Anthony Rooley
Encyclopedia
Anthony Rooley is a British lutenist. He founded in 1969 and directs the early music
ensemble
the Consort of Musicke
, which continues to be one of the chief vehicles for his inspiration, among many other activities and interests. He has recorded extensively and continues to perform solo and duo repertoire with soprano
s Evelyn Tubb
and former partner Emma Kirkby
.
Anthony was appointed York Early Music Festival
Vice President in 2008. He continues regular work as a Visiting Professor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
, where he is Director of AVES - Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies, a new Masters Programme created to give young singers a practical awareness of the repertoire. Most recently he has been appointed a Visiting Professor at the Orpheus Institute, Ghent, under the heading "Developing a Practical Philosophy of Performance." In 2003, 2005 and 2007 he undertook four-month residencies at Florida State University
, holding graduate seminars and directing productions. In 2003 this included a fully staged version of Semele by John Eccles
; in 2005 a ‘first’ Conference on John Eccles; 2007 focused on The Passions of William Hayes.
Writing and research are of great importance, to develop and extend the repertoire; plans for the future include more time for writing. Recently, Anthony has turned to the 18th and 19th centuries, as part of his continuing project to search out the best of forgotten English music. In 2004 he directed performances, live and on CD, of the madrigal
s and part-songs of Robert Lucas Pearsall, and in 2005 The Passions by Handel
’s contemporary and champion, William Hayes, which was revived for the Weimar Festival in 2006.
He is the author of Performance: revealing the Orpheus within.
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
the Consort of Musicke
The Consort of Musicke
The Consort of Musicke is a British early music group, founded in 1969 by lutenist Anthony Rooley, the ensemble's Artistic Director. Members of the group have included such well-known artists as sopranos Emma Kirkby and Evelyn Tubb, alto Mary Nichols, tenors Paul Agnew, Andrew King and Joseph...
, which continues to be one of the chief vehicles for his inspiration, among many other activities and interests. He has recorded extensively and continues to perform solo and duo repertoire with soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
s Evelyn Tubb
Evelyn Tubb
Soprano Evelyn Tubb is a long-time member of The Consort of Musicke and one of the world's greatest early music specialists, known for her innovative and original performances. She originally comes from the Isle of Wight and studied piano, trumpet, violin and singing...
and former partner Emma Kirkby
Emma Kirkby
Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
.
Anthony was appointed York Early Music Festival
York Early Music Festival
The York Early Music Festival is an English arts festival devoted mainly to classical music from the 18th century and earlier. It was established in 1977, and takes place in York each July at various venues such as York Minster, the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall at the University of York and the...
Vice President in 2008. He continues regular work as a Visiting Professor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is a music academy and research institution located in Basel, Switzerland, and focusing on early music and historically informed performance....
, where he is Director of AVES - Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies, a new Masters Programme created to give young singers a practical awareness of the repertoire. Most recently he has been appointed a Visiting Professor at the Orpheus Institute, Ghent, under the heading "Developing a Practical Philosophy of Performance." In 2003, 2005 and 2007 he undertook four-month residencies at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, holding graduate seminars and directing productions. In 2003 this included a fully staged version of Semele by John Eccles
John Eccles
John Eccles was an English composer.Born in London, eldest son of professional musician Solomon Eccles, John Eccles was appointed to the King's Private Musick in 1694, and in 1700 became Master of the King's Musick...
; in 2005 a ‘first’ Conference on John Eccles; 2007 focused on The Passions of William Hayes.
Writing and research are of great importance, to develop and extend the repertoire; plans for the future include more time for writing. Recently, Anthony has turned to the 18th and 19th centuries, as part of his continuing project to search out the best of forgotten English music. In 2004 he directed performances, live and on CD, of the madrigal
Madrigal (music)
A madrigal is a secular vocal music composition, usually a partsong, of the Renaissance and early Baroque eras. Traditionally, polyphonic madrigals are unaccompanied; the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six....
s and part-songs of Robert Lucas Pearsall, and in 2005 The Passions by Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
’s contemporary and champion, William Hayes, which was revived for the Weimar Festival in 2006.
He is the author of Performance: revealing the Orpheus within.
Discography
- biography for Anthony Rooley and recent discography
- extensive discographies for the Consort and also Emma Kirkby
- biography for the Consort (a few errors) and extensive discography
- biography for the Consort (a few errors) and recent discography
External links
- Hyperion Records; artist's page for Anthony Rooley
- Hyperion Records; artist's page for the Consort
- Naxos Records; artist's page for Anthony Rooley
- early music directory artist's page for the Consort
- early music directory artist's page for the Kirkby-Rooley duo
- Regis records; product page for Eccles Semele
- Regis records; artist's page for the Consort
- ASV records; artist's page for the Consort
- CD Review Digest for Anthony Rooley
- Gesualdo CD and soundclip of madrigal
- Shakespeare resource with soundclip of solo lute
- Banquet of the Senses Consort DVD product page
- Children's book by Evelyn Tubb, illustrated by Anthony Rooley