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Clemencic Consort

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Clemencic Consort is an Austrian early music ensemble, founded in 1968 by René Clemencic. Clemencic was born in Vienna in 1928 and died in 2022. He was a composer, conductor, harpsichordist, clavichordist and recorder player and studied at the University of Vienna and then in France, the Netherlands and West Germany. He led the Capella Musica Antiqua and the Drama Musicum in Vienna. In 1958 he had already founded Musica Antiqua, which after 1959 was called Ensemble Musica Antiqua, to play early music on historical instruments.

Music and breakthrough

In the 1970s and 1980s the Consort made many recordings for Harmonia Mundi. Best known is the Carmina Burana series, an edition of five LPs in the years 1974 to 1978, later reissued on three CDs in 1990. Other recordings are Les Cantigas De Santa Maria Vol. 2 from 1976, La Fête De L'âne from 1980, Missa Prolationum and Troubadores from 1985 and 1986, and Salve Regina and Stabat Mater from 1987. The repertoire runs from medieval songs and dances to Renaissance masses.

Influence

The Consort plays on instruments of the period itself, such as recorders and string instruments, with singing. In this way it brought medieval music to a wide audience, at a time when interest in early music was growing. Clemencic himself also composed, including oratorios and chamber operas, and in 1978 wrote the film music for Molière.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a piece from Carmina Burana in the performance by the Clemencic Consort and notice the medieval instruments, such as flutes and strings, alongside the singing. Try to hear how the rhythm of the dance drives the music.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists