Have you ever wondered what happens when certain parts of a piece of music are lost? Check out this fantastic explanation from Early Music Sources, and remember the most important part: "... a reconstructor should have skills similar to those a composer from the relevant period would have had."
Josquin's process
My favorite part of analyzing a piece is seeing how the composer constructed it (and remembering that they're just humans with a particular skillset, like anyone else). This video from Early Music Sources demystifies a gorgeous chanson by Josquin!
The Most French Chord
What makes French Baroque music sound so distinct from anything else? Without writing an entire dissertation, one feature is this particular chord!
Galant Style
Melody, melody, more melody, turnips, and cabbages! ... or, what came after the high Baroque (and Bach). Things had become too complex (apparently) so the pendulum swung back toward something simpler to listen to and understand. Early Music Sources explains how that worked!
Composing from scratch
My favorite part of doing engraving work is seeing the tiny details of how composers crafted their pieces! Early Music Sources takes you through this process in their new video!
A Ground Bass AND Polyphony?
Ok... but HOW? Early Music Sources does a fantastic job of explaining how William Byrd not only wrote beautiful polyphony, but also did so above a ground bass!
Inclusive Music Theory
Thinking ahead to curriculum for next year and looking for a broader or more inclusive perspective? Check out this resource!
The magic table
Remember writing all of your notes for a test on a notecard in the tiniest handwriting you could manage? This chart is kind of like that. Early Music Sources explains it all, with some bonus shoutouts to Thomas Morley!
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!