Jacob Heringman, a lutenist now based in London, maintains an active international schedule devoted to Renaissance and earlier repertory, and his playing has found its way onto the soundtracks of multiple successful motion pictures.
Born in the Cleveland suburb of Berea, Ohio, on March 1, 1964, he spent part of his childhood in Germany. During his student years he played guitar and several other instruments; only in his final year at Grinnell College in Iowa, where his majors were English and philosophy, did he begin studying the lute. Upon receiving his degree he moved to London to work with Jakob Lindberg at the Royal College of Music, later continued his training in New York under Pat O’Brien, and established permanent residence in England in 1987. Early professional engagements came chiefly as a continuo player with Baroque ensembles. In 1990 he assembled the Renaissance and medieval ensemble Virelai; by the middle of the decade he had chosen to abandon continuo duties altogether in order to concentrate solely on Renaissance and pre-Renaissance music, convinced that full-time dedication was essential for meaningful progress in that domain.
As a soloist and ensemble musician he has performed throughout Europe and North America, appearing regularly with Fretwork, the English Baroque Soloists, and the Taverner Consort. He has also served as accompanist for lute-song programs featuring Michael Chance, Barbara Bonney, and Catherine King. Contemporary lute works form part of his repertoire; in the present century his activities have broadened further to include a tour of China with the French dance troupe Système Castafiore and collaborations with Middle Eastern oud players Khyam Allami from Iraq and Adel Salameh from Palestine, investigations that examine the historical links between the lute and its oud predecessor. Additional partnerships have involved the folk musicians Will Pound and Emily Askew, a duo with vihuelist Ariel Abramovic, and the ensemble Pellingmans’ Saraband, formed with his wife, viol player Susanna Pell.
His extensive discography encompasses numerous collaborative projects as well as solo releases on ASV, Naxos, and Avie, the last of which includes recordings drawn from several Renaissance lute books. In 2020 he joined the roster of Inventa Records with the album Inviolata: Josquin des Prez.
