Andrew Lawrence-King Virtuoso – soloist, musician and one of the leading European conductors Date of Birth: 03.09.1959 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Andrew Lawrence-King
2. Early Life and Musical Education
3. Journey into the Harp and Early Keyboard Instruments
4. Career and Achievements
5. Current Activities

Biography of Andrew Lawrence-King

Andrew Lawrence-King, born on September 3, 1959, in Guernsey, England, is a virtuoso soloist, musician, and one of the leading European conductors. He is currently a professor of ancient harp and keyboard instruments at the Higher School of Music of Catalonia in Barcelona. He was awarded a three-year grant from the British Council of Arts to study and revive Spanish baroque dramatic music.

Early Life and Musical Education

Andrew Lawrence-King began his career as a chorister in the Cathedral of St. Peter in Guernsey, singing as a treble. At the age of 17, he won a scholarship for organ and enrolled at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics. He continued his musical education at the Centre of Early Music in London, focusing on vocal performance as a tenor and string instrument playing. After completing his studies, Lawrence-King performed as a tenor-vocalist and basso continuo player.

Journey into the Harp and Early Keyboard Instruments

By chance, Lawrence-King acquired a medieval Irish harp and, in the absence of a modern school of baroque harp playing, taught himself the technique using historical treatises and iconography. He discovered the perfection of string instruments. Harp and early keyboard instruments are excellent means of blending tonal shades and effortlessly transitioning from melody to polyphony. He refers to them as "perfect instruments". His approach to performing early instrumental music is based on improvisation. Although music history is based on notation, he believes that the roots of early music lie in the unwritten traditions of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Career and Achievements

Lawrence-King developed a methodology for teaching the original harp playing technique. He compares his style of improvisation to the durability of jazz, which follows emotional logic rather than written scores. He has a large collection of harps made according to originals from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque period. Lawrence-King has recorded concerts with almost all major ensembles, with over 100 recordings to his name, ranging from troubadour lyrics (with Paul Hillier) to new music for the ancient harp, including Handel's "Concerto for Harp" and "The Tavern Players" with Andrew Lawrence-King.

In 1988, Lawrence-King founded and co-directed the ensemble "Tragicomedia," which focused on Baroque music. For six years, he played as a harpist and keyboardist in the ensemble, while also creating many musical compositions and concert programs. After the ensemble disbanded, he joined Jordi Savall's "Hesperion XX" as a harp soloist and basso continuo player. He was appointed a professor of harp and basso continuo at the Academy of Music in Bremen. In 1994, Andrew Lawrence-King formed his own ensemble, "The Harp Consort." Inspired by the original 17th-century consort established by Charles I, "The Harp Consort" is a vocal-instrumental ensemble that brings together world-class soloists. The ensemble's activities, combining historical research and improvisation in the performance of musical works, quickly gained critical acclaim.

Current Activities

"The Harp Consort" has toured in the USA, Australia (at the Brisbane Festival), and at the Sydney Opera House. The ensemble also has a busy recording schedule, exclusively recording for "Harmonia Mundi" in the USA. Their recordings include a festival of polyphony and 17th-century Mexican dances. Their second CD, "Miracles" (songs by Guitâr de Sunsí, 13th century), won the Danish Edison Prize and CD of the Year. Their latest release, "Fantasia," features dances and chansons from the Spanish "Golden Age."

Andrew Lawrence-King tours as a solo vocalist, with his ensemble, and as a guest conductor of orchestras, choirs, and opera productions in Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, and America. He is currently a professor of ancient harp and keyboard instruments at the Higher School of Music of Catalonia in Barcelona and was awarded a three-year grant from the British Council of Arts to study and revive Spanish baroque dramatic music.

In his free time, Lawrence-King, a passionate sailor, is a member of the Royal Yachting Association and spends most of his leisure time on board his yacht. He expresses his love for the sea through the revival of ancient Guernsey music from the small island's inhabitants.