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A tribute to our founders: Michael Eagan and Mark Chatfield

In 1993 Musica Angelica was officially co‐founded by two extraordinary early music specialists living in Los Angeles, lutenist Michael Eagan and gambist/baroque cellist Mark Chatfield. In November, Musica Angelica honors both in a program entitled ʺMusic of the Masters.ʺ The program, directed by lutenist John Schneiderman, is presented on Saturday, November 12th and Sunday, November 13th.

Michael Eagan attended the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, the Netherlands, with plans to become a classical guitarist, but switched to the lute after hearing Julian Bream perform a selection of Renaissance music in concert. He then returned to Los Angeles and spent over two decades building a reputation as one of the foremost lute players in the United States. In the late 1980ʹs Michael met Mark Chatfield through the LA Baroque Orchestra. Mark was a professional cellist, gambist, composer, and countertenor. He sang for 19 years at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church in Encino, where he was also orchestra contractor and composer in residence, and his lyric voice as well as his instrumental playing can be heard on a number of recordings. Mark was also an accomplished swimmer, winning medals at the 1971 Pan American Games, the Gay Games in New York, and as a teammate of Mark Spitz in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where he set an Olympic trials record in the 100 meter breaststroke.

Both men formed a musical bond through their passion for early music, which colleagues say they had an equal passion for sharing with other musicians in Los Angeles, many of who are now members of Musica Angelica. Both men also sadly passed away well before their time, Mark in 1998 at the age of 45 from lymphoma and Michael in 2004 at the age of 55 from a heart attack. Their dedication to historical performance lives on in the ensemble they founded.

John Schneiderman, who leads the November program, had this to say about Eagan: ʺI am honored to have been asked to direct this upcoming program and I am especially grateful to be joined by a number of talented musicians who also collaborated with Michael and Mark. When I first met Michael I had been a guitarist and lutenist for a number of years. I like to think that over the years of our collaboration I occasionally influenced him and exposed him to plucked string repertoire with which he was not familiar. Michaelʹs influence on me was much greater. Michael introduced me to the bigger picture of Baroque music. Much of what I know about continuo playing came from Michael. He was an extremely sensitive and creative player.ʺ

Musica Angelicaʹs principal bassist Denise Briesé says that she learned almost everything she knows about Renaissance and Baroque style from both Michael and Mark, mainly through performing alongside them. Mark encouraged her to learn the viola da gamba, and invited her to participate in his lute/gamba quartet La Chanterelle. Denise will perform a unique composition by Mark entitled Suite for Gamba Alone. She reflects that the piece very much embodies Markʹs spirit: a finicky pursuit of craftsmanship, balanced by an occasional humorous wink. The form and style are often recognizable from a Baroque standpoint, but the chord structure has modern influences.