Why is Renaissance choral music mostly absent in U.S. schools? From an emphasis on living composers and ‘vertical’ harmonies to choral directors themselves unfamiliar with the repertoire, there’s a lot to discuss.
A choir director asks the questions and offers possible solutions.
Canto: Toward a Rebirth of Renaissance Choral Repertoire Read More »
The Bay Area’s Cantata Collective, founded by members of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, have scored another Bach hit with their new ‘St. John Passion.’ Led by Nicholas McGegan, beautifully performed and recorded, it gives full measure to the work’s remarkable synthesis of devotional and theatrical elements.
A New ‘St. John Passion’ from Bay Area’s Cantata Collective Read More »
Season 2 of “Early Music: the Americas,” an online series of scholarship and storytelling from EMA’s Emerging Professional Leadership Council, starts with an article on the fascinating life and music of Occramer Marycoo (aka Newport Gardner), perhaps America’s first Black published composer.
America’s First Published Black Composer? Read More »
In the late 18th c., the most important Bach was undoubtedly C.P.E., whose sonatas for keyboard and violin are among the freshest and most expressive of any era. A wonderful new recording from Rachel Podger and Kristian Bezuidenhout captures Bach in all his shifting moods and vigor.
Sensitivity with Style: C.P.E. Bach for Keyboard and Violin Read More »
At turns insightful and innovative, these essays present cutting-edge research into Rameau’s operas, from rivalries and 18th-century aesthetic debates to close readings of the librettos and details of musical ‘borrowings’ and creative renewal. The chapters on his opera’s productions and performances are often revelatory. In all, the book is an exceptional addition to the Rameau literature.
Fresh Approaches to Rameau Operas Read More »
