Musicke & Mirth - Music for Two Lyra Viols

Musicke & Mirth
Music for Two Lyra Viols

Jane Achtman - Viola da gamba
Irene Klein - Viola da gamba

Silvia Tecardi - treble viol, bass viol / dessus de viole, basse de viole (tracks 14 and 21)

Thomas Ford (1648)
Alfonso Ferrabosco II (1628)
Tobias Hume (~1569–1645)


The ensemble Musicke & Mirth was founded by Irene Klein and Jane Achtman during the summer of 1997. The aim was to explore the unique and entertaining music for two viols.While not excluding the traditional and better-known French repertoire, the focus is on less known works, such as music for two lyra viols and the late German Galant style. Further musicians are added to the core group of two players when the repertoire requires it. The musicians perform on period instruments and from original scores, paying great attention to historical performance practice. The winning combination of authenticity paired with a unique performing flair has made the ensemble successful both in concert halls and at competitions. Musicke&Mirth won the third prize in the American Dorian/EMA recording competition in 1997, the second prize in the Premio Bonporti in Rovereto, Italy in 1998 and the second prize at the Van Wassenaer Concours in The Hague in 2000. It recorded its first CD (“Musicke
&Mirth – Music for Two Lyra Viols”, label Raumklang) during the summer of 1999 and is presently working on its next CD project of German Renaissance Consort music. It has performed within Switzerland, Italy, the Czech Republic and Germany to great acclaim.