Nigel North facts for kids
Nigel North was born on June 5, 1954. He is a famous English musician. He plays the lute, studies music deeply (a musicologist), and teaches others (a pedagogue).
Contents
Nigel North's Early Music Journey
Nigel North started playing music at a young age. He received a scholarship to study guitar. This was at the junior department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He studied there from 1964 to 1970.
In 1969, when he was 15, he began playing the lute. He mostly taught himself this instrument. Later, he studied at the Royal College of Music. This was from 1971 to 1974.
He learned classical guitar from famous players like John Williams. He also studied viola da gamba and lute. In 1974, he earned a diploma in lute performance. He continued his studies in "Early Music" at the Guildhall School. He also learned from baroque lutenist Michael Schäffer.
Teaching Music to Others
Nigel North became a professor at a young age. When he was 21, he started teaching lute at the Guildhall School. He taught there until 1996.
From 1993 to 1999, he was a professor in Berlin, Germany. He taught historical plucked instruments there. Since 1999, he has taught lute at Indiana University in the USA. He also teaches at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in Holland.
He is known worldwide for teaching continuo playing. This is a way of playing chords from a musical shorthand. He wrote a main textbook on this topic. It helps musicians play lute and similar instruments.
He is also preparing another textbook. It will be called Lute and Early Guitar - a Performance Practice Handbook. This book will share old teaching materials. It will help modern lutenists understand how to play.
A Career in Music Performance
Nigel North began recording music in the mid-1970s. While still a student, he played many instruments. These included the viol, cittern, rebec, and violin. He also played his main instruments: lute, theorbo, mandolin, and baroque guitar.
He recorded with early music pioneers. These included David Munrow and Alfred Deller. From 1974 to 1990, Nigel North was very busy. He played in many baroque operas and orchestras. He also performed with singers. He was part of over 100 recordings.
He worked with famous groups and people. Some of these include:
- The English Concert
- The Academy of Ancient Music
- Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
- Famous singers like Emma Kirkby
In 1988, he formed a group called Romanesca. He played with Andrew Manze (violin) and John Toll (harpsichord). They performed together for ten years.
Nigel North's first solo lute concert was in 1977. He played music by Bach at the Wigmore Hall. In 1985, he played all of Bach's lute works in London. He then gave many concerts and made recordings around the world.
I remember going to a remarkable recital, one which I wish I had the ability to give: it was one of Nigel North's Bach recitals, and I was bowled over by how masterful and how musical it was. A real musical experience, something you don't always get from guitar and lute players and which, in general, is pretty rare.
He has also arranged Bach's music for the baroque lute. He transcribed Bach's solo violin works and solo cello suites. He performed these at the Wigmore Hall. He also recorded them on a 4-CD set called Bach on the Lute.
Other important recordings include all the lute music by John Dowland. He recorded this on four CDs for Naxos Records. He also recorded music by Robert Johnson and Sylvius Leopold Weiss.
Published Music Editions
Nigel North has also helped publish old lute music. These editions make historical music available to others.
Some of his published works include:
- Lute Music by William Byrd (Volume 6), 1976
- Lute and Bandora Music by Alfonso Ferrabosco (Volume 8), 1979
- Tablature for 2 Lutes Volumes 1 and 2, 1983
- He is also preparing Varietie of Lute Lessons, an anthology from 1610.
