Hespèrion XXI is an international early music ensemble. The group was formed in Basel, Switzerland in 1974 as Hespèrion XX by Catalan musical director Jordi Savall (bowed string instruments, particularly the viola da gamba), his wife Montserrat Figueras (soprano), Lorenzo Alpert (flute, percussion), and Hopkinson Smith (plucked string instruments). The group changed its name to Hesperion XXI at the beginning of the 21st century. The name "Hespèrion" is derived from a word in Classical Greek which referred to the people of the Italian and Iberian peninsulas. The ensemble is noted for its scholarship in early music, especially the music of 16th and 17th century of Spain. Their performance practice is noted for the liberal use of improvisation around the basic melodic and rhythmic structures of the early pieces, resulting in great emotional intimacy and immediacy. Awards Grand Prix de l'académie du Disque Français Edison-Prijs Amsterdam Grand Prix du Disque of the Charles Cros Academy of France Grand Prize of the Japanese Recording Academy Cannes Classic Award Diapason d'Or Grand Prix FNAC Giorgio Gini Foundation Prize Selected discography As Hespèrion XX Note: The name of composer Juan del Encina (or Enzina) is spelled below as printed on the individual CD covers. 1976 - Music from Christian and Jewish Spain, 1450-1550. Villancicos and romances from the cancioneros Colombina, Palacio, and Upsala; recercadas from the Trattado de Glossas; and sephardic romances from the Romancero. 1978 - "Cansós de Trobaritz". A recording of songs of Catalan Troubadours. 1979 - Llibre Vermell de Montserrat. A 14th century pilgrimage 1991 - Juan Del Enzina: Romances & Villancicos, Salamanca, 1496. Works by Spanish composer Juan del Enzina honouring King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castille. The lyrics express Spain's anticipated rise to greatness as adventurers, such as Columbus, set off to return the world's riches to the homeland, thereby assuring Spain's wealth and power. 1991 - Lope de Vega: Intermedios del Barroco Hispanico, 1580-1680 1993 - Matthew Locke, Consort of Fower Parts 1650-1660 1998 - Elizabethan Consort Music 1558 - 1603, Works by Alberti, Parsons, Strogers, Taverner, White, Woodcoock & Anonymes 1999 - El Barroco Hispánico 2001 - Music for the Spanish Kings 2001 - J. S. Bach: Die Kunst Der Fuge As Hespèrion XXI 2000 - Diáspora Sefardí, Alia Vox — a recreation of music of the Eastern Sephardic communities 2002 - Ostinato, Alia Vox 2004 - Isabel I: Reina de Castilla, Alia