Bach Collegium San Diego, led by Ruben Valenzuela, finds acclaim for their ‘El Mesías’ project, a translation of ‘Messiah’ into Spanish. And why not? Handel himself altered his music to adapt to new contexts and audiences.

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.’

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.’

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…