Byzantine chant treats the human voice as a fretless instrument. Its cultural roots place it at a unique intersection of ‘world music’ and historically informed performance.
I psaltikà téchni – Discovering Byzantine Chant Read More »
Cree composer Andrew Balfour reimagines history and the concept of respect and dialogue between nations of the so-called New and Old World. It’s charting a course for settler ensembles to collaborate with Indigenous artists.
Truth meets Reconciliation: Renaissance Music meets Indigenous Arts Read More »
Sometimes the musicians are so swamped by apparatus — starting with music stands, pedals for turning electronic pages on a tablet, microphones hanging over the performers, wires all over the place, and people wearing huge headphones sitting in front of yet more apparatus — that it can feel like a trio sonata on life support. ‘It makes me feel that I’m a third wheel in something much more important than my own enjoyment in the moment.’
Musings: Is a Live Audience the Third Wheel? Read More »
No one is born knowing how to sight-sing, but throughout history it’s been a necessary skill for good musicianship. ‘I find it extremely annoying to work with singers who can’t sight-read. It’s essential — right up there with being a good colleague and being easy to work with.’
Toil & Trouble: Sight-Reading for Success Read More »
New and Different: the rise of amateur Baroque community orchestras with no direct links to academia or instrumental societies. These musicians play with period instruments and are just as committed to historical performance as their professional counterparts. Yet ‘we do not reject anybody because they are either too good or too bad.’
The Rise of Community Read More »
