EMA Recording & Book Reviews

By now, we're used to the astonishing insights gleaned by 19th-century classics performed in a historically informed style. Trio Ilona's debut, in chamber music of Robert Schumann, adds yet more understanding. Their playing is at turns joyous, sparkling, and beautifully balanced.

Although scholars often research particular types of historical keyboard instruments — clavichords, harpsichords, pianos — the makers themselves would have dealt with whatever was current in their city and era. With this in mind, historical keyboard expert Stewart Pollens attempts an integrated history of all stringed keyboards, with mixed success.

Dresden's Ensemble Polyharmonique made an outstanding recording of Heinrich Schütz’s rarely performed Easter oratorio 'History of the Resurrection' and follow up with an award-winning film. In music, dance, and dark atmosphere, they depict 'a film-tale about love, faith, and the incomprehensible.'

The latest recording from the ensemble Profeti della Quinta, founded and led by Elam Rotem, explores Rore's lesser known first book of madrigals. Popular in their day, these were widely reprinted as vocal or instrumental pieces and used for teaching — but never recorded in their original four-voice setting till now.

Rome was second only to Venice in music publishing in 15th-century Italy. Jane A. Bernstein's new book details Roman publishers' ingenuity in meeting musicians' needs — with insights into composition and performance practice of the era. It's also a look into the 'synergistic relationship' between technological innovation and the diversity of musical expression.

The Philadelphia Baroque trio Filament has always been attracted to the fantastical sonatas of Dietrich Buxtehude. They performed the composer's music at EMA's 2021 Emerging Artists Showcase, and revisit his work now with their rewarding debut album, 'Alchemy of Another.'

Constantinople, a multi-cultural ensemble from Montreal, is expert in spanning musical cultures. Their latest album, inspired by Leonardo's plan to bridge the Bosporus, is at turns exhilarating, intoxicating, and oversaturated — a 'fantastical swirl of repertoire.'

East of the River, a cosmopolitan, multi-instrumental ensemble led by Nina Stern and Daphna Mor, celebrates the rich repertoire of the Sephardic diaspora, tapping influences from Spain, the Ottoman Empire, and Northern Africa, all regions where Sephardi Jews relocated after they were expelled from the Iberian peninsula between 1492 and 1497.

In an engaging debut album, Egeria explores the 'Tropario de Catania' manuscript from the multicultural Kingdom of Norman Sicily. They take a refreshing, improvisatory approach, adding embellishments to what's essentially monophonic music, all of it beautifully sung.

We're starting to see music history texts that discuss the music and careers of women and composers of color. With Paula Maust's new anthology, we can now include music theory examples that will help dispel the notion that there were no important composers from these underrepresented groups.