So let's talk about Mozart's Requiem! At the time of his death, the Lacrymosa was unfinished and there was no Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, or Communion. Curious about how it was finished (and how many people have attempted to complete it)? Wikipedia has a great synopsis, and IMSLP has versions of Mozart's fragments without any editorial additions.
New composition by Mozart
There’s always something new to find! This time it’s a new chamber music composition by Mozart, discovered in the Leipzig Municipal Museums! Read more about the amazing find here!
Massimo Troiano
Music History should never be a boring class! For example:
Massimo Troiano
- Italian Renaissance composer
- worked in the Bavarian Court in Munich (for Lassus)
- disappeared in 1570 after being accused of murdering one of his colleagues
Performance Practice is modern too!
Performance Practice isn’t just about Early Music! While watching Disney’s original “Fantasia” this weekend, the narration before the Nutcracker Suite mentioned that “hardly anyone plays this these days”. Some quick research revealed that the holiday tradition of ballet companies putting on a production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker only dates back to the 1960s (and “Fantasia” was released in 1940). How many other things that have “always been done this way” have a surprisingly short definitions of “always”?
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!
Josquin's Praeter rerum seriem
I've posted Lusitano's setting of Praeter rerum seriem before, but never Josquin's - have a listen!
Water Music
A hike along a river today reminded me of the stories about Handel’s Water Music and how he (allegedly) used it to get back in King George’s good graces. Curious about those stories? Read more here!
Sweelinck Psalm 42
The beautiful words of Psalm 42 (“As the deer longs for streams of flowing water…”) have been the source for countless composers - Palestrina (Sicut servus), Campra (Quemadmodum desiderat cervus), Goudimel (Ainsi qu’on oit le cerf bruire), and many others - but this week I came across Sweelinck’s beautiful setting!
La Monica variations
Did the snippet of "La Monica" catch your attention last week? Check out these fantastic variations written by Angelo Notari, a contemporary of Monteverdi, and make sure to read the excellent notes on the video!
Misconceptions about nuns
What was the best way to be a female musician in 16th-17th-century Italy? What would give you stability, an education, and ensure your compositions and performances could be heard by the world? Become a nun! Early Music Sources explores what life was really like for musician-nuns in this great video!