The Treasury of Music Manuscripts
Witness milestones in music history by touring precious books of handwritten music since the Middle Ages. This workshop balances exposure to the genres and styles of traditional plainchant of Western Europe with a survey of issues in Renaissance vocal polyphony through the lens of primary musical sources. The six synchronous sessions feature the study of rare music books spanning the tenth through the sixteenth century. These sources provide the basis for a dialogue on historical context, musical style, notation, editing, and performance issues. Offline activities include reading preparation, discussion boards, and the option of one-on-one time with the instructor. At the end of the module, small groups will present on a manuscript to demonstrate their learning from the discussion and readings. This workshop is appropriate for anyone with a casual or serious interest in plainchant and polyphonic music who wants to probe this music from a refreshing perspective.