Hopkinson Smith
Encyclopedia
Hopkinson Smith is an American lute
nist.
Born in New York
, he graduated from Harvard with Honors in Music (Honors Thesis on "The pavans of Daniel Bacheler"). He moved to Europe in 1973 to study with Emilio Pujol
, a great pedagogue in the highest spanish
artistic tradition, and also Eugen Dombois, whose sense of organic unity between performer, instrument and historical period has had a lasting effect on him.
In the mid 1970s, Hopkinson Smith was involved in the founding of the ensemble Hespèrion XX and his ten year collaboration with Jordi Savall
led to important experiences in chamber music which were a creative complement to his work as a soloist.
Since the mid 80s, Hopkinson Smith has focused principally on solo music for early plucked instruments. These include the vihuela
, Renaissance
lute
, theorbo
, Renaissance and Baroque
guitars and the baroque lute.
With his recitals and series of over 20 solo recordings, he continues to rediscover and bring to life works that are among the most expressive and intimate in the entire domain of early music. His 2000 recording of the Bach
sonatas and partitas for solo violin adapted for Baroque Lute has been called 'arguably the best you can buy of these works – on any instrument' by Gramophone magazine.
Internationally recognized as a leading personality in the field of early music and one of the world's great lutenists, Hopkinson Smith gives concerts and master classes throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America. He currently lives in Basel
, Switzerland
, where he teaches at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
.
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
nist.
Born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he graduated from Harvard with Honors in Music (Honors Thesis on "The pavans of Daniel Bacheler"). He moved to Europe in 1973 to study with Emilio Pujol
Emilio Pujol
Emili Pujol Vilarrubí was a composer and the leading twentieth century musicologist and classical guitar teacher.- Biography :...
, a great pedagogue in the highest spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
artistic tradition, and also Eugen Dombois, whose sense of organic unity between performer, instrument and historical period has had a lasting effect on him.
In the mid 1970s, Hopkinson Smith was involved in the founding of the ensemble Hespèrion XX and his ten year collaboration with Jordi Savall
Jordi Savall
Jordi Savall i Bernadet is a Catalan viol player, conductor and composer. He has been one of the major figures in the field of Western early music since the 1970s, largely responsible for bringing the viol back to life on the stage...
led to important experiences in chamber music which were a creative complement to his work as a soloist.
Since the mid 80s, Hopkinson Smith has focused principally on solo music for early plucked instruments. These include the vihuela
Vihuela
Vihuela is a name given to two different guitar-like string instruments: one from 15th and 16th century Spain, usually with 12 paired strings, and the other, the Mexican vihuela, from 19th century Mexico with five strings and typically played in Mariachi bands.-History:The vihuela, as it was known...
, Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
, theorbo
Theorbo
A theorbo is a plucked string instrument. As a name, theorbo signifies a number of long-necked lutes with second pegboxes, such as the liuto attiorbato, the French théorbe des pièces, the English theorbo, the archlute, the German baroque lute, the angélique or angelica. The etymology of the name...
, Renaissance and Baroque
Baroque guitar
The Baroque guitar is a guitar from the baroque era , an ancestor of the modern classical guitar. The term is also used for modern instruments made in the same style....
guitars and the baroque lute.
With his recitals and series of over 20 solo recordings, he continues to rediscover and bring to life works that are among the most expressive and intimate in the entire domain of early music. His 2000 recording of the Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
sonatas and partitas for solo violin adapted for Baroque Lute has been called 'arguably the best you can buy of these works – on any instrument' by Gramophone magazine.
Internationally recognized as a leading personality in the field of early music and one of the world's great lutenists, Hopkinson Smith gives concerts and master classes throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America. He currently lives in Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where he teaches at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is a music academy and research institution located in Basel, Switzerland, and focusing on early music and historically informed performance....
.
External links
- http://www.hopkinsonsmith.com/