Richard Campbell (classical musician)
Encyclopedia
Richard John Campbell was an English classical musician, best known as a founder member of the early music ensemble Fretwork
and for his newer association with the Feinstein Ensemble, specialising in historically-accurate performance of 18th century music.
and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he studied Classics. After rejecting a career as a Latin teacher as having 'dubious prospects', he went to study at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
and the Guildhall
.
and The Da Vinci Code
. Fretwork is known for its global touring and, as well as performances of early music
, commissioning new compositions for viol consort.
Campbell was Professor of Viola da Gamba and Violone at the Royal Academy of Music
. As a gamba soloist he has been associated since 1981 with Sir John Eliot Gardiner
's English Baroque Soloists and their performances and recordings of JS Bach and Francois Couperin
. He has performed as gamba-soloist or principal cellist with ensembles including Northern Sinfonia
, the orchestra of The Sixteen
, Ex Cathedra of Birmingham, the City of London Sinfonia
, the St James's Baroque Players, Florilegium
, and Paul McCreesh
's Gabrieli Players. He was a founding member of Jakob Lindberg's Dowland Consort, Philip Picket's Musicians of the Globe and, Charles Humphries's ensemble Kontraband.
Fretwork (music group)
Fretwork is a consort of viols based in England, United Kingdom. Formed in 1986, the group consisted of six players, while it is currently five viols...
and for his newer association with the Feinstein Ensemble, specialising in historically-accurate performance of 18th century music.
Early Life and Education
Campbell was born in Hammersmith, London, where his parents were teachers, and was educated at Marlborough CollegeMarlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he studied Classics. After rejecting a career as a Latin teacher as having 'dubious prospects', he went to study at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague
Royal Conservatory of The Hague
The Royal Conservatory of The Hague is a conservatorium of music, providing higher education in music and dance, it is located in The Hague, Netherlands.-The Conservatory:...
and the Guildhall
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
.
Career
With Fretwork, he recorded 31 albums, and also performed on film soundtracks including Coffee and CigarettesCoffee and Cigarettes
Coffee and Cigarettes is the title of three short films and a 2003 feature film by independent director Jim Jarmusch. The 2003 film consists of 11 short stories which share coffee and cigarettes as a common thread, and includes the earlier three films....
and The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code is a 2003 mystery-detective novel written by Dan Brown. It follows symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder in Paris's Louvre Museum and discover a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus having been married to...
. Fretwork is known for its global touring and, as well as performances of early music
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,...
, commissioning new compositions for viol consort.
Campbell was Professor of Viola da Gamba and Violone at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
. As a gamba soloist he has been associated since 1981 with Sir John Eliot Gardiner
John Eliot Gardiner
Sir John Eliot Gardiner CBE FKC is an English conductor. He founded the Monteverdi Choir , the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique...
's English Baroque Soloists and their performances and recordings of JS Bach and Francois Couperin
François Couperin
François Couperin was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented Couperin family.-Life:Couperin was born in Paris...
. He has performed as gamba-soloist or principal cellist with ensembles including Northern Sinfonia
Northern Sinfonia
The Northern Sinfonia is a British chamber orchestra, based initially in Newcastle upon Tyne, and currently in Gateshead. For the first 46 years of its history, the orchestra gave the bulk of its concerts at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne. Since 2004, the orchestra has been resident at The...
, the orchestra of The Sixteen
The Sixteen
The Sixteen are a choir and period instrument orchestra; founded by Harry Christophers in 1979.The group's special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of 20th century...
, Ex Cathedra of Birmingham, the City of London Sinfonia
City of London Sinfonia
The City of London Sinfonia is an English chamber orchestra based in London. In London, the CLS performs regularly at Cadogan Hall and St Paul's Cathedral. It is also the resident orchestra at Opera Holland Park. The CLS has annual residencies in four towns in Southern England: Ipswich, King's...
, the St James's Baroque Players, Florilegium
Florilegium
In medieval Latin a florilegium was a compilation of excerpts from other writings. The word is formed the Latin flos and legere : literally a gathering of flowers, or collection of fine extracts from the body of a larger work. It was adapted from the Greek anthologia "anthology", with the same...
, and Paul McCreesh
Paul McCreesh
Paul McCreesh is an English conductor.Paul McCreesh is founder and artistic director of the Gabrieli Consort & Players, with whom he has established himself at the highest level in the period instrument field; he is recognised for his authoritative and innovative performances on the concert...
's Gabrieli Players. He was a founding member of Jakob Lindberg's Dowland Consort, Philip Picket's Musicians of the Globe and, Charles Humphries's ensemble Kontraband.