Early horns - how exactly do they play all the notes with no valves? Check out this awesome explanation from my Handel + Haydn Society colleague Todd Williams!
Bach's Choir
Everyone has opinions about how to present Bach- here's what we actually know (and don't know), courtesy of Early Music Sources!
Senfl Ave Maria
My favorite #JosquinHomage has to be this rewrite of his famous "Ave Maria" by Ludwig Senfl (the fact that the recording has sackbuts doesn't hurt either)!
The Heavens are Telling
I first sang "The Heavens Are Telling" from Haydn's Creation as a high school freshman. Many years (and performances) later, the last section is still just as thrilling as it was when I was 15.
Pietro Pontio
Sometimes the best way to determine historical practice is to learn about when things went wrong... like with Pietro Pontio! Early Music Sources provides some excellent context for what was going on (both good and bad) in this situation.
Maria Magdalene
Today I'm reveling in this glorious Guerrero motet (the model for the Lobo mass sung at Church of the Advent on Saturday/Sunday) and remembering that Jesus appeared to the women first.
Handl - Ecce quomodo moritur justus
This gorgeous piece by Jacob Handl often shows up for Good Friday and it's always worth it!
Lusitano - Inviolata
Who would take a piece by Josquin and write a larger piece based on it? Several people, actually. This week's #JosquinHomage is Vicente Lusitano and his setting of "Inviolata".
Sweelinck's Theme and Variations
Theme and variations = my favorite musical form. How else can composers show off their skill and give the audience an ear worm at the same time? Case in point: this fantastic one by Sweelinck, plus helpful analysis by Early Music Sources!
Sicut Cervus, part 2!
I posted about Palestrina's setting of Sicut Cervus a year ago, but then I found this gorgeous recording which includes part 2!