity of Spanish song in the period immediately preceding both the great expulsion and Columbus' great voyages. Music of christian, moorish, jewish Spain before 1492.

Performer: Vielle, Recorder, Voice

Monodies

Music from 12th and 13th century Spain. Features songs by Martin Codax, Marcabru and other unknown composers.

Performer: Recorder, Vielle, Tenor Viol

Love lyrics and romances of Renaissance Spain

This is the first recording by early music group La Romanesca.

Performer

Performing as Ensemble of the Fourteenth Century

The Ensemble of the Fourteenth Century is a collective of specialist singers and instrumentalists brought together for the Fourteenth Century Recording Project. The ensemble was initially formed around the leading Australian mediaeval ensemble La Romanesca, which was expanded to provide the varied instrumental and vocal combinations required by the repertoire.

I am Music - The Music of the 14th Century Vol. 3

The Music of the Fourteenth Century Series presents some of the earliest and most significant polyphonic settings of the lyric poetry of the late middle ages. Songs by Landini performed by The Ensemble of the Fourteenth Century.

Producer

Performing as Elysium Ensemble

The Elysium Ensemble has been acclaimed by critics for its exciting performances, fine musicianship and authoritative interpretations of music from the Baroque and Classical repertoire.

The Bedroom of the King (La Chambre du Roi)

Intimate music from the court of Versailles and the salons of Paris performed by eminent Early Music ensemble, Elysium.

Performer: Bass Viol

Ruth Wilkinson also appears on

Tyrannick Love

The Orpheus Ensemble with Vivien Hamilton. Songs for soprano, harpsichord, baroque cello (viol and baroque violins on occasion), each written for famous singers and actresses in popular Restoration dramas of late 17th century England.

Performer: Viola da Gamba