The Indigenous peoples of British North America did the trapping and skinning of animal pelts and traded them to European settlers. To keep these mutually beneficial exchanges flowing, the disparate cultures used music, dance, and sound as a vital means of communication. This fascinating book explores how music helped forge cross-cultural trade.
Listening to the Fur Trade in British North America Read More »
A new recording of sacred music from Brazil’s first emperor, Pedro I, shows a skilled composer working in a delightful bel canto style and with theatrical flair. But Pedro’s populist reputation (and the recording project itself) taps into today’s charged political climate.
Recording Review: History and Politics Collide with Music from Brazil’s First Emperor Read More »
A doctoral student at the Sorbonne is studying acoustic heritage related to music by the Notre-Dame School of composers, part of a larger project on the sonic history of Notre-Dame Cathedral. This is an invitation to participate in a web-based study that examines the reception of medieval vocal music in varying performance spaces.
Calling All Medievalists Read More »
Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is perhaps on the fastest track among American countertenors. His ‘rich, gender-ambiguous tone is otherworldly,’ wrote one critic. We’ll meet the rising star, who sings a program titled Countertenor Fireworks, later this week in Philadelphia.
From Karaoke to Handel, a Countertenor’s Path Read More »
Barokkbandið Brák’s multifaceted artistic vision is the real deal. The Icelandic period-instrument ensemble cultivates a dual-pronged musical practice—Renaissance and Baroque works combined with contemporary commissions. Their playing is refined, their vision thoroughly compelling.
Recording Review: Icelandic Baroque Band Brák, Where HIP is Always in Style Read More »
