The Baltimore Consort was founded by
Roger Harmon and
Mindy Rosenfeld in 1980. Harmon formerly had taught
lute at the
Peabody Conservatory in
Baltimore, Maryland. They performed together for ten years before releasing their first album for
Dorian Recordings, a collection of
Scottish music called
On the Banks of Helicon. By the time of that recording the ensemble consisted of
Custer LaRue (
soprano),
Ronn McFarlane (
lute),
Mary Anne Ballard (
viols,
fiddle),
Larry Lipkis (bass viol,
recorder),
Chris Norman (
flutes,
bagpipes,
bodhran),
Howard Bass (
bandora), and
Mark Cudek (
cittern, bass
viol). Norman was replaced in 2003 by
Mindy Rosenfeld, founding member of the original 1980 group whom he had replaced in 1987, and LaRue began an indefinite leave of absence in 2004, at which time
countertenor José Lemos began performing with the group, joined in 2005 by
soprano Danielle Svonavec. The group has recorded some 15 albums for Dorian, including a Christmas album,
Bright Day Star, and a collection of bawdy songs with the
a capella quartet called the Merry Companions,
The Art of the Bawdy Song and a 2007 instrumental compilation,
Gut, Wind and Wire. Their various recordings also cover a number of the
Child ballads. ==Discography==