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The Early Music program is a large and significant program at North Texas. The program consists of several performing ensembles that include the UNT Baroque Orchestra and the Collegium Singers, as well as many chamber ensembles such as viol consort, recorder consort, cornett and sackbut ensemble, “Morley Consort,” and mixed chamber ensembles of instruments and instruments and voices.
These ensembles are open to all members of the student body by audition and participation is required for the MA and PhD in Musicology with an Emphasis in Early Music Performance as well as for Early Music Related Fields for the MM, DMA and PhD degrees. The Baroque Orchestra can also be used as the chamber music requirement for Master’s students and ensembles can fulfill the requirement for several Artist Certificate programs.
Private instruction is offered on many instruments: baroque violin and viola (Cynthia Roberts); baroque oboe and recorder (Kathryn Montoya); baroque bassoon (Keith Collins); baroque flute (Lee Lattimore); baroque trumpet (Adam Gordon); natural horn (William Scharnberg); baroque cello and viola da gamba (Allan Whear); harpsichord (Brad Bennight). Private instruction is required in the degrees listed above. Baroque strings may be taken as a secondary instrument for an undergraduate.
The ensembles within the Early Music Studies Area offer one of the largest and most active performance activities of its type in North America. With a collection of over 250 instruments, nearly any ensemble of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries can be assembled. Ensembles perform regularly throughout Texas and the United States. Graduates are performing in some of the most prestigious baroque orchestras in North America.
Recordings
Biber! [2005] (Includes Battaglia and Requiem in addition to a selection of Biber’s chamber music)
Christmas Vespers from Cusco [2007] (Reconstruction of music from the 17th and 18th Century Peruvian capital. With “Ensemble Lipzodes.”)
Armonia Stravagante [2008] (Music from late 16th Century Ferrara, especially the compositions of Luzzascho Luzzaschi)
Many Faces of Handel (To be released in 2009. Includes arias with Jennifer Lane as well as choruses and instrumental music.)
Faculty
- Paul Leenhouts-Director
- Brad Bennight - harpsichord
- Richard Croft-Voice
- Adam Gordon-Baroque Trumpet
- Christoph Hammer - fortepiano
- Jennifer Lane-Voice
- Lee Lattimore-Baroque Flute
- Kathryn Montoya-Baroque Recorder
- Cynthia Roberts-Baroque Violin & Baroque Viola
- William Scharnberg-Natural Horn
- Richard Sparks-Collegium Singers
- Allan Whear-Baroque Cello & Viola Da Gamba