The Toronto Consort | Ensemble Polaris | Baroque Music Beside the Grange
The Toronto Consort
The Toronto Consort is Canada's leading ensemble specializing in the music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Formed in 1972, the Consort has performed throughout Canada, the USA, Great Britain and Europe. It has frequently collaborated with other early music specialists including Paul O'Dette, Julianne Baird, Colin Tilney, the King's Noyse and Les Sonneurs de Montréal.
A number of twentieth-century works have been written specially for the ensemble, which has led to guest appearances with the Toronto Symphony, Montreal Symphony and North German Radio Orchestra. Each year the Consort offers a subscription series in Toronto. These concerts are constantly exploring new repertoires and innovative ways to bring early music to the modern audience.
 The Consort often works in collaboration with actors, dancers and visual artists, to produce concerts which have dramatic as well as musical appeal. Recent projects include a program of old and new pilgrim’s music with Oliver Schroer, fiddler extraordinaire, and music from the time of Leonardo Da Vinci, our new CD of which is scheduled for release in 2007 with the title – you guessed it – ‘The Da Vinci Codex.’
The members of the Toronto Consort are: Katherine Hill, soprano, early fiddles; Michele DeBoer, soprano; Laura Pudwell, mezzo-soprano; Paul Jenkins, tenor, keyboard instruments; David Fallis, tenor and Artistic Director; John Pepper, bass; Terry McKenna, lute, plucked strings; Alison Melville, recorders, early flutes.
Recordings
 The Da Vinci Collection: Music from the Time of Leonardo -
Marquis 81357, 2006
Music from 16th-century Italy, including dance tunes, diminutions, madrigals, frottolas and more, using recorder and renaissance flute.
Available at Marquis Music
Praetorius Christmas Vespers - Marquis Music MAR 335, 2005
A festive recreation of a Christmas Vespers service as it might have sounded in a 17th-century German Church under the direction of Michael Praetorius. Available at Marquis Music
The Little Barleycorn: Winter Revels from the Renaissance - Dorian 93186, November 1999
David Fallis, Artistic Director/tenor/harsichord; Paul Jenkins, tenor/harsichord; Terry McKenna, baroque guitar/lute; A.M., recorder; John Pepper, bass and Laura Pudwell, mezzo-soprano with David Greenberg, violin; Ben Grossman, percussion, hurdy-gurdy; Katherine Hill, soprano, viola da gamba. Available at amazon.ca
“Instrumentalists Terry McKenna and Alison Melville, recorder,
dazzled their way through some florid solos.”
—Regina Leader-Post
O Lusty May - Dorian 93172, 1999
"The virtuoso talents of Alison Melville are featured on several solo tracks...and also contribute tasteful flourishes and ornamentation throughout. One solo in particular...accompanied by Paul Jenkins, is filled with ear-tickling impulsiveness and musical caresses."
—Toronto Early Music News
Available at amazon.ca
“I can’t help but smile when listening to the rich, cheerful, heartfelt music of the Toronto Consort. On this recording in particular, the recorder virtuosity of Alison Melville stands out as she imitates birds in several numbers with well-placed chirps and flutter-tongueing.”
—A happy customer, Amazon.com
Orlando di Lasso - Chansons & Madrigals - Dorian Discovery, DIS-80149, 1996
Vocal and instrumental treatments of works by Lassus, including solo songs, instrumental diminutions and intabulations, vocal and recorder consorts, and settings for the whole ensemble.
Available at amazon.ca
Full Well She Sang - SRI, 1993;
Nowell Sing We - SRI, 1992;
The Sweet Hereafter (movie soundtrack, music by Mychael Danna) - Virgin, 1998
www.torontoconsort.org
Banner photos: Paul Orenstein
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