Alkemie's spirited performances of medieval music are grounded in historical performance practice and fed by our love of experimentation.
Hear Alkemie on Obsidian's Pentiment!
We are so excited about the recent release of Pentiment! We have been working on the music for this 16th-century Bavarian murder-mystery role-playing video game for the last 3 years - we are so excited to be playing it, hearing it, and sharing it with you. It's been a joy to work with director Josh Sawyer to compose and arrange historically-informed and historical repertoire that supports the illuminated/woodcut art style of this adventure. In talking about the historical accuracy of Pentiment, Sawyer explained, "We put a lot of effort into making this as historically accurate as we can without sacrificing the story...you might hear some familiar tunes, but all the music [Alkemie ] has created has been really really cool."
Reviews for the music have been overwhelmingly positive, with the biggest complaint being that there wasn't more!
- "When [the soundtrack] does kick in during various moments like a nun singing in church, or a jaunty tune accompanying a harrowing chase it is damned good. Featuring a mix of classics performed specifically for the game and new tunes it matches the setting well."
- Jesse 'Doncabesa' Norris, Xboxera
- "Forget the blood-soaked fury of 'God of War: Ragnarök', or the mysterious world of 'Elden Ring.' 'Pentiment' is the most engrossing video game from a major studio in 2022...The score, created by the medieval music ensemble Alkemie, is used sparingly, but when choir music or a haunting violin piece suddenly hits during a dramatic moment, it truly elevates the experience to a height normally reserved for angels and aircrafts."
- Jakob Hansen, Gamereactor
Read more about Pentiment here.
Tracy and Sian also did an interview with Josh Sawyer on the podcast "Music Respawned" - listen here (and on your favorite podcast apps)!
2023
UPCOMING PERFORMANCE DATES
Apr
29
Awesome Is This Place
Virtual Concert Premiere
April 29, 2023 at 7:30 ET
Available through May 13
May
6
Verdant Medicine
May 6 at 1:45 p.m.
Medieval Symposium
Fordham University
May
7
Verdant Medicine
May 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Owl Music Parlor
Brooklyn, NY
Jun
2
Fine Companion
June 2, 2023
Jalopy Theater
Brooklyn, NY
We are also hard at work preparing to premiere 3 new programs in NYC this spring - including a collaboration with Grammy-nominated duo Chapterhouse, the CD-release of our indie-rock troubadour album "Fine Companion," and a collaboration with medieval luminary and composer Shira Kammen that focuses on the works of Guillaume Dufay. We will also reprise "Verdant Medicine" in a lecture-recital at Fordham University and in an intimate performance at the Owl Music Parlor.
Alkemie featured on REMA Festival
Our recent "Like a Woman" Program was one of the two video concerts by U.S. ensembles to be featured as part of REMA's Early Music Day Festival.
REMA is the representative network for Early Music in Europe, composed by 86 members in 21 countries.
Alkemie awarded NYSCA & DCA grants
We are grateful to announce that we have been awarded two grants to support our 2022-2023 New York Concert Series! The New York State Council for the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council recently notified Alkemie of 2-year awards to support our our work as we continue to find ways to make music and connect with people as we rebuild.
Alkemie is supported by
The programs of Alkemie Early Music are made possible with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
