About Us

The Early Music Guild of Oregon is a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to promote the interest in, the study of, and the performance of early music, and to encourage the construction and use of historically accurate early instruments.  EMGO sponsors concerts, workshops, lectures, master classes, and meetings open to all interested parties.

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For federal tax purposes, EMGO qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under IRS Code section 501(c)(3).

You may make a donation to EMGO in one of two ways. To donate directly to EMGO and receive a letter acknowledging your donation, go to JOIN/DONATE above, fill out the form and mail your donation. Secondly, you may make a donation to EMGO and receive a tax credit through the Oregon Cultural Trust. The Oregon Cultural Trust partners with over 1,400 cultural nonprofits throughout Oregon. Donors to the Oregon Cultural Trust are eligible for a 100% tax credit for contributions for individuals ($1000 for couples filing jointly) and $2500 for corporations. In order to qualify you must also make a matching gift to EMGO in the same tax year. For more information about donating online to Oregon Cultural Trust, visit www.culturaltrust.org.

EMGO Membership is open to anyone interested in early music.

Members receive discounts at all EMGO sponsored events, and a subscription to the EMGO newsletter, Olde Pitch.

EMGO members may also post notices on this web site of performances and other events. To post a notice, send it via email to [email protected].

The Join EMGO page has a form for those wishing to join now.

Individuals

Phil and Gayle Neuman

Phil and Gayle Neuman are musicians, teachers, and instrument builders that engage in the performance of historical music from a variety of periods. See Performance above for information about their various musical ensembles. They have received international recognition as performers and scholars of Ancient Greek music and have several recordings of this repertoire on the Pandourion label available from North Pacific Music (click here to see Store and access the CDs).

The Neumans were recognized in an article by Brett Campbell in The Oregonian, March 9, 2015 as “Portland’s reigning masters of early music.” Click here to read the whole article.

They also perform music of the Renaissance as Ensemble De Organographia and direct The Oregon Renaissance Band. They have a number of recordings of music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and other periods, available from North Pacific Music (click here to see Store and access the CDs).

The Neumans teach early music performance classes at the Community Music Center in Portland (click here to see Classes), and have taught music history at Portland State University, Linfield College and other institutions. Click here to see Bios for their individual biographical details.

They teach at various workshops on the west coast and direct the annual Early Music Guild of Oregon Workshop each fall. The Neumans have performed at the Smithsonian Institution, The Getty Center, Cleveland Museum of Art, Rice University, Amman Conservatory in Jordan, the Bodrum Crusader Castle Archeological Museum in Turkey, and at ancient theater sites in Epidaurus, Delphi, and Rhodes. They are members of The Trail Band, and have performed with the Handel & Haydn Society Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Magnificat, and Cappella Romana.

Ensembles

The Oregon Renaissance Band

The Oregon Renaissance Band is an ensemble dedicated to performing and recording music of the Renaissance, played on faithful reproductions of historical instruments. These include violins, cittern, chitarrino, recorders, krummhorns, racketts, sackbutts, bagpipes, schreierpfeiffen, spinettino, and percussion, many of which were built by the performers. The Oregon Renaissance Band has presented concerts and workshops since 1991 and has been featured on NPR’s “Performance Today.” Their CDs with Ensemble De Organographia include “Now make we joye: Renaissance Christmas and other Celebratory Music” and “Carnevale! Carnival Songs, Frottole, Dances and other Festive Music of 16th century Italy.” ORB has performed at the early music festival in Regensburg, Germany.

Ensemble De Organographia

Ensemble De Organographia, Phil and Gayle Neuman, specializes in the music of four different periods; Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and the 19th century, all performed on period instruments or accurate reproductions. Their concerts are entertaining and informative, combining text and song to bring to life the musical art of the distant past. They offer a comprehensive instrument lecture-demonstration to college music history and music appreciation classes.

Fireside Social Orchestra

The Fireside Social Orchestra, directed by Phil and Gayle Neuman, specializes in song, dances and parlor music of the 19th century, all performed on period instruments or accurate reproductions, including violin, tenor viola, cello, flute, flageolet, cornet, alto horn, ballad horn, ophicleide, tuba, guitar, and voice. Repertoire includes music from “Foster’s Social Orchestra”, “Riley’s Flute Melodies”, “The Petrie Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland”, and music from early Oregon composers and publishers.