Esteban Salas y Castro - a Cuban composer believed to be of Spanish and African heritage who worked as an organist, choirmaster, teacher, and composer. His music was rediscovered in the 1940s and included so many glorious gems, like this beautiful Salve Maria!
Aleotti Miserere
I'm always on the lookout for new variants of the Miserere text, and this one by Aleotti was a lovely discovery! I hope to sing it again in the future!
Great King of Gods
Back in February I mentioned Gibbons' fantastic verse anthem "Great Lord of Lords" and talked about contrafacta - here's the example! This is the same anthem, played by viols rather than an organ, but with a different text.
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!
Great Lord of Lords
I've been diving into the glorious world of Gibbons verse anthems and rediscovered this one, which gives me serious mezzo envy. ;-)
Contrafacta
Have you ever heard a song and thought "I know this one, but with different words"? Welcome to the world of contrafacta! Early Music Sources explains the tradition of having multiple texts to the same tune (sometimes in translation, but not always)! Plus, do you know where Morley found "Now is the month of Maying"?
Dédé's "Morgiane"
It's admittedly a stretch calling this "Early Music", but it's too exciting (and too important) to not share! Bringing Morgiane Back to Life
Ludwig Daser
Student of Ludwig Senfl, later replaced by Orlando di Lasso in Münich, but a tremendous composer whose music doesn't get the attention it should! Meet Ludwig Daser!
Name that genre...
Today's #EarlyMusicMonday
- dates back to the 1600s
- is frequently used as a basis for composers/arrangers
- has no authentic "original source"
- has a very specific style, best learned from those who have experience in it (rather than from books)
.... did you guess Black American spirituals?
Bajón
Ever heard of a bajón? Meet the renaissance predecessor to the bassoon, also known as a dulcian or a curtal (depending on which country you were in). This instrument came in different sizes and was played in consorts, wind bands, and later as a continuo instrument!