How about something awesome and silly for a beautiful spring Monday? Here's a piece by Ludwig Senfl that mimics the ringing of the bells in Speyer!
Composer borrowing
Is imitation really "stealing" or is it "homage"? This video explores the theme of composers borrowing, stealing, copying, or rewriting pieces and then publishing them anew.
Indigenous Music
Check out this wonderful story of the early music world intersecting with cultural understanding and research!
St. Anne
Another hymn tune that finds its way into classical composition is St. Anne (known to many as "O God, our help in ages past"). Bach, Handel, Buxtehude, Vaughan Williams, and others all found inspiration in William Croft's tune.
Victimae paschali laudes
Last week's video about "Christ lag in Todesbanden" mentioned that the source of that hymn tune was this beautiful medieval sequence for Easter!
Lutheran Chorales: Christ lag in Todesbanden
Let's talk about (Christian) hymn singing as seen through the history of "Christ lag in Todesbanden"! Chant wasn't the only basis for sacred musical composition - the Lutheran chorales (some of which were based on chant) inspired both vocal and instrumental works as well as uniting congregations for many centuries!
Johann Peter Salomon
This tremendous violinist, composer, and conductor was
- born in Bonn (in the same house as Beethoven)
- introduced symphonies by Haydn and Mozart to London
- may have had a hand in the libretto for Haydn's "Creation"
- was regarded by all as kind, generous, and a sensitive performer
- and he was Jewish!
Meet Johann Peter Salomon!
Offertory, Victoria's Requiem
Victoria's 6-voice setting of the requiem is one of the best (with Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, Duruflé, and Howells), and the Offertory movement is my favorite (beginning at 14:41). If you haven't heard the whole work, make sure to listen to the rest of this wonderful recording!
Salas Salve Regina
Esteban Salas y Castro - a Cuban composer believed to be of Spanish and African heritage who worked as an organist, choirmaster, teacher, and composer. His music was rediscovered in the 1940s and included so many glorious gems, like this beautiful Salve Maria!
Aleotti Miserere
I'm always on the lookout for new variants of the Miserere text, and this one by Aleotti was a lovely discovery! I hope to sing it again in the future!