I was introduced to this amazing piece by Vicente Lusitano last week for a concert at the Gardner Museum! Josquin's setting of this text is better known, but this one is GORGEOUS. More Lusitano, please!
Since by man came death
Every time I sing Handel’s Messiah, something else captures my attention. Last year it was “Let all the angels of God” (which is often cut). This year it’s “Since by man came death”!
Bach for Lute
I don't often think of Bach as a composer of music for the lute, but he was! And it's beautiful!
Search by Text
Sometimes the text you're researching isn't the first line of the piece (like with "O pray for the peace of Jerusalem"). Fortunately CPDL has a page that lists settings by Psalm text!
Why bad performances are bad
What makes a "good" performance?
- stand as close to each other as possible
- no diminutions!
- only perform occasionally
- parts (and performers) should be in their best range
For other historical opinions about "good" or "bad" performances, check out this video from Early Music Sources! (The "good" part starts ~17:00).
Rogate quae ad pacem
While researching different settings of the text "O pray for the peace of Jerusalem", I came across this fun version from a set of vespers I'd never heard before (it really gets going about 1 minute in).
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem
In light of everything going on in the world…
He spake the word
Last week's performances of Handel's "Israel in Egypt" left me with several fun earworms (like the one below!), but also had me reflecting on how often ordinary people get caught in the middle of horrible things. "From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared, Good Lord, deliver us." (Book of Common Prayer)
Conductors - what did they do?
We all know the story of Lully hitting himself in the foot while conducting and dying of gangrene, but what DID conducting really look like? When were ensembles conducted and when were they led collaboratively? Early Music Sources explores what we know about conducting in the 16th-18th centuries!
Laudate Pueri - Charpentier
Getting the week started with this gorgeous Charpentier (which I can't wait to sing in October)!