Is imitation the highest form of flattery? What about forgery? Early Music Sources takes on period composition with some GREAT stories of scandal and deliberate misattribution, as well as previews of some current composers worth exploring!
Editions
Why sing from an edition when you could sing from a source? What makes a good edition? Thanks to Early Music Sources for explaining why editions matter in this fantastic video!
P.S. One exception: if there were neumes, sing from neumes. Otherwise I'm all for using a good edition!
Gaudete!
Just in time for Christmas - Early Music Sources digs into the story behind Gaudete (and why I sang two different versions of the verse tune in concerts this December)!
Why bad performances are bad
What makes a "good" performance?
- stand as close to each other as possible
- no diminutions!
- only perform occasionally
- parts (and performers) should be in their best range
For other historical opinions about "good" or "bad" performances, check out this video from Early Music Sources! (The "good" part starts ~17:00).
Conductors - what did they do?
We all know the story of Lully hitting himself in the foot while conducting and dying of gangrene, but what DID conducting really look like? When were ensembles conducted and when were they led collaboratively? Early Music Sources explores what we know about conducting in the 16th-18th centuries!
Castello Sonata Prima!
My listening examples are often vocal music (a side effect of being a singer), but what about the development of instrumental solo genres? Early Music Sources takes this on in a fantastic video with shoutouts to Dario Castello and Salomone Rossi!
Lamentations
The service of Tenebrae has been my favorite Holy Week experience since I first experienced it in 2010, though I've never sung any of the exquisite settings of the Lamentations (Dear Universe... *hint*). Check out this awesome video from Early Music Sources about the Lamentations and how Lassus and Cavalieri wrote their settings!
Lorenzo Penna
Meet Lorenzo Penna, courtesy of Early Music Sources!
Some highlights:
- musicians should learn to sing and learn counterpoint BEFORE learning a keyboard instrument
- added flat 9ths (because, yes!)
- More is more!
Castrati
Castrati... Not music history’s finest hour. Here’s a good survey of WHY this was a thing, courtesy of Early Music Sources!
Catarina Martinelli
Monteverdi's Lamento d'Arianna and his magnificent Sestina are linked by one soprano - Catarina Martinelli. Never heard of her? Learn about her in Early Music Sources' video and then go listen to the Sestina!