Lex Eisenhardt (born 1952, in Netherlands) is a performer and recording artist on early plucked instruments, such as the vihuela, the baroque guitar, and the 19th-century Romantic guitar. He studied lute and guitar at the Utrecht Conservatory. In 1981 he was appointed professor of guitar and early plucked instruments at the Sweelinck Conservatorium (later the Conservatorium of Amsterdam).[1] In the forefront of the Historically Informed Performance (HIP) on the guitar, Eisenhardt was the first to make several gramophone recordings (in 1981 and 1984) with music by the Catalan composer Fernando Sor on a period instrument from the early 19th century.[2][3] He has given solo recitals and lectures in many European countries, Australia,[4] and the United States.[5] Well-known guitarists such as Johannes Moller and Izhar Elias studied with him.
- ^ "Lex Eisenhardt faculty profile". Conservatorium of Amsterdam.
- ^ Bauman, John (9 February 1985). "SOR Sonata No. 2 in C minor for Guitar, Op. 25. Variations on the Scottish Air "Ye Banks and Braes, " Op. 40. Six Airs from Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte, " Op. 19. Le Calme, Caprice, Op. 50". Fanfare.
Lex Eisenhardt (...) plays a Viennese instrument manufactured about 1825 and, thus, is one that is certainly of a style that Sor himself might have played. Its tone is (...) delicate and mellow, at times sounding almost like a Hungarian cimbalom. It is ravishing.
- ^ Bauman, John (19 April 1989). "SOR Variations on the Scottish Air "Ye Banks and Braes, " op. 40. Six Airs from Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte, " op. 19.Le Calme–Caprice, op. 50. Sonata No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 25". Fanfare.
When the LP of the Sor release appeared I gave it a rave review (Fanfare 9:2). The silver disc is just as praiseworthy. Sonically there is little improvement, for Etcetera offered an exceptionally fine pressing. I'll take this version for convenience and longevity. Eisenhardt is a fine young player who uses a Viennese instrument from about 1825. It is more delicately mellow than modern instruments and produces a ravishing sound. Rarely has Sor's music been better served. By all means obtain this issue if you haven't already done so.
- ^ "The Faculty of Music [of the Victorian College of the Arts] presents Lex Eisenhardt in a lecture recital 'The unknown baroque guitar' (The development of an Instrumental idiom, from Bologna to Versailles)". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: 31. August 11, 1996.
- ^ Tallant, Thomas. "Review of Lex Eisenhardt's Late Night Concert 'From Fantasía to Fantasie, Three ages of Music for Vihuela and Guitars'" (PDF). The Lute Society of America Quarterly. 1998 (3): 9.