Hortus Musicus


Hortus Musicus is an Estonian ensemble that was established in 1972 by Andres Mustonen, a violin student of the Tallinn State Conservatory. Hortus Musicus specialises in performing early music, including 8th–15th-century European forms such as Gregorian Chant, Organum, Medieval Liturgic Hymns and Motets, the Franco-Flemish School, and Renaissance Music. The group also presents early, non-European styles including Indian Ragas, Israeli temple songs, Arabian mughams and Jewish music. The group's repertoire has also included pieces by 20th-century composers.
Hortus Musicus has given concerts in the US, Turkey, Japan, and Israel, and has performed at several major early music festivals. They have recorded c 35 programmes, a portion of which is available from companies such as Erdenklang, Musica Svecia, Forte and Finlandia Records. The group's latest recording is "Ave..." : 'music from the late Middle Ages in memoriam Helle Mustonen '.

Members

  • Andres Mustonen – leader, violin, viola, recorder, cromorn
  • Olev Ainomäe – shawm, oboe, recorder, schalmey, cromorn, rauschpfeiff
  • Valter Jürgenson – sackbut
  • Tõnis Kuurme – curtal, shawm, baroque bassoon, recorder, cromorn, rauschpfeiff
  • Anto Õnnis – tenor, percussion
  • Imre Eenma – violone, viola da gamba
  • Ivo Sillamaa – harpsichord, organ, piano
  • Tõnis Kaumann – baritone, percussion
  • Riho Ridbeck – bass, percussion
  • Taavo Remmel – double bass

Essential discography

Vinyl Recordings released on "Melodiya" label (USSR)

Compact Discs

Compilations, reissues

  • 1989 — 1200-1600 Medieval - Renaissance
  • 1994 — Gregorianische Choräle -Plainchants-

Original early music recordings

  • 1989 — Musik över Östersjön/Music across the Baltic
  • 1991 — Vasakungarnas hov
  • 1994 — Johann Valentin Meder: Matthäus Passion 1700
  • 1995 — Vuestros Amores, He Señora
  • 1996 — Ave...
  • 1997 — Maypole
  • 2005 —
  • 2018 —
  • 2018 —
  • 2020 —

Recordings of modern (Estonian) composers