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Alex McCartney: Reflective, historically-informed performance on the lute.

Continually in demand as an accompanist and soloist, lutenist Alex McCartney has performed extensively in the UK and abroad, working regularly with artists such as Emma Kirkby, The Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The English Concert, The English Baroque Soloists, The Early Opera Company, The Royal Opera House, His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornetts, Poeticall Musicke, La Nuova Musica, Ensemble Libro I, Ensemble Marsayas and The Royal Ballet. Alex also often performs live via radio and television.

Alex is regularly recorded and is a resident artist with his own record label Veterum Musica. Amongst an array of recordings, some featuring his ensemble Poeticall Musicke, Alex has recently released his critically acclaimed debut solo album of works by the lesser known composer René Mésangeau. Future solo projects include an album of works by Dowland, Holborne and Batcheler.

Occasionally Alex consults and teaches for film and television productions, the most recent being an adaptation of 'Wolf Hall' by the BBC broadcast in January 2015. In addition to on-set consultancy, Alex had the challenge of teaching the actors Damian Lewis and Max Fowler to play the lute to a professional standard in the short space of one month.

Alex teaches the lute at the University of Aberdeen, and at the Early Music Shop in London.

In 2015, Alex authored his first book "Memory Methods:Music" which provides a practical, waffle-free approach to both general and musical mnemonic methods.

In his spare time Alex enjoys making lutes in his studio in Glasgow.

You can find out more about Alex on his website.

  Alex McCartney

[Elizabeth's Lutes by Alex McCartney]

Elizabeth's Lutes

[Mesangeau's Experiments by Alex McCartney]

Mesangeau's Experiments

[Rondeau Melancolique by Alex McCartney]

Rondeau Melancolique

[Toccata - Touched by Alex McCartney]

Toccata - Touched
Alex McCartney lives in York, England.

Tagged as: Classical, Renaissance, Baroque, Instrumental, Composer: Alfonso Ferrabosco the younger, Composer: Anthony Holborne, Composer: Daniel Bacheler, Composer: John Dowland, Composer: Orlande de Lassus, Composer: William Byrd, Lute.

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  3. Jacob Heringman: renaissance lute
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  5. Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
  6. Colin Booth: solo harpsichord music
  7. Paul Beier: solo lute of the Italian renaissance.
  8. Asteria: late-medieval vocal and instrumental music
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  10. Andreas Almqvist: elegant classical guitar
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