Biography
Swiss born Marianne Mezger studied the recorder with Hans-Martin Linde at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel before completing her formal studies in Belgium with Bart Kuijken, Paul van Nevel and Paul Dombrecht at the Royal Conservatoires in Antwerp and Brussels, where she was awarded diplomas for recorder (1974) and chamber music (1975).
Since then her career as a musician has encompassed performing, teaching research and editing
With her ensembles Duo/Trio Basiliensis and Les Amuzettes she has performed in most European countries, America and South Africa and her recordings have been singled out for their stylish performances. She is also one of the few professional players of the French Baroque musette (court bagpipes).
She is a tireless campaigner for the recorder as a real instrument and has championed it and its music uncompromisingly over the years. While still in Belgium she taught at the conservatoire of Antwerp, and on her return to Switzerland she held teaching posts at the conservatoires of Zurich, Berne and at the teachers training college in Fribourg. She now lives in England, where she teaches privately, and gives regular courses at West Dean College, near Chichester. She is also on the teaching staff of Christ's Hospital and Roedean Schools
In the 1990s she turned her attention increasingly to the early sources and their practical application in the recorder repertoire. In particular, the fruits of her research into the English recorder and flageolet tutors of the 17 th and 18 th centuries are reflected in her performances of the repertoire of this period. In this way she has combined musicality and historically informed ornamentation practice and created an individual performing style, which has been admired.
She has published articles reflecting her research, and has edited the definitive edition of the recorder works of Jacques Paisible (Dolce). She reviews regularly for the German woodwind journal Tibia
She is one of the musicians associated with the Institut für bildnerisches Denken (Institut for Visual Thinking) in Grenzach-Wylen, Germany, a studio promoting interaction between the visual arts and installations and music.
Concert & Course Diary
Recorder workshops and tuition by Marianne Mezger
Venue: 58 Redhill Drive, Brighton, BN1 5FL
Afternoon sessions for experienced players: time : 14.15 -17.15
- Saturday 12th January – T’Uitnement Kabinet, solos and solo with Bc
- Saturday 9th February – Orlando Gibbons for 2, 3, and 4 recorders
- Saturday 8th March – Duets and Suittes by da la Barre
- Saturday 12th April – Vivaldi, violin sonats arranged for recorder & Bc
- Saturday 10th May – Sinfonie di varii autori (Manuscript, containing pieces for recorder & Bc)
- Saturday 7th June – Baroque solo book (Dolce)
- Saturday 5th July – Ruffo a 3
- Saturday 2nd August Early Italian a 1 , 2 & Bc
- Saturday 13th September – Antoine Dornel, Suittes, and trio sonates with Bc
- Saturday 4th October - German Manuscript, 18th c music for solo treble and Bc
- Saturday 8th November – William Babell, , Solos and trios with Bc,
- Saturday 6th December – Heinrich Isaak, songs and instrumental music for recorders
Morning sessions with technically easier repertoire for less advanced players: time: 10.00 - 13.00
please enquire
Forthcoming concert: Workshop Concert Series Lewes,
Saturday 1st March 08 at 20.00.
The Italian revolution.
Music illustrating the transition from Renaissance to Baroque. Marianne Mezger, recorders , Paul Simmonds, harpsichord. Info: 01273 552548
West Dean College: 30th May - 1st June '08
Marianne Mezger recorders and Paul Simmonds (Continuo)
European Baroque trio sonatas and chamber music of the 17th and 18th centuries for recorders. Pitch a 440 Hz and a 415 Hz , voice flutes….welcome. Intermediate – advanced players. Info from West Dean College, West Dean, Chichester, PO 18 0QZ,
Tel: 01243 811301
Email: short.courses@westdean.org.uk
West Dean College: Proposed workshop for consort in November 2008
Recordings
Trio Basiliensis Recordings
"Concerning Babell & Son"Music composed, arranged and collected by Charles & William Babell
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Chamber music with RecorderARS MUSICI 1105-2Description... "The Leclair Sonata is particularly stylish and technically fluent, while Morel's Chaconne en trio is played with great poise and control ... a satisfying sense of style in which maturity and authority prevail." "... all three musicians deserve special commendation for an extraordinary adaptability that overshadows even their obvious technical proficiency. Recommended" " ... a thoroughly enjoyable disc; a voyage of discovery to be taken by all, and one I shall take many times" "....mit großem stilistischen Einfühlungsvermögen und selbstverständlicher technischer Perfektion... eine Einspielung für Liebhaber der unprätentiösen intimen Kammermusik " |
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Listen:
Duo Basiliensis Recordings
Music by Eminent MastersWealden Prestige WS 231Collectors' item, on LP format only. Price £5 plus postage and packing. For more details contact Marianne Mezger "Auf nachgebauten Instrumenten spielend wirken die beiden Musiker ebenso präzise wie fantasievoll, und obendrein quicklebendig. (Both musicians perform on close historical copies with precision and fantasy and with liveliness into the bargain.)" "Die Interpretationen erfüllen hohe Ansprüche in Bezug auf handwerkliche Brillanz, Präzision des Zusammenspiels und stilistische Einfühlung. Lebendig und plastisch wirkt das Musizieren ingesamt (The interpreters achieve high standards with regard to technical brilliance, ensemble precision and stylistic empathy. Lively and flexible music-making overall.)" 
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Links
www.bagpipesociety.org.uk The Bagpipe Society, "Chanter" the journal of the Bagpipe Society, courses, events, concerts, reviews, sessions, pipe makers
www.moeck.com Moeck Verlag, Tibia ( leading German woodwind journal) , publisher of sheet music and instrument makers e.g. recorders )
www.kueng-blockfloeten.ch Andreas Küng, performer and recorder maker
www.westdean.org.uk West Dean College, Chichester, short courses in music and instrument making
www.blezinger.de Stephan Blezinger, recorder maker
www.flute-a-bec.com Philippe Bolton, recorder maker and researcher
www.recorders.freeserve.co.uk Tim Cranmore, recorder maker
www.andreasglatt.be Andreas Glatt, recorder maker and recording engineer , Cd producer of the Accent label
www.prescottworkshop.com Thomas Prescott, recorder maker
www.e-m-s.com Early Music shop, sale of sheet music, recorders, recorder related CD's, workshops for recorder players
www.kawells.fsnet.co.uk Charlie Wells, instrument maker, recorders and French Flageolet
www.hawthornsmusic.co.uk Hawthorn Music, publisher of recorder music
www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/galpin/ Galpin society, publication of research into the history, construction development and use of musical instruments
www.alamire.com Alamire, editors and publishers of facsimiles and sheet music
www.erta.org.uk European Recorder Teachers Association, UK branch
www.christs-hospital.org.uk Christ's Hospital, independent school
www.martin-praetorius.de Martin Praetorius recorder and curtal maker
www.vonhuene.com Von Huene workshop, recorders
www.schunder.de sheet music for recorder, compiler of the recorder music's handbook
www.huber-music.ch Huber, recorders
www.fuzeau.com Fuzeau, publisher of Early Music Facsimile editions
www.dolmetsch.com Dolmetsch, recorder makers, researchers, publication "consort"
www.bergstrom.dk Ture Bergstrom, recorder and regal maker, curator, recorder player, drawings of original recorders
www.paulsimmonds.com Paul Simmonds, harpsichordist, clavichordist, early organist, performer, researcher, teacher, reviews, editions of clavichord music, organiser and director of the Workshop Concerts Lewes.
www.recordermail.demon.co.uk Ruth Burbidge, recorder sheet music, The Recorder Magazine (journal)
www.srp.org.uk Society of recorder players,
www.barrymills.com Barry Mills, composer
www.paulbeekhuizen.nl Paul Beekhuizen, instrument maker, early and Baroque musettes, player and teacher
www.rohmer-recorders.de Joachim Rohmer, recorder maker
www.mieroprint.com Mieroprint, editions for recorders, courses
www.guido-m-klemisch.de Guido Klemisch, recorder maker and performer
www.roedean.co.uk Roedean School, independent school,
www.ars-musici.de Ars Musici, CD producer
www.bremf.org.uk Brighton Early Music Festival
www.ekkehardweber.de Ekkehard Weber, performer on viola da gamba, director of "La Gamba" viol consort, choir conducter, teacher, recordings with e.g. Ars Musici
www.recorderhomepage.net All you ever wanted to know about recorders
