How about a piece for the new year? This galliard was written by Anthony Holborne and given to Queen Elizabeth I.
Gaudete!
Just in time for Christmas - Early Music Sources digs into the story behind Gaudete (and why I sang two different versions of the verse tune in concerts this December)!
Sweelinck Hodie
I first learned this piece in college and was reminded of it for a concert earlier this month. Sweelinck was an incredible composer and organist from The Netherlands, and now I'm on a quest to sing more of his music!
Piper Through the Meadow
Every year I talk about a dance tune that became a Christmas Carol (Lo how a rose, Ding dong merrily on high), and here's this year's installment featuring some wonderful friends/colleagues of mine!
Praeter rerum seriem
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).