Studio Ars

In music, "ostinato" (Latin obstinatus: "obstinate") is a repeated sequence of notes. A constantly repeated bass motif is perfect for improvisation - which in turn inspired many Baroque composers to write numerous masterpieces.

A collection of sacred music by Arvo Pärt, Julia Wolfe, Caroline Shaw, interspersed with songs from the Laudario di Cortona, Italy.

Robert Schumann called Mendelssohn the Mozart of the 19th century given his mastery of both the keyboard and composition at such an early age.

Robert Schumann called Mendelssohn the Mozart of the 19th century given his mastery of both the keyboard and composition at such an early age.

On ars moriendi Paul Giger looks at life’s flowing patterns, at death and renewal, as he brings together compositions by Bach and new music drawing inspiration from the work of painter Giovanni Segantini and Swiss folk traditions. The album was recorded in Maloja, where Segantini spent the last years of his life.

Huang Ruo is a multi-talented and award-winning Chinese-American composer, conductor, and conceptual artist.

Ars Antiqua Austria and Gunar Letzbor present a programme of outstanding sacred music by Rupert Ignaz Mayr (1646-1712) for voice, virtuoso solo violin and basso continuo, including five world premiere recordings.

The music of Johann Speth (1664-1719) has featured here and there on many compilations of instrumental music from mid-17th century Germany. However, until now there has never been a complete recording of the sole collection which carries his name down to us today.

They are sung pieces, in verse and vernacular language, known in that period as human tones (or just tones) when they were profane, and divine tones when they were religious. Those composed in the first half of the 17th century were mostly polyphonic, which reveals that, in this period, polyphony was still thought to be the highest and most prestigious. The Book of Human Tones, preserved at present at the National Library of Spain under the signature M 1262, constitutes, with its 222 works, a privileged sample of all the aspects.