Hearing New Sounds from Very Old Instruments
There's much to learn about period instrument via the sounds they're capable of making. Composers today are exploring the edges of historical performance practice in fresh and unexpected ways.
Brandi Berry Benson named 2023 Recipient of Thomas Zajac Memorial Scholarship
Benson plans to use the scholarship to explore the intersections between Chickasaw and Choctaw dance and song traditions and the musical styles and genres of European settlers in 18th and 19th century North America.
Canto: Toward a Rebirth of Renaissance Choral Repertoire
Why is Renaissance choral music mostly absent in U.S. schools? From an emphasis on living composers and 'vertical' harmonies to choral directors themselves unfamiliar with the repertoire, there's a lot to discuss.
A choir director asks the questions and offers possible solutions.
America’s First Published Black Composer?
Season 2 of "Early Music: the Americas," an online series of scholarship and storytelling from EMA's Emerging Professional Leadership Council, starts with an article on the fascinating life and music of Occramer Marycoo (aka Newport Gardner), perhaps America's first Black published composer.
TOIL & TROUBLE: A Degree in Early Music? Really?
Do students need a degree in historical performance to enter the field of early music? Most instrumentalists are positive about the need for a specialized degree. Singers? Not so much. But for anyone considering a degree in early music, ask yourself, “What does the program offer?”
Period Instruments? Yes. Period Costumes? Uh…
Are clothes of the period part of a historically accurate performance? Opinions vary about what constitutes an acceptable period outfit, but advocates of historical attire in early music have one thing in common: They believe the costume helps enrich the music’s context.
Reflections on 400 Years of Sephardic Choral Music
From the 17th century onward, choral music became the defining feature of the musical identity of Western Sephardic Jews.
Apprentices as Colleagues and Sometimes as Teachers
The Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado started an apprentice program in 2007, in part to mentor the next generation, to scout for new members, and to bring fresh perspectives into the ensemble. They've succeeded in all these aspects.
Letters to the Editor: Replies to ‘Let’s Talk about the English Choral Tradition’
"How many talented singers are we losing who encounter vocal fatigue or injury and assume that it is their fault? [By] implying that vocal fatigue equates to a lack of natural talent rather than framing it as a normal challenge that everyone will experience at different points of their career encourages the maintenance of the current veil of silence around vocal injury. We must encourage singers to seek help, be vulnerable, and understand that vocal challenges can be worked through."
CANTO: Let’s Talk About the English Choral Tradition
"Historically, the shorthand way of achieving an 'English sound' has been to ask singers to 'straighten that out,' which can often lead to physical tension, fatigue, burn out, and resentment. The word 'straight' has been so overused and developed such a reputation that it fills many singers with indignation..."
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