An early music revival is a renewed interest in music from ancient history or prehistory. The general discussion of how to perform music from ancient or earlier times did not become an important subject of interest until the 19th century, when Europeans began looking to ancient culture generally, and musicians began to discover the musical riches from earlier centuries. The idea of performing early music more "authentically", with a sense of incorporating historically informed performance , was more completely established in the 20th century, creating a modern early music revival that continues today.
41-403: In England, Johann Pepusch developed an " Academy of Ancient Music " in the 1720s to study music by Palestrina , Tomás Luis de Victoria , William Byrd , Thomas Morley , and other composers at least a century old. In Vienna, Baron Gottfried van Swieten presented house concerts of ancient music in the late 1700s, where Mozart developed his love of music by Bach and Handel . At the end of
82-560: A cellist with the Vienna Symphony from 1952 to 1969. In 1953, he founded the period-instrument ensemble Concentus Musicus Wien with his wife, Alice Hoffelner , whom he married during the year. The Concentus Musicus Wien was dedicated to performances on period instruments . He played the viola da gamba at this time, as well as the cello. For the Telefunken (later Teldec ) label, Harnoncourt recorded Baroque repertoire, beginning with
123-585: A female soprano voice. He also made the first recordings in historically informed performance of Bach's Mass in B minor (1968) and St Matthew Passion (1970). In 2001, an acclaimed and Grammy Award winning recording of the St Matthew Passion with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir was released, which included the entire score of the piece in Bach's own hand on a CD-ROM . This was his third recording of
164-507: A large number of independent classical labels, such as Harmonia Mundi and Hyperion, continue to produce early music recordings. The majority of recorded music available is found for purchase (or download) on the internet. Johann Pepusch Johann Christoph Pepusch ( German pronunciation: [ˈjoːhan ˈkʁɪstɔf ˈpeːpʊʃ] ; 1667 – 31 July [ O.S. 20 July] 1752), also known as John Christopher Pepusch ( English: / ˈ p eɪ p ʊ ʃ / ) and Dr Pepusch ,
205-401: A much greater public. The early music revival changed the listening habits of classical music audiences by introducing them to a range of music of which they were largely unaware. In the long term, the performance methods and values of the early music revivalist, particularly what became known as a quest for ' authenticity ' had a permanent effect not only on early music performance, but also on
246-569: A new production of Die Zauberflöte staged by Jens-Daniel Herzog . Harnoncourt made his guest-conducting debut with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam in 1975. He continued as a guest conductor with the orchestra, including in several opera productions and recordings. In October 2000, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (KCO) named him their Honorair gastdirigent (Honorary Guest Conductor). His final appearance with
287-456: A new standard and tradition in performing Renaissance choral music, several independent instrumental ensembles also emerged in the 1960s. They included Musica Reservata and David Munrow 's Early Music Consort . Research into early music was carried out by members of the Galpin Society and independent scholars such as Mary Remnant and Christopher Hogwood . Other important milestones in
328-553: A pioneer of the Early Music movement . Around 1970, Harnoncourt began conducting opera and concert performances, soon leading international symphony orchestras, and appearing at leading concert halls, operatic venues and festivals. In 2001 and 2003, he conducted the Vienna New Year's Concert . Harnoncourt was also the author of several books, mostly on subjects of performance history and musical aesthetics. Johann Nikolaus Harnoncourt
369-429: A production of Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria at La Piccola Scala. In 1971, Harnoncourt established a joint project with conductor Gustav Leonhardt to record all of J.S. Bach's cantatas . The Teldec Bach cantata project was eventually completed in 1990 and was the only cantata cycle to use an all-male choir and soloist roster, with the exception of cantatas nos. 51 and 199 , which were intended for
410-473: Is considered significant foremost for his teaching role, but is best known for his arrangement of the music for The Beggar's Opera (1728) — to the libretto of John Gay . He composed works of all forms, including stage and church music as well as concertos and continuo sonatas . He often made use of popular dance forms, such as the gigue and sarabande . Nikolaus Harnoncourt Johann Nikolaus Harnoncourt (6 December 1929 – 5 March 2016)
451-482: Is the mezzo-soprano Elisabeth von Magnus . Their two surviving sons are Philipp and Franz. Their third son Eberhard, a violin maker, died in 1990 in an automobile accident. Harnoncourt died on 5 March 2016 in the village of Sankt Georgen im Attergau , north east of Salzburg . His widow Alice, their three adult children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survived him. Alice died in July 2022. Harnoncourt
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#1732869259677492-572: Is widely considered the key figure in the early music revival in the early 20th century. Dolmetsch's 1915 book The Interpretation of the Music of the XVIIth and XVIIIth Centuries was a milestone in the development of authentic performances of early music. By the 1950s the early music revival was underway, and was a fully established phenomenon by the end of the 1970s. It was centered primarily in London and Basel (at
533-707: The Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE), and recorded Beethoven's piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard and the COE. Harnoncourt was a guest conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic and made several recordings with the orchestra. Between 1987 and 1991, he conducted four new productions of Mozart operas at the Vienna State Opera (1987–91: Idomeneo ; 1988–90: Die Zauberflöte ; 1989: Die Entführung aus dem Serail ; 1989–91: Così fan tutte ). He directed
574-571: The Hitler Youth under duress, where, as he noted: If you didn't go there every Wednesday and Saturday, the Hitler Youth police would come, fetch you, cut your hair and toss you into a group with other difficult ones who were treated terribly. At the Vienna Music Academy , Harnoncourt studied cello with Paul Grümmer and Emanuel Brabec, and also learned viola da gamba . Harnoncourt was
615-568: The Renaissance Workshop Company (formerly J. Woods and Sons Ltd.) played an important role in the development of early music in the 20th and 21st centuries. There continues to be a great flourishing of ensembles, training programs, concert series, and recordings devoted to ancient music in the 21st century. In Europe a proliferation of early music festivals and specialist departments of music conservatories, have made early music an established part of mainstream musical activity. In
656-508: The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis ), although there was much activity in other European and American cities, especially New York , Boston , and San Francisco (centered around its Philharmonia Baroque ). It had far-reaching and important effects for the way that people listen to classical music and the way it is taught, performed, sponsored and sold. Few people involved in the classical music industry today would not acknowledge
697-524: The University of North Texas , and Boston University , have strong early music degree programs. In Montréal , Quebec , there is a lively early music scene, much of it as a result of the early music department of McGill University , established by Kenneth Gilbert in the 1960. Recordings of all eras of early music and works of many lesser-known composers are now available. While some major recording labels have reduced funding for classical music recordings,
738-418: The 18th century, Samuel Wesley was promoting the music of Bach. In 1808, Samuel Wesley began performing Bach's organ music in a series of London concerts. Felix Mendelssohn is often credited as an important figure in reviving music from the past. He conducted a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion on 11 March 1829, cited as one of the most significant events in the early music revival, although
779-628: The Elizabethan period. In 1713 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music by the University of Oxford . Pepusch remained Director of the Academy until his death in 1752, and had established England as an important location for the study of music history. He was succeeded at the Academy by Benjamin Cooke , one of his pupils. His many pupils also included William Boyce and John Bennett . Pepusch died in London at
820-653: The KCO was in October 2013, leading Bruckner's Symphony No. 5 . Other recordings outside of the baroque and classical era repertoire included his 2002 recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic. An accompanying second CD contained a lecture by Harnoncourt about the symphony with musical examples, including the rarely heard fragments from the unfinished finale. In 2009, Harnoncourt recorded Gershwin's Porgy and Bess , taken from live performances at Graz. He
861-768: The United States, gatherings such as the Boston Early Music Festival and organizations such as Early Music America, the Renaissance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh and the San Francisco Early Music Society continue to promote the study and performance of ancient music. Several college music departments, such as the Peabody Institute , Indiana University , Oberlin Conservatory of Music ,
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#1732869259677902-947: The Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Day concerts in 2001 and 2003. In 1992, Harnoncourt debuted at the Salzburg Festival conducting a concert with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe . In the following years, he led several concerts with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Concentus Musicus. Harnoncourt also served as the conductor for major opera productions of the Festival: L'incoronazione di Poppea (1993), Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro (1995 and 2006), Don Giovanni (2002, marking also Anna Netrebko 's international breakthrough as Donna Anna, and 2003) and La clemenza di Tito (2003 and 2006), and Purcell's King Arthur (2004). In 2012, Harnoncourt conducted
943-433: The age of 85. For a period of twenty years, Pepusch also directed the musical establishment at Cannons , a large stately home at Edgware, Middlesex, northwest of London . He was employed there by James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos . For a few years, he worked alongside George Frideric Handel , who had a role described as composer in residence . Both men were at Cannons in 1717/18. Amongst English musicologists, Pepusch
984-406: The breadth and depth of the impact that this movement has had. As much as any other force in the period, the protagonists of the early music revival were opponents of cultural values that, in the late 1950s, seemed virtually unquestionable. The revival of interest in music from earlier periods was more widely felt than in the pedagogy and performance practice of European art music; it also influenced
1025-595: The early music revival included the 1933 founding of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel , Switzerland by Paul Sacher —together with distinguished musicians including the pioneering specialist in early vocal music Max Meili , who contributed to the extensive L'Anthologie Sonore series of early music recordings and recorded Renaissance lute songs for HMV —and the 1937 presentation and recording of some of Monteverdi’s Madrigals by Nadia Boulanger in France. Arnold Dolmetsch
1066-571: The future Frederick William I of Prussia . He resigned this position in 1698 after witnessing the execution of an officer without trial. He then first went to Amsterdam. In 1704, he settled in England but continued to publish in Amsterdam until 1718. At first, Pepusch earned a living playing the viola, then as a theatre director, music theoretician, teacher and organist. In 1726, Pepusch founded The Academy of Vocal Music with others; in around 1730–1, it
1107-638: The music is conceived, the process by which it is learned, and the manners in which it is performed. At this time established pioneers of early music such as the English counter-tenor Alfred Deller were joined by a new wave of specialist groups such as Musica Reservata , the Early Music Consort , the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists . The music they played, and the way it
1148-416: The performance of music from later periods. Most interest was centered on the medieval and renaissance periods, and to a certain extent, the first part of the baroque period. However, it could be misleading to think of this revival simply in chronological terms, because early music performers soon extended their interests to later periods. The focus was not simply on repertoire, but on the ways in which
1189-532: The performance practices and research of popular music and the music of oral traditions. Also, in the 1970s and 1980s many ensembles in Europe, led by the likes of Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Austria), Gustav Leonhardt , Jos van Veldhoven (Netherlands), Philippe Herreweghe , Sigiswald Kuijken (Belgium), Christopher Hogwood , Trevor Pinnock and John Eliot Gardiner (England); and many others, made works in baroque and early classical periods approachable and accessible for
1230-424: The performance used contemporary instruments and the work was condensed, leaving out a significant amount of Bach's music. In the early 20th century, musical historians in the emerging field of musicology began to look at Medieval and Renaissance music more carefully, preparing performing editions of many works. Aside from choirs at the cathedral churches in England which were reviving these pieces, establishing
1271-580: The viol music of Henry Purcell , and extending to include works like Bach's The Musical Offering , Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea , and Rameau's Castor et Pollux . One of his final recordings with the Concentus Musicus Wien was of Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 . One reason that Harnoncourt left the Vienna Symphony was to become a conductor. He made a conducting debut at La Scala , Milan , in 1972/ 73 season, leading
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1312-453: The work. Harnoncourt later performed with many orchestras performing on modern instruments, but retaining considerations for historical authenticity in terms of tempi and dynamics , among other issues. He also expanded his repertoire, continuing to play the baroque works, but also championing the Viennese operetta repertoire. He made a benchmark recording of Beethoven's symphonies with
1353-611: Was a German-born composer who spent most of his working life in England. He was born in Berlin, son of a vicar, and was married to Margherita de l'Epine who also performed in some of his theatrical productions. Pepusch studied music theory under Martin Klingenberg, cantor of the Marienkirche in Berlin. At the age of 14, he was appointed to the Prussian court where he gave music lessons to
1394-488: Was a conductor for the Rudolf Buchbinder 's recording of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 's Piano concertos No. 23 & 25. On 5 December 2015, one day before his 86th birthday, Harnoncourt announced his retirement via his website. "My bodily strength requires me to cancel my future plans," he wrote in a hand-written letter inserted into the program on his 86th birthday of a concert by the Concentus Musicus Wien. Harnoncourt
1435-506: Was an Austrian conductor , known for his historically informed performances . He specialized in music of the Baroque period , but later extended his repertoire to include Classical and early Romantic works. Among his best known recordings are those of Bach , whose 193 cantatas he recorded with Gustav Leonhardt . Starting out as a classical cellist, he founded his own period instrument ensemble, Concentus Musicus Wien , in 1953, and became
1476-623: Was an Austrian engineer working in Berlin who had two children from a previous marriage. Two years after Nikolaus's birth, his brother Philipp was born, and also in 1931, the family moved to the Styrian capital Graz , Austria , where they took up residence in their ancestral home, Palais Meran. Eberhard obtained a post in the state government ( Landesregierung ) of Styria. Harnoncourt was raised in Graz, and studied music in Vienna . During his youth, he served in
1517-476: Was born as an Austrian citizen in Berlin, Germany , in 1929. His Austrian mother, Ladislaja née Gräfin von Meran , Freiin von Brandhoven, was the great-granddaughter of the Habsburg Archduke Johann , the 13th child of Emperor Leopold II , making him a descendant of Holy Roman Emperors and other European royalty. His father, Eberhard Harnoncourt, born de la Fontaine Graf d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt,
1558-595: Was no sooner announced than it met the countenance and support of the principal persons of rank. Among the foremost in this undertaking were Mr. John Christopher Pepusch, Mr. John Earnest Galleard , an excellent composer and performer on the Oboe, Mr. Bernard Gates of the Queen’s Chapel, Henry Niedler, etc. He also founded the Madrigal Society. Both were devoted to researching the history of music but specifically music of
1599-589: Was performed, appeared new in comparison to the sounds that most people were used to from classical music; it seemed fresh and exotic. Another important aspect to the revival was the reconstruction of instruments of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. People like Otto Steinkopf (one of the most knowledgeable and talented Berlin instrument makers and performers) started the meticulous reproduction of woodwinds: crumhorns, cornamuses, rauschpfeifes, shawms, flutes and early types of clarinets and oboes. Other manufacturers like
1640-412: Was renamed The Academy of Ancient Music . In Joseph Doane's Musical directory for the year 1794 , the founding of the Academy is discussed. On page 76, Doane states: In the year 1710 (memorable for Handel ’s first appearance among us) a number of the most eminent composers and performers in London [agreed] to concert a plan of an Academy for the study and practice of Vocal and Instrumental Music, which
1681-497: Was the focus of the annual festival of classical music Styriarte , founded in 1985 to tie him closer to his hometown, Graz . He programmed the festival for 31 years. Events have been held at different venues in Graz and in the surrounding region. Harnoncourt met his wife Alice through their mutual interest in historically informed performances of Baroque music and co-founded the Concentus Musicus Wien . Their daughter