At his death, J.S. Bach owned two mellow-toned keyboard instruments called lautenwerk or lute-harpsichord, and wrote (and transcribed) music for it. Charlotte Mattax Moersch’s latest recording is devoted to this unique but forever-obscure instrument, including a Bach original and transcriptions by her teacher, Gustav Leonhardt.
Reviving Bach’s Lautenwerk Read More »
In music, we typically absorb emerging high-tech when it’s useful to us, from MIDI to digital editing. Artificial intelligence presents an unparalleled challenge and unlocks potential that strains the imagination. What’s clear is that the best output from a modern A.I. tool occurs when you already have subject matter expertise.
Be Smart on A.I. or Get Left Behind Read More »
There’s no shortage of recent transcriptions of the ‘Goldberg Variations,’ but the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, led by harpsichordist Frank Nowell, offers its own distinct take on J.S. Bach’s beloved masterpiece.
A Fresh Goldbergs from Colorado Read More »
In a new book every medievalist will need, ‘Early Medieval Wind Instruments,’ author Lucy-Anne Taylor uses available evidence to build horns and trumpets, bagpipes and hornpipes, bone pipes, panpipes, and an organ. Anything that helps us understand what Medieval music really sounded like is useful information.
Recreating Lost Medieval Winds Read More »
Pygmalion, the period instrument ensemble led by visionary French conductor Raphaël Pichon, again leads the way with an incisive and inspired account of the Bach ‘St. John Passion’ in its final 1749 version.
Another Superlative Passion from Raphaël Pichon and Pygmalion Read More »
