About Abendmusik

New York's Period Instrument String Band™

Artists 2024-2025

Past Artists

*Founding member

Abendmusik, New York’s Early Music String Band, showcases the rarely-performed repertoire from the 17th and early 18th centuries composed for string consort. The term “Abendmusik” refers to the free concert series established by the organist Franz Tunder in Lübeck churches in the 17th century. It was cultivated further by North German composer Dieterich Buxtehude in the early 18th century. Historically, Abendmusik programs featured sacred and secular vocal and instrumental solo and chamber works, as well as solo organ. The series became so popular, as a result of the free admission and the featured compositions, that it grew into a respectable cultural institution.

The string band, Abendmusik explores music from both western and eastern Europe (Italy, the Hapsburg Empire of Austria and Spain, Kroměřiž in Moravia, Poland, Holland, England, Denmark and France) on period instruments.

The blending of styles" was a well-thought program concept. I was particularly impressed by the violinists sensitivity to 'gamba consort style' and the several solos, duets and trios that allowed each of you to shine. - Frederick Renz, Director, Early Music New York

Awesome concert: intense, beautifully played to a rapt audience. Was especially impressed by the blend achieved by the two violins with the consort of four viols. White is complicated and maybe underappreciated but quite wonderful in his own universe. Loved the interspersing of a bit of Byrd and others to kind of clear the palate for more White. Performers were totally in the zone tonight! – Nancy Tooney

The Abendmusik String Ensemble, here a six-person consort of viols, alternated with mostly a cappella singing by the five-person Cathedra Ensemble in music by Byrd, some of it expressly written for a Mass. The viols provided rich readings of Byrd's instrumental music, resounding, like the voices, magnificently in the long narrow (and dark) tunnel that runs the length of the damp catacombs. - Jon Sobel, Blogcritics

Whyte Noyse - The Complete Consorts of William Whyte - MSR Classics - "Abendmusik’s musicianship proves equally high. From the robust, six-part Pavan that begins the album, to the wistful Fantasia that marks its conclusion, the balance between voices proves excellent, the articulation crisp, and the musical shaping impeccable. If the term “consort” can be understood not merely as a prescribed instrumentation, but rather as an ideal for immaculately-blended sound, then these players are indeed a true consort.

Although consort music generally prizes sensitivity and musicianship over virtuosity, Whyte still offers plenty of moments to show off—and Abendmusik’s musicians deliver. While he can write tightly-knit polyphony as well as anyone, Whyte has a tendency to veer off into intimate, lengthy, and highly-exposed paired duets. This constant shift of voicing generates an alluring variety of musical textures and moods, all skillfully elucidated in this recording. - Jacob Jahiel for Early Music America (Complete Early Music America Review of Whyte Noyse)

"Whyte Noyse" the Complete Consorts of William Whyte (1571-1634) - MSR Classics

Available on Apple Music, Spotify, and other media platforms and in CD format on Amazon, or MSR Records

OTHER REVIEWS

"Many of White’s consort pieces are notable for the lively animation of their themes. In the early 17th Century, instruments of the violin family were becoming popular, and combinations of violins with viols were not unusual... On this recording the upper parts are played on violins with the inner and lower parts played on tenor and bass viols. The result is highly effective in energetic and polished performances notable for their incisive string tone and rhythm... Abendmusik is based in New York. They take their name from the series of free concerts established by Franz Tunder at Lübeck in 1646 and continued under Buxtehude. They are particularly noted for their presentation of little-known repertory."

Gatens, American Record Guide [November/December 2023]

"The musicians’ restful but still lively performance brings to us the feelings and emotions of life about 400 years ago that were ably captured by Whyte in his fantasias and pavanes."

Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music Review [February 2024]

"The Abendmusik consort does a fine job with these... They merge well together in their ensemble, and as noted the pair of violins provides an interesting musical flavor to the group, making the music stand out more than a normal consort of viols might. Given that these works all tend to be similar in terms of tone and structure, this manner of performance, nicely fluid and in tune, provides just the right atmosphere... For Jacobean music at court, this is a nice example of the sort of subtle and minutely defined style that was in vogue at the time."

Bertil van Boer, Fanfare [January/February 2024]

"The darkly serious Fantasia a 2, No. 2 makes an interesting contrast to the works for a larger grouping, and the comparatively extended Fantasia a 6, No. 6 – which, at five minutes, is the longest work on the disc – provides opportunities for especially intricate interweaving of the instruments... [This CD] serves as an interesting immersion in a world of string playing and string sound that is quite different from those with which most listeners are likely to be familiar."

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [August 2023]

Complete Early Music America Review of Whyte Noyse

Click on photo below to hear

 Fantasia a5 "Diapente" - William Whyte, Whyte Noyse, MSR Classics