EMA FEATURES & PRESS RELEASES
El MesÃas: Messiah for a New World
Bach Collegium San Diego, led by Ruben Valenzuela, finds acclaim for their 'El MesÃas' project, a translation of 'Messiah' into Spanish. And why not? Handel himself altered his music to adapt to new contexts and audiences.
Musings: No One’s Picking on Early Music
Is it possible that 'early music' is over, and we just haven’t realized it? I think we can expect, if not a revolution, at least a freedom, an exhilaration, a new age to succeed the old. After all, the modern HP movement has been around for about as long as the distance between the B-minor Mass and the Ninth Symphony. A lot of changes took place in those 75 years...
Hear the Ancestors Sing
Looking for ancient voices from his native Ecuador, Felipe Ledesma Núñez turned to ceramics and the sounds of his ancestors. He sees a problem in the humanities, 'that we are privileging the written word. And those kinds of systems are ill-suited: They cannot carry sound.'
Drumming to Parts Unknown
Percussionist Rex Benincasa writes about adding sounds and spices to music where there's little or no historical guidance, from the European high Baroque to Mediterranean North Africa and the court of the Tang Dynasty. Much of what he plays was never written down.
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EMA RECORDING & BOOK REVIEWS
Christmas with Concordian Dawn
Concordian Dawn's 'Caroles by Candel-lēoht' service, a Christmastime tradition, is the inspiration for the Medieval ensemble's latest album. The music comes from English, Hebrew, Latin, and Sephardic traditions in an often fraught search for 'redemption and salvation.'
Subversion and Protest in Song
A valuable new book (and accompanying website) on protest songs gives insightful political context to music that can seem detached from its original meaning and culture. 'A protest song, like protest itself, is intent upon political change—of ideas, attitudes, or actions.'
Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas on Period Instruments, Just Right
Fortepianist Sezi Seskir and cellist Keiran Campbell's fine new recording of Beethoven's two cello sonatas captures the composer's many facets: nuanced, exciting, humorous, and often blazing with joy. Highly recommended.
Brahms Requiem on Period Instruments, Evoking Schütz
Raphaël Pichon and his award-winning Pygmalion ensemble move from strength to strength. Their latest is a period-instrument Brahms 'A German Requiem' that's among the best sung and most rewarding versions available.
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COMMUNITY NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
Brighten your December with daily music from Guts Baroque! Whether it’ll bring moments of holiday joy or moments of respite from a stressful season, treat yourself (and your loved ones!) ...
In Mulieribus (IM), Portland's celebrated women’s vocal ensemble, invites audiences to step away from the holiday hustle into the serene beauty of their annual December concert, In The Stillness. This ...
Harmony Is in Our Hands presents local and international musicians performing repertoire inspired by the Baroque spirit of creativity, emotional depth, and shared humanity. All concerts operate under a pay-what-you-wish ...
Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 8:00pm Music at St. James Cathedral 804 9th Avenue Seattle, WA (First Hill) In celebration of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's 500-year birth anniversary, Cantorei, the ...
The Tallis Scholars are back in Greater Boston with music for the Virgin Mary from the English Renaissance on Friday, December 5 ARTISTS: The Tallis Scholars Peter Phillips, Director LOCATION: Friday, ...
