Early music

Australian · Baroque · Choral · Christmas · Classical · Cross-cultural · Early music
Folk music · Jazz · Keyboard · Orchestral · Organ · Soundtrack · Spoken word · Vocal

Venice to Versailles

Venice and Versailles represent the two dominant and contrasting styles of music in Europe during the Baroque period: Venice, the robust, joyous exuberance and barocco character of the Italian style, and Versailles, the refinement, delicacy, elegance and douceur of the French.

A Souldiers Resolution: The First Part of Ayres

Counter-tenor Christopher Field joins the outstanding viol player Miriam Morris to present Tobias Hume's The First Part of Ayres, the first collection of music to appear in England devoted exclusively to the lyra viol and bass viol.

Music of the Spanish Renaissance

If you liked the period music used in the multi award-winning film ELIZABETH then you've already heard La Compañia perform ... but don't try to find them on the actual soundtrack album because you'll only find them here on this CD!

Beatus Vir

Recorded live during their 1999 European tour, the Choir of Ormond College presents a delightful mix of music in eight parts by Jacob Handl, Palestrina and Gabrieli, and other beautiful music by Rheinberger, Villette, Stanford, Howells, Monteverdi and Gesualdo.

Songs of Love and Marriage

Benjamin Thorn and Wayne Madden present a journey through 600 years of music on the theme of love. You'll find rarely heard works by Barbara Strozzi and Francesca Caccini as well as the more familiar music of Telemann and Ortiz.

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.

two

Together, two of Australia's finest young musicians present a unique programme of traditional Irish folk melodies, baroque virtuosity, contemporary Australian works and medieval dance music.

La Follia

"La Follia" variations by Corelli, Vitali, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, with stunning performances by German recorder virtuoso Susanne Ehrhardt accompanied by the acclaimed Australian harpsichordist Jacqueline Ogeil.

O Rose So Red

Melbourne based Schola Cantorum perform a program of chants, songs and motets used to capture the nature of Mary over the course of more than a millennium.

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.

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.

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.

Courts in Colour

A collection of traditional melodies from the important courts of Spain, France, Egypt and Jerusalem in the Middle Ages.

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.

Travellers' Tapestry

Mediæval and folk-based music from Europe, Asia and the Middle East – inspired by the centres of barter and exchange grouped along busy trade routes.

What if a Day or a Month or a Year

Elizabethan lute songs and Ayres sung by founding member of the Deller Consort, Gerald English.

Hæc Dies

Easter at Notre Dame Paris, c1220. Music for Easter Sunday mass as it may have been heard at Notre Dame in Paris at the beginning of the 13th century, including the chant propers, a complete cycle for the ordinary in two-part settings in the Leoninus style and three-part organum in the style of Perotin.

Silk and Spice

Early instrumental music inspired by the Silk Road. Cantigas takes us on a musical journey through mediæval Europe, Asia and the Middle East, where the meeting of diverse cultures resulted in an interaction and exchange of musical ideas.

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.

A Florentine Annunciation - The Music of the 14th Century Vol. 4

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. Music for the Feast of the Annunciation performed by Les Six.

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.

Every Delight and Fair Pleasure - The Music of the 14th Century Vol. 2

Music from northern Italy written between the second decade of the 14th century and the early years of the 15th century. Contains anonymous works from the Rossi manuscript and songs by Maestro Piero and Bartolino da Padova.

Two Gentlemen of Verona - The Music of the 14th Century Vol. 1

Two Gentlemen of Verona is an anthology of recordings of the secular music of medieval France and Italy. This volume contains works by Jacopo da Bologna and Giovanni da Firenze.

The Echo of Opheus

Vihuela Music of Renaissance Spain. On vihuela or 'Spanish Lute' – John Griffiths presents an intimate selection of Renaissance fantasies, variations and dances by Spanish composers inspired by the mythological legend of Orpheus.

Monodies

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

Love lyrics and romances of Renaissance Spain

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

Walsingham

Renowned Australian lutenist, Rosemary Hodgson’s Walsingham is an intricately constructed musical journey exploring themes of mysticism and pilgrimage.

Australian Monody

The Marais Project is joined by international countertenor, Russell Harcourt, in a brilliant collection of largely Australian songs and instrumental works exploring light and darkness, love and loss.

Two

Two brings together the nationally renowned talents of Marais Project founding members, Jennifer Eriksson, viola da gamba, and Tommie Andersson, gallichon, theorbo and baroque guitar, in a seldom heard way. Each plays alternate brackets of solos on their respective instruments before embarking on a joint performance of a splendid suite by Marin Marais.

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.

The Garden Party

The Marais Project’s latest offering, The Garden Party, has a festive anniversary flavour and includes several world premieres, not the least of which is the Eriksson-penned title track.

Smörgåsbord

Over its long history The Marais Project has continuously pushed the boundaries of the viola da gamba repertoire whether in presenting the long neglected works of Marin Marais and his French baroque contemporaries or launching the electric viola da gamba in Australia.

Lady Sings the Viol

The concept behind "Lady Sings the Viol" was to create a CD of "covers" of popular tunes. Five very different singers individually and collectively perform songs from 1300 to the present day including music by Piaf, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin's bassist), Schubert and Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin.

La vida es un pasahe: a life in Sephardic song

La vida es un pasahe: a life in Sephardic song presents a life, or various possibilities for life in the songs of the Sephardim, the Spanish-speaking Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492 and made their way to various parts of the globe, taking with them a language, a culture and their magnificent music.

Lobe den Herren

Renowned Organist and Concert Pianist, Anthony Halliday performs a varied recital on this charming and historic instrument. The program ranges from the grand organ works of J.S. Bach to Halliday's own transcription of the finale from Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

Love Reconciled

Representing a landmark in the maturity of early music performance in Australia, The Marais Project presents "Love Reconciled", a recording to play often and savor deeply.

Sit Down Beside Me

In its inimitable style, Pastance again brings together music from the folk traditions and the early music world.

A Valley Fair

Pastance's most recent offering is a delightful collection of traditional, original, and early music for Celtic harp, recorders and voices.

Sing to the Lord, ye Heavenly Hosts

The Choir of Scots' Church presents music from Palestrina in the sixteenth century to twenty-first century music by a contemporary Australian composer, Andrew Batterham. It also includes a rare performance of the Widor Mass for choir, baritone choir and two organs.

The Litanies of St. Francis Xavier

Explore some of this exquisite choral music on this generous 2-CD set featuring the Schola Cantorum: the Litaniae Xaverianae, five psalms, the Magnificat in D, the Alma Redemptoris Mater composed by Jan Dismas Zelenka.

Joy

'Joy' refers to the intent and inspiration that underlies so much of the music on this disc - and it gives us an appreciation of how music formed the backdrop to people's lives in the Middle Ages.

Falling Through Time

All the colour and mystique of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance come alive with a presentation that is rich in music and drama.