Performing Ensembles – Early Music Ensemble (EME)

Overview

The Tufts Early Music Ensemble explores music of the Renaissance and Baroque, drawing on Tufts' large 'instrumentarium', reproductions of period instruments, to experience the sounds and musical colors of each unique repertoire. From early Renaissance masters such as Guillaume Dufay, to Franco-Flemish composers of the high Renaissance such as Josquin dePres and Heinrich Isaac, and 17th century greats such as Henry Purcell and Claudio Monteverdi, the Early Music Ensemble delves deeply into each area of repertoire to bring rarely performed gems to the public. Students have the chance to learn to play new instruments, and to work in small groups to learn the special techniques for each instrument. Ensemble members experience new musical forms such as madrigals, chansons, dances of all kinds, fantasias and other instrumental forms, which are shaped into a tapestry-like program.

The Early Music Ensemble welcomes as guest coaches and performers many talented early music specialists from the Boston area. Singers such as Pamela Dellal, Thomas Gregg and Daniela Tosic, instrumentalists Douglas Freundlich, Dan Meyers, Roy Sansom and Frances Conover Fitch are some of the local performers who have not only performed with EME, but also brought their unique expertise in coaching EME musicians in special solo music.