baroque

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is an English chamber orchestra. The group was founded in London by Sir Neville Marriner, attracting some of the finest players in London, many of whom considered themselves as refugees from conductors. Its name comes from Trafalgar Square's St Martin in the Fields church, in which its first concert was performed, on November 13, 1959. The initial performances at St Martin's church were as a small, conductorless string group, and played a key role in the revival of baroque performances in England.

American born, MAGGIE COLE enjoys an international musical life playing and recording on harpsichord, fortepiano and modern piano. Resident in England, she is best known through numerous recitals on BBC Radio 3 and appearances at leading British festivals. Abroad, she has performed in venues from Seattle to Moscow, and from Finland to India. In addition to a busy solo career, she enjoys duo partnerships with Nancy Argenta (soprano), Michael Chance (counter tenor), Mark Padmore (tenor), Philippa Davies (flute...

The sun-soaked hills of Southern California have inspired many a studio autéur - from Brian WIlson to Phil Spector to Harry Nilsson, each having paid tribute to California in song & craft. Frank Maston knows a little bit about craft (and Southern Cali to boot), having spent his youth in suburban Los Angeles, absorbing the meticulously crafted discography of Msrs. Spector, Wilson, Bacharach, & Morricone, all the while mentally re-scoring the music to old Prisoner episodes & other filmography from the sixties & seventies.

Read more about Maston on Last.fm.

Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1554/1557–1612) was an Italian composer and organist. He was one of the most influential musicians of his time, and represents the culmination of the style of the Venetian School, at the time of the shift from Renaissance to Baroque idioms. He was probably born in Venice and probably studied with his uncle, the composer Andrea Gabrieli. He became the principal organist and composer at the church of San Marco in Venice, where his work made him one of the most noted composers in Europe.