Musicians throughout history have taken on extra jobs to make ends meet, but perhaps none quite as exciting as that of espionage! Meet Pierre Alamire (Peter van den Hove): a composer, copyist responsible for gathering some of the best works of the Franco-Flemish school, and spy!
A Ground Bass AND Polyphony?
Ok... but HOW? Early Music Sources does a fantastic job of explaining how William Byrd not only wrote beautiful polyphony, but also did so above a ground bass!
Wesley Gavotte
I heard this fun organ piece over the weekend and had to share!
Aleotti
So you want to be a composer (in 16-17th century Italy)? First become an accomplished musician, then join a convent...
Inclusive Music Theory
Thinking ahead to curriculum for next year and looking for a broader or more inclusive perspective? Check out this resource!
Sawney Freeman
Confronting the past can be uncomfortable but it's SO important not only to inform our present but also to keep from losing contributions of forgotten musicians like Sawney Freeman. What an important effort from the Episcopal church, library, and musician communities in Connecticut! Make sure to watch the video as well to hear his music!
Anonymous lute piece
How much of our opinion of a piece of music is based on the music, and how much comes from the reputation of the composer? Works by the prolific composer Anonymous remove one element of that equation!
Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Have you ever seen the manuscript of Beethoven's 9th Symphony? Wonder what edits Beethoven made to the score? Check out this post from Bärenreiter-Verlag!
The magic table
Remember writing all of your notes for a test on a notecard in the tiniest handwriting you could manage? This chart is kind of like that. Early Music Sources explains it all, with some bonus shoutouts to Thomas Morley!
He gave them hailstones for rain
I love the way Handel depicted the rain, fire, and hailstones in this movement from "Israel in Egypt", even if it does sound like a pretty happy weather event!