Arcomelos is a chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of string chamber music from the 17th-century to the present day. Performing on period instruments, Arcomelos was founded by two highly experienced artists in the field, Irmgard Schaller and Richard Gwilt.
 
Arcomelos is a flexible ensemble. In the current season (2008/9) Arcomelos is focussing primarily on classical music, in our formation as a string trio with cellist Sibylle Huntgeburth. As such, we are playing a rich and varied repertoire from the acknowledged masters (Beethoven, Mozart) to the lesser known (William Shield, Wenzel Pichl)
 
With the addition of a harpsichord (and when necessary a theorbo or sackbut), Arcomelos also performs as a baroque trio sonata ensemble. In this formation we are focussing on the innovative and fascinating repertoire of the 17th century.
 
Finally, Arcomelos also appears as a larger group, sometimes with a singer, performing relatively little-performed ensemble music form the 17th and 18th centuries (eg, Biber, Schmelzer, the Bach family).
 
You can see sample programmes in all three combinations by following the "Programmes" link on the left.
 
As for our name, Arco (Italian) bow, melos (Greek) song, melody. Hence Arcomelos, "to sing with the bow", or "the melodious bow" . Also, most certainly not coincidentally, Arcomelo was Arcangelo Corelli's membership name in the Arcadian Academy in Rome.