by philip | Nov 5, 2013 | Blog, General, Maris Project Concerts
Welcome from Jennifer Eriksson Some 450 years after his birth in 1563 the world still cannot get enough of the great English lutenist and composer, John Dowland. Rock musician Sting released a CD and DVD of Dowland covers several years ago and toured the world...
by philip | Sep 25, 2013 | Blog, General, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
This enchanting disc was produced with the intention of creating a diverse and unpredictable listening experience, and it certainly has succeeded in doing just that! As the first Australian ensemble to attempt performing the complete 500+ viola da gamba works of...
by philip | Nov 3, 2012 | Blog, General, Marin Marais, Non classical music
Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758) – Sonata I (Stockholm 1727) – Largo Allegro Larghetto Andante Vivace Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795) Stockholm 1790 and 1791. Arranged by Tommie Andersson – Fredmans Epistel No. 2 – Till Fader Berg, rörande...
by philip | Oct 24, 2012 | Blog, General, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
We are very happy with this CD and the following Review considering we had 5 hours or so in the studio to put it down!:- “Two of Australia’s early music ensembles combine to perform repertoire about which they are passionate: music for viola da gamba by Marin...
by philip | Oct 6, 2012 | Blog, General, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
At 2.30pm on Sunday May 12, 2013 the Blessed Sacrament Church, Mosman, will be filled with the rare sounds of Swedish baroque and folk music as The Marais Project once again present their unique take on Swedish folk and baroque music, “Swedish Roots”. The...
by philip | Sep 9, 2012 | Blog, General, Marin Marais, Non classical music
By Ben Finane A sad-eyed Spaniard with a French-ish accent, Jordi Savall is one of the greatest living forces in the rebirth of early music and has devoted his life to rediscovering, researching and sharing forgotten musical treasures. Savall studied the cello and...
by philip | Aug 18, 2012 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, General, Maris Project Concerts
– Anon. (early 1600s, South America) – Hanacpachap cusicuinin – Anthony Holborne (c. 1545-1602)– Dance Suite Galliard: Wanton Almaine: The fruit of love Galliard: The Fairie-round Almaine: The Choise Galliard: As it fell on a holie Eve – John...
by philip | Aug 5, 2012 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, General, Maris Project Concerts
The next concert by the “Seaven Teares” viol consort is presented by The Marais Project, (3pm, August 26, 2012 at Sydney Conservatorium) and will feature upcoming vocalist, Susie Bishop alongside bass clarinettist, Paul Cutlan. This is the first time that...
by philip | Jul 22, 2012 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, General, Maris Project Concerts
Like most viol players I did not start out on the instrument but did my first tertiary degree as a modern cellist. Perhaps for this reason I’ve always been concerned not to become exclusively focused on old music: to keep my musical options open. Almost since...
by philip | Jun 5, 2012 | Blog, General, Marin Marais
A positive review from 4MBSFM in Brisbane:- “A contemporary of Bach, and renowned as the Paganini of his time for his skill with the viola da gamba, Marin Marais’ life is an interesting case in point. While his contemporaries were busy creating religious works,...
by philip | Apr 21, 2012 | Blog, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts, Non classical music
Program – Mara! meets Marais John Dowland (1563 – 1626) – Now O Now Marin Marais (1656 – 1728) – Pièces de viole, cinquième livre, Paris 1725 Rondeau le doucereux Idée grotesque Double de L’ ideé grotesque Sarabande La Demoi Gigue Martin Codax...
by philip | Apr 9, 2012 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, Maris Project Concerts, Non classical music
One of the frustrating things about being a musical performer outside the all pervasive popular or rock genres is that invariably one gets stuck with the label “classical musician” with all the negativity this can entail. The US music critic Alex Ross commences his...
by philip | Feb 23, 2012 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, Marin Marais
Sydney based viola da gamba player Alice Chance completed her HSC in 2011. She learns from Jennifer Erikson and will perform one of her own compositions with Jenny in this year’s HSC ENCORE performances at the Sydney Opera House in March 2012. Australian Viola...
by philip | Feb 16, 2012 | Blog, Uncategorized
Mara meets Marais (MMMP001) Directed by Mara Kiek and Jennifer Eriksson. Dur.53’29” This is an unexpected mix of instruments, styles and eras, brought together by the personal chemistry of the performers, and their sense of the common factors in the music of a...
by philip | Feb 10, 2012 | Blog, General, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
Mara Meets Marais; Mara Kiek and the Marais Project; CD MMMP001 This new disk is due for its official launch on Sunday 29th April (see Concert Diary), but I’d be surprised if you can’t score a copy before then. The Marais Project for this recording comprises Jennifer...
by philip | Jan 8, 2012 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, Maris Project Concerts
“The Marais Project” – (Jennifer Eriksson & Daniel Yeadon, violas da gamba; Tommie Andersson, theorbo; Belinda Montgomery, Narelle Evans & Mara Kiek, vocals); Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of music; 23/10/11 “Twins usually...
by philip | Nov 29, 2011 | Blog, General, Maris Project Concerts
Our latest CD Mara! meets Marais has arrived and will be available on-line in the next couple of days. This CD had its beginnings back in 2008 when The Marais Project, combined with 3 members of the Award-winning World Music/Folk ensemble Mara! in a cross-genre...
by philip | Nov 17, 2011 | Blog, General, Maris Project Concerts
We’ve just started a new CD which has made us reflect a little on why we actually bother to record at all. The process of making a recording has little relationship to a conventional performance. There you are, sitting in an air conditioned room behind two sets...
by philip | Oct 8, 2011 | Blog, Maris Project Concerts
Concert preview by Jennifer Eriksson Our final Marais Project concert for 2011 is a celebration of our instruments as much as the music we are presenting. Back in 2002 I became the proud owner of a viola da gamba by Reinhard Ossenbrunner, one of the world’s finest...
by philip | Sep 30, 2011 | Blog, Commissions and New Music
Australian composer Rosalind Page has a growing reputation for her beautifully crafted works. She has a particular affinity for the voice and is also known for her growing body of music for early music ensembles and performers including Ironwood, lutenist Tommie...
by philip | Sep 22, 2011 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, Maris Project Concerts
“The Ossenbrunner Twins” is a celebration of the fact that Australia is now home to two of the world’s finest viola da gambas. The concert’s title, “The Ossenbrunner Twins”, pays homage to Reinhard Ossenbrunner, the leading German viola da gamba maker who lives and...
by philip | Sep 6, 2011 | Blog, Maris Project Concerts
2.00pm Sunday 18th September, 2011 Presented by Moss Vale Uniting Church, cnr of Argyle and Spring St, Moss Vale (1.5hrs south of Sydney) What follows is an edited version of the program notes for the concert on 18 September. Southern Highlands Spring Concert Moss...
by philip | Aug 14, 2011 | Blog, Marin Marais
From the comfort of hindsight we are easily given to idealized notions of life prior to the 21st century whirl of cars, planes computers and mobile phones that we know so well. The hard reality of life in past epochs is, however, far from any romantic ideal. A case in...
by philip | Jul 31, 2011 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, Maris Project Concerts
The story to date “The Marais Project’s” August 14 concert “Viol Song” is a journey through music for viol and voice that spans five countries and four centuries. It reflects both where “The Marais Project” has come from and where we might be headed. When I founded...
by philip | Jun 7, 2011 | Blog, General
Summer has finally returned to Leipzig. Temperatures have soared and the gardens and parks are sweetly perfumed. When it rains we are blessed with storms reminiscent of Beethoven’s sixth symphony. Do you know the movement I mean? For a musician or music lover, when...
by philip | May 3, 2011 | Blog, General
The recent Musica Viva sponsored Australian visit of HESPERION XXI, led by master viola da gambist Jordi Savall, offers performers and the general public the opportunity to reflect on the life and art of a wonderful musician. Given that he plays an instrument that is...
by philip | May 2, 2011 | Blog, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
Age does not necessarily beget wisdom. But as our ensemble, The Marais Project, enters its “Tweens”, (the term coined by marketers to describe the almost-teenager-yet-no-longer-child), we thought it timely to reflect on where we as a group, and the Australian early...
by philip | Jul 29, 2026 | Blog, Maris Project Concerts
Jenny and Anthony discuss their upcoming album with Philip Pogson Philip (PP): Anthony and Jenny, can one of you describe how you first met and started playing together? Anthony: We were introduced through the Musica Viva in Schools’ ensemble ‘Sounds Baroque,’ which...
by philip | Nov 4, 2025 | Blog, Maris Project Concerts
Philip Pogson (PP): Tommie, you arrived from Sweden in the mid 1980s via post graduate study in Switzerland. What were some of the similarities and differences you noticed between Australian and European culture back then? Tommie Andersson (TA): I think that Australia...
by philip | Aug 24, 2025 | Blog, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
Ahead of The Marais Project and HIP Company’s collaboration in Sydney (September 14), Canowindra Baroque Music Festival) (19-21 September) and Perth (4 October) HIP Company members Krista Low, Bonnie de la Hunty and Sara Papadopolous sat down with Philip Pogson...
by philip | Aug 23, 2024 | Blog, Maris Project Concerts
Date: 2.00pm, September 22, 2024 Venue: Choirs Rehearsal Room, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct Featuring: Jenny Eriksson, viola da gamba and Anthony Abouhamad, harpsichord Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/exquisite-harmonies ________________________________ Jenny and...
by philip | Jan 3, 2023 | Blog, Marin Marais, Uncategorized
Sydney – Berrima – Dungog – Wauchope – Tea Gardens Feb 2023 NSW Tour Presented in association with Musica Viva Australia and the Swedish Arts Grants Committee Everything Nordic is the rage at the moment: novels, films, moody Netflix series....
by philip | Dec 5, 2022 | Blog, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
Philip Pogson spoke with The Marais Project’s Artistic Director, Jenny Eriksson, about the upcoming Marais Project performances of English lute songs on December 3 & 4. Philip: Jenny, from your perspective as a viol player, why do you believe the music of John...
by philip | Dec 5, 2022 | Blog, Marin Marais, Maris Project Concerts
Philip Pogson spoke with leading lutenist, Tommie Andersson, about the upcoming Marais Project performances of English lute songs on December 3 & 4. Philip: Tommie, from your perspective as a lutenist, why do you believe the music of John Dowland remains so...
by philip | Nov 11, 2022 | Blog, Elysian Fields
It’s the quality of the music – a compelling mixture of Scandinavian folk, classical and jazz influences – that really compels… It’s a wonder and a pleasure to watch a band able to conjure such a dark, introspective feeling in the room. (Limelight Magazine, November...
by philip | May 3, 2021 | Blog, Commissions and New Music
Featuring the world premiere of ‘Christchurch Monody’ by Gordon Kerry. 3pm Sunday May 16, 2021, Mosman Art Gallery For more than 30 years now I have been exploring the music of the French baroque, and particularly the music of that era written for the viola da...
by philip | Apr 26, 2021 | Blog, Commissions and New Music, Marin Marais, Uncategorized
We in the developed West live in a highly individualistic and competitive world. Everything from aged and disability care to scientific research and road building is put out to tender, often with a view to using competition to drive the cost down. Our cut-throat...
