Endymion (ensemble)

{{Short description|English chamber music ensemble}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}} {{Infobox orchestra | name = Endymion | former_name = Endymion Ensemble | type = Chamber music ensemble for contemporary music | image = Endymion (Finlandia Digital, 1989 CD cover).jpg | caption = Endymion 1989 CD cover, {{nowrap|Fazer Records / Finlandia}} | founded = {{Start date|1979}} | location = | principal_conductor = | website = {{URL|http://www.endymion.org.uk}} }} '''Endymion''', formerly '''Endymion Ensemble''', is an English chamber music ensemble, founded in 1979 and dedicated to contemporary classical music.

== History == One of the founding members was John Whitfield who often conducted the group. Players have included pianist Michael Dussek, oboists Melinda Maxwell and Quentin Poole, clarinetist Mark van de Wiel, hornist Stephen Stirling and double bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku.<ref name="Surrey" />

Whitfield conducted the ensemble in recordings dedicated to works by specific composers, including in 1988 ''Dumbarton Oaks'', works by Igor Stravinsky,<ref name="Stravinsky" /> in 1989 ''Lichtbogen'' by Kaija Saariaho and other works by Finnish composers,<ref name="Saariaho" /> and in 1995 ''Phaedra/Les Illuminations'', music by Benjamin Britten.<ref name="Britten" />

In a series at the Southbank named Composer Choice, they have performed concerts dedicated to contemporary composers such as Michael Berkeley, Harrison Birtwistle, Gavin Bryars, Peter Maxwell Davies, Oliver Knussen, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Judith Weir and John Woolrich.<ref name="Surrey" /> Composer Jonathan Dove chose Mozart's Serenade for winds, K. 375. Stravinsky's ''Pastorale'' in the version for soprano and wind quartet, and his own ''Figures in the Garden'', among others.<ref name="Clarke" />

In 2004, Endymion recorded works for wind ensemble by Graham Waterhouse, including ''Mouvements d'Harmonie'', on a CD Portrait featuring also chamber music for strings played by the English Chamber Orchestra. A review noted "All these pieces are superbly played by all concerned".<ref name="Culot" /> In 2011, players performed at the Mahler Centenary Conference chamber music, including Mahler's Piano Quartet in the context of the ''Menuetto'' from his Third Symphony, Erich Korngold's Piano Trio, Op. 1, Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 1 and Alfred Schnittke's Piano Quartet (after Mahler).<ref name="Surrey" />

The ensemble often performs with the BBC Singers, conducted by David Hill. In 2013, they recorded for example Steve Reich's ''The Desert Music'' at Milton Court, London.<ref name="WDR" /> They performed the work again at the Royal Albert Hall on 13 August 2014 at the Proms.<ref name="BBC" /> Tim Ashley wrote in The Guardian: "The work requires vast resources of accuracy and stamina from its performers, all of whom rose superbly to its challenges."<ref name="Ashley" />

== References == {{reflist | colwidth = 30em | refs =

<ref name="Surrey">{{cite web | url = http://www.surrey.ac.uk/arts/music/events/the_endymion_ensemble.htm | title = The Endymion Ensemble | publisher = University of Surrey | date = 9 July 2011 | accessdate = 4 August 2014 | archive-date = 6 July 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140706080100/http://www.surrey.ac.uk/arts/music/events/the_endymion_ensemble.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Stravinsky"> {{cite web | url = https://www.amazon.com/Endymion-Stravinsky-Symphonies-Instruments-Dumbarton/dp/B000VWIBQW | title = Dumbarton Oaks | publisher = Amazon | accessdate = 30 December 2012 }} </ref>

<ref name="Saariaho"> {{cite web | url = https://www.amazon.com/Lichtbogen-Nine-Musicians-Live-Electronics/dp/B00EXXWG5M | title = Lichtbogen for Nine Musicians and Live Electronics | publisher = Amazon | accessdate = 11 August 2014 }} </ref>

<ref name="Britten"> {{cite web | url = http://www.classical-music.com/review/britten-45 | title = Britten: Phaedra; Les Illuminations; Five French Folksong Arrangements | publisher = classical-music.com | accessdate = 11 August 2014 }} </ref>

<ref name="Clarke"> {{cite web | last = Clarke | first = Colin | url = http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2000/feb00/endymion.htm | title = Endymion Ensemble (Composer Choice Series) with Eileen Hulse (soprano) / Purcell Room, South Bank, London. 2 February 2000 | publisher = musicweb-international.com | year = 2000 | accessdate = 11 August 2014 }} </ref>

<ref name="Culot"> {{cite web | last = Culot | first = Hubert | url = http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2004/May04/waterhouse.htm | title = Graham Waterhouse / Portrait 2 | year = 2004 | accessdate = 14 August 2009 }} </ref>

<ref name="WDR"> {{cite web |url=http://www.wdr3.de/musik/sinfonischemusikbeiwdr3/konzert590.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806214129/http://www.wdr3.de/musik/sinfonischemusikbeiwdr3/konzert590.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2014 |title=BBC Singers und Endymion-Ensemble |publisher=WDR |date=10 February 2014 |language=German |accessdate=11 August 2014 }} </ref>

<ref name="BBC"> {{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2014/august-13/15076 | title = The Endymion Ensemble | publisher = BBC | accessdate = 11 August 2014 }} </ref>

<ref name="Ashley"> {{cite news | last = Ashley | first = Tim | url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/14/prom-37-bbc-singers-endymion-hill-review | title = Prom 37: BBC Singers/Endymion/Hill review – draining and exhilarating | date = 14 August 2014 | accessdate = 18 August 2014 }} </ref>

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== External links == * [http://www.endymion.org.uk/ Endymion] Official website * {{Allmusic|id=mn0002173091|label=Endymion Ensemble}} * [http://www.fanfarearchive.com/indices/itop/performers/endymionens.html Endymion] Fanfare

Category:1979 establishments in England Category:Chamber music groups Category:Contemporary classical music ensembles Category:English classical music groups Category:Musical groups established in 1979  {{authority control}}