New England Conservatory’s Pratt Early Music Program aims to teach historical performance practice to “modern” instrumentalists and to populate symphony orchestras in the future. As collegiate early-music education is facing budget cuts across the country, the Pratt Program shows a way forward — with dedicated funding.

‘Christian Music in Jerusalem’ is a notable introduction to a subject that has been largely shrouded in obscurity, a historical blank into which we project our own preconceptions. Author Alexander Rosenblatt helps to dispel some of this fog through an ethnomusicological examination — involving Christian, Jewish, and Arab music — of traditions that continue to exist in the Holy Land today.

Cellist Elinor Frey’s playing is known for her vibrant personality, precision technique, and an uncommon dedication to historical practices. Her latest recording, three cello concerti by CPE Bach, conveys both the elegance and the intensity of this always surprising composer.  

People who care about the future of historical performance often don’t understand how to reach and retain young people. This essay is a call to action for the field of historical performance to support educational work.