Denis William Stevens, musicologist and conductor
born High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 2 March 1922
Secretary, Plainsong and Mediaeval Music Society 1958-63
Editor, Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians 1959-63
Professor, Royal Academy of Music 1960
Founder-President, Accademia Monteverdiana 1961-2004
Professor of Musicology, Columbia University 1964-76
CBE 1984
died London 1 April 2004.

In 1961 while Denis Stevens was Professor of Musicology at Columbia University he founded the Accademia Monteverdiana Inc. in the State of New York as a non-profit organisation. The aim of the foundation was to encourage and promote early and classical music, in particular that of Claudio Monteverdi, with publications, concerts and research. The inaugural concert took place that same year at the Bath Festival with Stevens and Yehudi Menuhin performing in the presence of one of the first AM trustees, Nadia Boulanger.

For the next forty years the AM produced several hundred recordings of music for different labels ranging from the medieval to Beethoven, a selection of which of which is given below as cds. Concerts were given throughout Europe and America including such grandiose and hallowed settings as the festivals of Salzburg and Westminster Abbey. Research was co-ordinated via the cream of Professor Stevens' graduate students to produce publications and editions of early music which were discovered in various libraries and then brought to the public often for the very first time in the 20th century.

Recordings by Denis Stevens
 Download free from
BaroqueMusic.org

BMC 9 – Henry PURCELL
Nine Trio Sonatas, 1697.
Carl Pini & John Tunnell, violins
Haroldl Lester, Gough harpsichord
BMC 10 – Henry PURCELL
Chamber & Incidental Theatre Music
Music for Amphitryon, Distressed Innocence, Fairy Queen, Abdelazer. Trio Sonata, Harpsichord Suite, Violin Sonata. Fantasia on a Ground, and Overture in g.
A varied program of music written to entertain, in theater or the home - and no less entertaining today!
The Accademia Monteverdiana, Denis Stevens
BMC 16 – VIVALDI: "La Cetra"
This set of concertos was published by Vivaldi himself and dedicated to Austrian Emperor Charles VI. "Musically speaking, one of the finest and most interesting collections he has left us." (Peter Ryom).
The Accademia Monteverdiana, conductor Denis Stevens
BMC 26 – TICKLE MY TOE
Renaissance & Early Baroque Dances
Six varied and tuneful programs of dances, capturing perfectly the mood of infectious gaiety and lively enjoyment.
The Jaye Consort of Viols / Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
Desmond Dupré, lute / Harold Lester, harpsichord
The Accademia Monteverdiana Orchestra, Musical Director Denis Stevens.

Baroque Music Library