Early Music

Two new releases show the continuing vitality of music of centuries past.

One of the world's greatest early music ensembles graced the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Times Square with Christmas-themed music by Palestrina, Taverner, and other great composers of the Renaissance.

Coruscating Latin rhythms with a four-mallet attack, folk-jazz from a guitar-ukelele-vocal duo, and baroque-jazz crossover from the late bassoonist Daniel Smith

The members of this adventurous quartet proved themselves masters of tonal variation, broad technique, and compositional creativity in a fascinating program that transformed and adapted Bach and Haydn and presented modern works that nod to the Baroque.

With polished young performers on many different instruments at her disposal, Podger presented a wide range of music that featured flutes, oboes, and bassoon as well as strings.

Ever wonder what Johann Sebastian Bach would sound like with a little '70s gloss on top? Good, actually. It sounds damn good.

The French Early Music ensemble's easy virtuosity frees it to inject plenty of fun into its concerts, enlivening the music with dramatic flair.

Five superb musicians who play the treble, tenor, and bass members of the viola da gamba (or viol) family gave us baroque music from France, including some unexpected adaptations and arrangements.

The 'eminence grise' of Early Music led the Juilliard School's main Early Music group in an crowd-pleasing concert with readings, all in tribute to the music of the time of Shakespeare and Cervantes.

Defying the Blizzard of 2016, the combined ensemble presented early and new music celebrating Shakespeare.