The Five Centuries Ensemble (1971–1984) was an early music ensemble in Paris and Italy during the 1970 and early 1980s. It was one of the first groups preceding the revival of interest in

early music Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750) or Ancient music (before 500 AD). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad Dates of classical ...

and

historically informed performance Historically informed performance (also referred to as period performance, authentic performance, or HIP) is an approach to the performance of Western classical music, classical music which aims to be faithful to the approach, manner and style of ...

baroque music Baroque music ( or ) refers to the period or dominant style of Classical music, Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance music, Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Class ...

in the mid-1970s and 1980s. The group's founding members were counter-tenor and composer John Patrick Thomas, cellist

Marijke Verberne Marijke, sometimes Germanized as Mareike, is a Dutch feminine given name. It is originally a diminutive of Mary. Phonetically, the name is said ''muh-rye-kah/keh'', preferably with a rolling “r”.Workingwritersandbloggers.comInterview Marijke ...

, and American soprano

Carol Plantamura Carol Plantamura (born February 8, 1941, in Los Angeles, California) is an American soprano specializing in 17th and 20th century music. She graduated from Occidental College and was an original member of the Rockefeller Foundation-funded Creat ...

William Christie (harpsichordist) William Lincoln Christie (born December 19, 1944) is an American-born French conductor and harpsichordist. He is a specialist in baroque and classical repertoire and is the founder of the ensemble Les Arts Florissants. Biography Christie ...

- following his 1971 first recording with the Parisian musicologist

Geneviève Thibault de Chambure Geneviève, comtesse Hubert de Chambure Thibault (20 June 1902, Neuilly-sur-Seine – 31 August 1975, Strasbourg) was a French musicologist associated with the revival of interest in early music. Life and career She graduated from the Universi ...

(Neuilly-sur-Seine 1902 – Strasbourg 1975). Other members included American soprano

Judith Nelson Judith Anne Nelson, née Manes (10 September 1939 – 28 May 2012) was an American soprano, noted for her performances of baroque music at the beginning of the "early music revival" of the 1970s and 1980s. Nelson was born in Evanston, Illino ...

and harpsichordist John Whitelaw. After the departure of Christie and Nelson to focus on baroque music with

René Jacobs René Jacobs (born 30 October 1946) is a Belgian musician. He came to fame as a countertenor, but later in his career he became known as a conductor of baroque and classical opera. Biography Countertenor Born in Ghent, Jacobs began his musi ...

Concerto Vocale Concerto Vocale is a Belgian musical ensemble for baroque music. History Concerto Vocale was founded in Amsterdam in 1977 by the Belgian countertenor and conductor René Jacobs, with Judith Nelson appearing on the first solo recordings. In lat ...

in 1976, the remaining members of the Five Centuries Ensemble turned more to contemporary music, written for them by composers, such as, Luis de Pablo, Charles Boone, Lukas Foss, Morton Feldman, COMBINED with Early Music, 17th Century and earlier, based on thematic similarities, both musical and textual.

Discography

* Gagliano, Marco da: ''Musice a una, due e tre voci; Sacrae cantiones''. Five Centuries Ensemble. Italia ITL 70060 Cum notis variorum: the newsletter of the Music Library Issues 109-118 University of California, Berkeley. Music Library - 1987 "Five Centuries Ensemble. Italia ITL 70026; LI 1659. Gagliano, Marco da Musice a una, due e tre voci; Sacrae cantiones. Five Centuries Ensemble. Italia ITL; Claudio Monteverdi", Luzzasco Luzzaschi, Sigismondo d'India, Girolamo Frescobaldi, all on Italia ITL. * d’India, Sigismondo: ''Arie, Madrigali e Mottetti.'' Five Centuries Ensemble. Italia ITL 70026. * Monteverdi, Claudio: ''Musiche Sacre e Profane. Five Centuries Ensemble.'' Italia ITL 70079. * Luzzaschi, Luzzasco: ''Madrigali per cantare e sonare.'' Five Centuries Ensemble. Italia ITL 70050 * Frescobaldi, Girolamo: ''Musica vocale e strumentale''. Five Centuries Ensemble. Italia ITL 70095 * Scarlatti, Alessandro: ''Quattro Cantate.'' Five Centuries Ensemble. Italia ITL 70065 * Cage, John: ''Ryoanji.'' Five Centuries Ensemble''.'' HatART CD 6183

References

{{Authority control Early music groups Contemporary classical music ensembles