Folger Consort

Folger Consort is the early music ensemble-in-residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Founding Artistic Directors Robert Eisenstein and Christopher Kendall create musical programs from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The Consort performs concerts in the ensemble’s home, the Folger’s Elizabethan Theatre, the Washington National Cathedral, and the Music Center at Strathmore, and brings internationally noted guest artists to Washington, D.C. to join in its “early music chamber society.”

Beyond its concert series, Folger Consort strives to deepen audiences’ understanding and appreciation of early music through seminars, discussions, recordings, radio broadcasts, and unique collaborations with other programs of the Folger Shakespeare Library. Folger Consort won the Best Classical Chamber Ensemble award from the Washington Area Music Awards in 2006, and every year from 2008-2012.

Founders

Robert Eisenstein

Robert Eisenstein is a founding member and the program director of Folger Consort. In addition to his work with the Consort, he is the director of the Five College Early Music Program in western Massachusetts, where he teaches music history, performs regularly on viola da gamba, violin, and medieval fiddle, and coordinates and directs student performances of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. He is an active participant in Five College Medieval Studies with a particular interest in the use of computer technology in the service of music.

Eisenstein has performed with many ensembles including the Washington Bach Consort, the Newberry Consort, the National Symphony Orchestra, Western Wind, and recently at Tanglewood, Amherst Early Music, and other summer festivals. He studied viola da gamba with Judith Davidoff and Richard Taruskin.

Christopher Kendall

Christopher Kendall is the founder of Folger Consort. Kendall is Dean Emeritus of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance and served formerly as Director of the University of Maryland School of Music and the Music Division and Tanglewood Institute of the Boston University School for the Arts. He was Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony from 1987 to 1992, and has guest conducted and recorded widely in repertoire from the 18th to 21st centuries. He will continue his work in Washington, DC, as artistic director of the 21st Century Consort.

From 1996 to 2005, he was Director of the School of Music at the University of Maryland, during a period of significant institutional growth related to the building of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony from 1987 to 1992 and Director of the Music Division and Tanglewood Institute of the Boston University School for the Arts from 1993 to 1996, Kendall is also Artistic Director, founder and conductor of the 21st Century Consort, the new music ensemble-in-residence at the Smithsonian Institution.

Kendall has guest-conducted many professional orchestras and ensembles from San Francisco to New York, in repertoire from the 18th to the 21st centuries. His recordings can be heard on the Bard, Delos, Nonesuch, Centaur, ASV, Arabesque, Innova, and Smithsonian Collection labels.

After 45 years of extraordinary early music, Consort founder Christopher Kendall is collaborating with fellow Artistic Director Robert Eisenstein and colleagues on his final season (2022-2023), providing artistic and programming consultation. Kendall notes his "tremendous good fortune in the opportunity to make marvelous music with extraordinary friends and colleagues, and for such a discerning and dedicated audience over these many decades. Such an institutional home, providing remarkable support and artistic freedom for a chamber music enterprise, is an extraordinary, virtually unprecedented boon.”

Recordings

Folger Consort recordings are available for purchase online through CD Baby.

Current season

Folger Consort 2022-2023

• Music for the Last Raj (2022)

Past seasons

2020s

• The Roman de Fauvel: Love and Counterpoint in Medieval France (2022)

• The Viennese School: Music from the Court of Maximilian I (2022)

• A Medieval Christmas (2021)

• Henry Purcell and Music of 17th-Century London (2021)

• Monteverdi in Venice: The Birth of the Baroque (2020)

• The Three Fountains: Music for Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio (2020)

• Palestrina's Perfect Art (2020)

2010s

• Gloria! A Baroque Italian Christmas (2019)

• Music for Machiavelli: Florence circa 1500 (2019)

• Tastes of the Mediterranean: Music of 16th-Century Spain and Italy (2019)

• The Food of Love: Romantic Music of the Renaissance (2019)

• A Christmas Messe: A Banquet of Seasonal English Music (2019)

• Oktoberfest: Early Music of Germany (2018)

• Davenant's Macbeth (2018)

• Ovid's Vineyard: Music of the French Baroque April 27 - April 29 (2018)

• Il Lauro Verde: The Blossoming of the Italian Baroque February 23 - February 25 (2018)

• A Branch of Freshest Green: Music of Hildegard Von Bingen (2018) February 2 - February 3 (2018)

• Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming: Seasonal Early Music of Germany December 15 - December 23 (2017)

• Tempesta di Mare: Telemann 360° October 12 (2017)

• An English Garden: Music from the Age of Shakespeare September 22 - September 24 (2017)

• The Play of Love (2017)

• Starry Messenger (2017)

• Medieval Illuminations (2017)

• The Second Shepherds' Play (2016)

• Measure+Dido (2016)

• Shakespeare and Purcell: Music of The Fairy Queen and Other Works (2016)

• Playing with Fire: Virtuoso Instrumental Music of the Renaissance (2016)

• The Wonder of Will: Early and New Music Celebrating Shakespeare (2016)

• The Season Bids Us: Christmas Music featuring Guido's Four Seasons (2015)

• Chanson Medieval: Music of Machaut and Dufay (2015)

• Ships, Clocks and Stars: Music of Telemann and Other Baroque Masters (2015)

• The Merchant of Venice: Music and Poetry of Shakespeare's Play (2015)

• The Road to Canterbury: Music of Medieval England (2015)

• A Renaissance Christmas: Music of Flanders and Italy circa 1500 (2014)

• Courting Elizabeth: Music and Patronage in Shakespeare's England (2014)

• A Polish Renaissance: Music of Poland's Golden Age (2014)

• Le Jardin Chinois: Music of 18th-Century France (2014)

• Brave New World: Music of the Tempest (2014)

• Christmas in New Spain: Early Music of Mexico and Peru (2013)

• Map of the World: Music from 13th- and 15th-Century Spain (2013)

• Vienna: Music for Maximilian (2013)

• Dublin: Celtic Art and Music (2013)

• Paris: Music from the City of Light (2013)

• Florence: Christmas Music of the Trecento (2012)

• London: Music from the City of Shakespeare (2012)

• City of Ladies (2012)

• The Songbird (2012)

• Heavenly Revelations: Hildegard von Bingen and Medieval France (2012)

• O Magnum Mysterium: Christmas Music of Renaissance Spain (2011)

• A New Song (2011)

• Fete d'Ete: French Cantatas and Suites (2011)

• Stile Antico (Presented by Folger Consort, 2011)

• Ecco la Primavera: 14th- and 15th-Century Music from Italy (2011)

• The Four Seasons: Antonio Vivaldi, Christopher Simpson & John Cage (2011)

• A Renaissance Christmas (2010)

• Pastime with Good Company: Music from the Court of Henry VIII (2010)

• Tempest (2010)

• A Musical Banquet: Songs for Lute, Voice, and Viol (2010)

• Ballets and Brawls: French Music of Court and Countryside (2010)

• Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers (2010)

2000s

• In Dulci Jubilo: A German Christmas (2009)

• A Harmony of Friends: Music of Italy and China (2009)

• Don Quixote (2009)

• Mosaic: Medieval Song from Spain and Cyprus (2009)

• Gloria: Music of Vivaldi (2009)

• A Spanish Christmas: Festive Music from Spain's Golden Age (2008)

• Isabella's Court: Italian Music of the High Renaissance (2008)

• Highland Ayres: Distinctive Scottish Music with Pipes and Fiddle (2008)

• Seven Songs of Love: Entrancing Love Songs from the Galician Poet (2008)

• Victoria's Requiem: Rich and Resounding in the Great Cathedral (2008)

• The Second Shepherds' Play: A Medieval Mystery for the Yuletide Season (2007)

• Groves of Antiquity: Ancient Myths in Baroque Guise (2007)

• The Fairy Queen (2007)

• Ballads and Brawls for the Bard (2007)

• The Elizabethan Muse: William Shakespeare, William Byrd, and John Dowland (2007)

• Greensleeves (2006)

• Tales from Canterbury (2006)

• Marenzio & Morley: Master of the Notes (2006) (no link on public site)

• Landini & Machaut: Master of the Notes (2006)

• Hildegard & Jaufre: Master of the Notes (2006)

• Monteverdi & Palestrina: Master of the Notes (2006)

• Corelli & Charpentier: Master of the Notes (2005)

• Josquin & Isaac: Master of the Notes (2005)

• Playing with Fire (2005)

• Italian Fantasia (2005)

• Flauto Dolce (2005)

• When Notre Dame was New (2005)

• Feliz Navidad (2004)

• Sounds and Sweet Ayres (2004)

• A Musical Banquet (2004)
• Gather ye Rosebuds (2004)
• This Thing They Call A Kiss (2004)
• Odes for St. Cecilia's Day (2004)
• Stille Nacht: A German Christmas (2003)
• Illuminations (2003)
• Shakespeare and Elizabeth (2003)
• Don Quixote (2003)
• Medieval Tales (2003)
• Song of Songs (2003)
• The Passion of Scrooge (2002)
• Rabelaisian Revels (2002)
• Highland Ayre (2002)
• Monteverdi 1610 Vespers (2002)
• Romance on the Rhine (2002)
• Slavic Splendor (2002)
• La notte de natale: Christmas in Italy (2001)
• Chansons d'amour (2001)
• Fairest Isle (2001)
• John Milton's Comus (2001)
• What then is Love (2001)
• Angelus (2001)
• A Coventry Carol (2000)
• Fit for a King (2000)
• Gather ye Rosebuds (2000)
• Orpheus' Lyre (2000)
• Fortunes of Love (2000)
• Hail, Millennium! (2000)

1990s

• A French Noel (1999)
• Italia Mia (1999)
• Byrd Songs: Music of William Byrd (1999)
• Tastes and Sensibility (1999)
• Heartsease: A Medieval Valentine (1999)
• Monteverdi 1610 Vespers (1999)
• Navidad! A New World Christmas (1998)
• A Book of Hours (1998)
• Like as the Lute (1998)
• Map of the World (1998)
• La Chant d'Amour (1998)
• Hildegard: Hymns and Sequences (1998)
• A Canterbury Christmas (1997)
• Dance of Death (1997)
• Alpine Airs (1997)
• The Lark (1997)
• Illuminations (1997)
• Ordo Virtutum: The Play of the Virtues (1997)
• Celestial Brass (1996)
• Political Fortunes (1996)
• Calliope's Daughters (1996)
• Springtime in Paris (1996)
• Al-Andalus (1996)
• An Old English Christmas (1995)
• Pastime with Good Company (1995)
• Oktoberfest (1995)
• Come Again, Sweet Love (1995)
• Dido & Aeneas (1995)
• Musical Revolutions (1995)
• A Medieval Tapestry (1995)
• A Christmas Concerto (1994)
• Playing with Fire (1994)
• Wild Thyme (1994)
• The Dragon of Wantley (1994)
• Dances of Dowland (1994)
• Brilliance of the Italian Baroque (1994)
• A Renaissance Valentine (1994)
• Mysteries of Machaut (1994)
• Recorder Revelations (1993)
• Art of the Renaissance Instrumentalist (1993)
• England's Italian Romance (1993)
• Roses and Lilies: Music of the Medieval Court (1993)
• Love's Serenade (1993)
• The Gifts of St. Nicholas (1993)
• Christmas with the Folger Consort and the Washington Bach Consort (1992)
• All Hallow's Eve (1992)
• When Birds Do Sing (1992)
• Escoutatz! Songs of the Troubadours (1992)
• Signor Uberto's Music Room (1992)
• Pilgrimage (1992)
• Hodie Alleluia (1991)
• An Italian Fall Festival (1991)
• Time Stands Still (1991)
• Hark! the Echoing Air (1991)
• Canterbury Tales (1991)
• A Medieval Christmas (1990)
• Oktoberfest (1990)
• Celebrating Shakespeare (1990)
• La Harpe de Melodie (1990)
• A Baroque Valentine (1990)

1980s

• "Hark the Trumpets Sound": Christmas at the Folger (1989)
• A Festival of Winds (1989)
• Fantasia on a Theme by Boccaccio (1989)
• Music from the Age of William and Mary (1989)
• Ordo Virtutum: The Play of the Virtues (1989)
• Christmas with the Folger Consort and the Washington Bach Consort (1988)
• Scott Reiss in Recital (1988)
• A Renaissance Tour of Italy (1988)
• Fresh Ayres and Madrigals (1988)
• Miracles and Mystic Visions (1988)
• Showers of Harmonie (1988)
• It Fell Upon a Holly Eve (1987)
• In Recital: Robert Eisenstein with Wendy Young (1987)
• The Flowering of Song (1987)
• The Canterbury Tales (1987)
• In Recital: Christopher Kendall with Ann Monoyios (1987)
• An Entertainment for Prince Henry (1987)
• Christmas with the Folger Consort and the Western Wind (1986)
• A Tenth Anniversary Concert (1986)
• Sweet Zephyrs (1986)
• Masterpieces of Monteverdi (1986)
• The Age of Chivalry (1986)
• Dowland's Dances (1986)
• Christmas with the Folger Consort (1985)
• The Peace of Bourdeaux (1985)
• Festival of Ferrara (1985)
• Antique and Well-Noted (1985)
• Measure for Measure (1985)
• Let Thy Song Be Love (1985)
• Sing Heigh, Ho! Unto the Green Holly (1984)
• Wild Thyme (1984)
• Fair Adventure (1984)
• A Medieval Tapestry (1984)
• Like as the Lute (1984)
• When Notre Dame was New (1984)
• Renaissance Christmas Music: Nowell Sing We (1983)
• Exile in Avignon (1983)
• The Leaves be Greene (1983)
• A Pilgrim's Solace (1983)
• Boccacio/The Old Hall Manuscript (1983)
• A Baroque Valentine (1983)
• A Medieval Christmas Pageant (1982-1983)
• Troubled Times (1982)
• A Taste of Burgundy (1982)
• Josquin Incomparabilis (1982)
• The Seven Teares (1982)
• Musica Mediterraneo (1982)
• From the Edge of the World (1982)
• Humanismus Germanicus (1981)
• Machaut, le Noble Rhetorque (1981)
• Ecco la Primavera: The Madrigal in 14th and 16th Century Italy (1981)
• From the Adriatic to the Baltic (1981)
• A Distant Mirror: Music of the Calamitous 14th Century (1981)
• Cappella Fidicinia: A Consort of Viols (1981)
• He, Trez Doulz Rossignol: A Consort of Recorders (1980)
• Troubadors and Jongleurs (1980)
• Choralis Constantinus: Music of Heinrich Isaac (1980)
• Triptych: Three Centuries of French Music (1980)
• Triptych: Three Centuries of Italian Music (1980)
• Triptych: Three Centuries of German Music (1980)

1970s

• More than the Miraculous Harp: Music of Spain and England (1979)
• L'homme arme: Music from the Hundred Years' War (1979)
• Music of the Spheres (1979)
• Music from the Medieval Monastery (1979)
• On the Middle Sea: Five Centuries of Music from Mediterranean Countries (1979)
• Music from Shakespeare's Age: A Concert of English Renaissance Music (1979)
• The New Music and the Old: the Early Seventeenth Century (1978)
• Players and Dancers (1978)
• The Age of Chaucer (1978)
• Botticelli to Breughel (1978)
• Italy: A Tribute to the great city of Florence (1978)
• A Tapestry: Three centuries of music from France (1978)
• Germany: Court Music of the Glorious Maximillian (1978)
• Music from the Edge of the World: Iberia (1977)
• England: Chapel and Chamber Music 1400-1600 (1977)