The Compass Consort

The Compass Consort was formed in Basel, where its members met during overlapping studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. They have played together for many years in various ensembles, and each bring different specialisation to the group.

Caroline Ritchie came to Basel after studying at the Royal Academy of Music (where she then taught for many years), and has performed and edited a lot of repertoire for the 16th and 17th century viol, in particular the virtuoso music for viola bastarda and division viol. Leonardo Bortolotto came to Basel to study with Paolo Pandolfo, and plays almost every type of viol; from violone to treble and lirone to bastarda. He is also a sound recording engineer and brings this invaluable experience to the group’s rehearsals. Elizabeth Rumsey plays viol, vielle and lirone, and specialises in consort music of the 15th and 16th centuries. She is part of the recently-formed ReRenaissance concert series in Basel and has a particular interest in working from the original sources wherever possible. Marc Lewon, who plays both the Renaissance viol and the lute here, is a specialist in music of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, and is the Professor for medieval and renaissance lute at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis.

 

They all play regularly with other viol consorts and larger ensembles, in Europe and Australia, North and South America, and Asia, and can be heard on many CD and radio recordings.