Last weekend's phenomenal concerts with the Handel and Haydn Society included this fantastic piece by CPE Bach (sung by the Rheinische Kantorei in this recording)
Ornamentation in Monteverdi
Ornamentation - one of the most discussed topics in Early Music. How much? What type? Where? Here's an interesting discussion of those issues as they apply to Monteverdi!
Messiah: Fact or Fiction?
In honor of the return of Messiah Season, check out this fantastic article by the Handel and Haydn Society and come join us this coming weekend if you're in the Boston area!
Asciugate
My take on Gesualdo? He wrote in the same style as other composers of his day. The combo of privilege and scandal are part of why we know his work, but the other part is that it's just really cool. Here's my favorite of his madrigals! This was the first one I learned and the one that prompted Tramontana’s first program of Monteverdi, Marenzio, and Gesualdo!
Who's afraid of Carlo Gesualdo?
So let's talk about Gesualdo. Standing at the crossroads of privilege, scandal, and chromaticism, is he worth the hype? Was he really that much of an oddity? Early Music Sources has some answers!
Women Composers by Time Period
Want to include more women on your concert programs? Check out this listing by time period!
Mille Regretz
Regrets? We all have them. Check out this awesome video from Early Music Sources about how Josquin worked through his!
Quia Respexit
This week's Early Music Monday is the first Bach aria I ever learned - Quia respexit from the Magnificat!
Louise Farrenc
First woman professor at the Paris Conservatoire, paid at the same level as her male colleagues, won praise for her compositions and dipped her toes into the Early Music world... Meet Louise Farrenc!
Women of French Baroque Opera
We spend a lot of time talking about composers of early music, but what about performers (and especially the women)? Their stories are equally as fascinating and mysterious!