I usually try to share lesser-known musical gems, but the hits became hits for a reason! Case in point: this gorgeous Air from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 by Bach.
Sephardic Choral Music
"Sacred choral music" doesn't have to mean "Christian" - here's a fantastic snapshot of Sephardic choral repertoire! (Shout out to Ian Pomerantz for the excellent article!)
Purcell's Rondeau
One theme, many points of recognition! Early Music people recognize this as the Rondeau from the incidental music Purcell wrote for the play Abdelazer. Modern orchestral players know it as the theme from Benjamin Britten's "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra". (Theater people know Abdelazer as one of the works of Aphra Behn, one of the first English women to earn a living by her writing, but they may or may not know the suite by Purcell...)
CPDL Index
Looking for repertoire appropriate for a particular Christian liturgical occasion? CPDL has an index for that, especially useful when programming around certain seasons, themes, or texts!
Gabrieli Canzona per sonare No. 2
While I'd generally prefer to hear early instruments, good music and stylish playing are good music and stylish playing, "historically informed" or not. Case in point: this beautiful recording of Gabrieli's Canzona per sonare No. 2.
Death of Lully
What happens when your need for control goes wrong? A conducting injury led to Jean-Baptiste Lully’s death from gangrene. After climbing to the highest heights in the musical establishment of the French court and being forgiven by the king multiple times for his “scandalous” behavior, he was essentially brought down by his own success (while celebrating the recovery of the king, no less).
Read more here! Jean-Baptiste Lully: the Baroque composer who died of gangrene
What was that tune...?
And what was my earworm last week? This fun movement from Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3!
Handel Water Music
Trying to identify a (still unidentified) earworm this past weekend led me back to Handel's Water Music - and how could I resist sharing one of my favorite movements? Enjoy the Bouree and Hornpipe!
Purcell: Hear my prayer
One of my favorite pieces by Henry Purcell is perfect for the liturgical season of Lent (which we're in right now), and also for reflecting on the day the freelance musician world crashed to a halt 3 years ago. It's amazing to hear what he can create with two melodic ideas and a simple bit of text!
Sancho and the legacy of horn players
Every article about Charles Ignatius Sancho provides a little more info - this time it’s about his use of horns in his compositions and the legacy of horn players at the time!