EarlyMusicNews.Org

ArkivMusic holds regularly held weekend specials of its CD holdings. You may be interested in adding the site on your links of early music sites as some of its sale items may be of interest to you. This weekend has its 2-disc set of the J.C. Bach: Milanese Vesper Psalms/Concerto Köln on sale.
                 

“This is the performing and recording arm of Southampton University's Cantum Pulcriorem Invenire research project: 13th Century Music & Poetry, funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, begun in October 2010.

The outcomes of the project include a series of three CDs, Conductus I, II & III (appropriately subtitled) which will be released by Hyperion from July 2012 onwards, sung by John Potter, Christopher O'Gorman and Rogers Covey-Crump. The live version of the project is initially for two tenors (John Potter & Christopher O'Gorman) with a specially commissioned video by Michael Lynch, to be launched at the York Early Music Festival in 2012.
      

In these two Mignarda blog posts, Ron & Don lay tribute to John Milton Ward who recently passed away on December 21, 2012. 

“… The world of the lute has attracted people who share in common a fascination with trivial details concerning the geometry of the instrument, specialized playing techniques, string materials and the surviving historical sources of lute music.  For the latter, we should all bow down and thank the brilliant 20th century scholars who have spent endless hours researching, analyzing, and codifying this surviving music in order to make it available to those of us who are inclined, with many drops of sweat, to reconstitute the dessicated old manuscript pages back into living, breathing music. …” (21 jan 2012, blog post)
                

Recent news from the Ars & Amici group.

“Ars & Amici will visit the Dolomites and Venice, April 11-23, 2012.  In addition to singing masses and presenting concerts, we will enjoy Nature’s beauty in the mountains and valleys of the Trentino/Alto-Adige region, the glories of Venice, and fine art and food at many stops along the way.

Music by Gabrieli, Monteverdi, Priuli, Marenzio, Banchieri, Croce, Canale & other composers connected to the Veneto.

Location: St. Benedict Education Center, Seitenstetten Austria

“A varied Biedermeier dance program, a new piece for the historical wardrobe, recreation in the countryside - all in just one long weekend!

The course content of the following dances are planned: “Quadrille, Ecossaise, Tempete, Ländler, Walzer, Contredanse, Francaise, Hops-Anglaise, Contre-Ecossaise, Figouraise”. The course is suitable for beginners but also for the advanced …” Instructor: Pia Brocza
                    

“It will be some weeks before all concerts and workshops are confirmed for this year’s festival, but we can say that the performers will include baroque violinist, Maya Homburger and Ensemble Meridiana who will be “in residence” for the whole of the festival.

Maya Homburger has performed a number of times in earlier Sligo Baroque Festivals, always displaying a remarkable grasp of Baroque musical architecture and an assured technique, always memorably. She is one of the great Baroque violinists of our time. Maya will be playing Bach, the A minor sonata and D minor Partita in a solo recital, and in a trio programme the details of which await confirmation.
                

(Re-posted with updated information. -- Editor)

“One of the Piccola Accademia’s most important activities is to provide students and recent graduates with exceptional master classes in harpsichord performance. The combination of our instrument collection, the quality of teaching at the Piccola Accademia, superb acoustics and the quiet and relaxed nature of life in the Tuscan countryside, creates a special environment in which to study and be inspired.

The Summer 2012 Masterclasses will be given by:

• July 10-15 -- Menno van Delft
• July 17-22 -- Christophe Rousset
• July 24-29 -- Pierre Hantai / Skip Sempe
• August 14-19 -- Ketil Haugsand
• August 21-26 -- Bob van Asperen
       
  

(This is a re-post from an article on February 26 2012 -- Editor)

“What....HENRY'S Messiah?

You read that right. Handel wasn't the only one to set those familiar texts to music. Henry Purcell beat him to it, and you can hear these remarkable settings on March 11. 
                        

“We are pleased to announce that Philippa Waite will be joining with Andrew Wilson-Dickson to lead a workshop on the dances and choruses in Henry Purcell's "The Fairy Queen" for the Border Marches Early Music Forum.  The workshop welcomes singers, instrumentalists and dancers, and there will be segments where musicians can learn some Baroque dance steps.
                                   

EarlyMusicNews.org Weblinks Revisited

“The Practitioners of Musick ensemble, founded by John Burkhalter and the late Professor Eugene Roan (1931 - 2006) to survey the musical riches of 18th century Great Britain - Ireland & both the Colonial and early Federal periods in America. Recent research, has also focused attention on musical life in New-France before the Fall of Quebec in 1759. 
                         

Without a care: Music from Sans Souci

Location:  The New Church, 114 East 35th Street, New York NY, US

“Of all the works on our program, Johann Gottlieb Graun’s Trio in G for flute, violin and continuo meets our expectations for the delight and vitality we have come to expect from rococo music. Johann Graun (1703-1771), student of Tartini, teacher of Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, and admired by Johann Sebastian Bach has left unexplored chamber music delights and this work will make you want to know more. How fine that he gives the cellist rococo riffs that respond to the flute and violin. Here there is lyricism and sparkle that reminds us of the silver and gold that shimmers by candlelight or sunlight in every room at Sans Souci. And yet, all the embellished charm is supported by excellent counterpoint. No wonder Johann Sebastian sent his favorite son for lessons with this modern master. …”
                               

Festival held in Cremona celebrating Claudio Monteverdi. If you are in the region, you may be interested in attending one of the concerts on the concert listings below --
                  

EarlyMusicNews.org Weblinks Revisited

“The Elyma Ensemble is made up of singers and instrumentialists specialising in Latin music of the Renaissance and the Baroque period, and has long been active in the rediscovery of early Latin American music. It has also gained international recognition for its interpretation of 17th century italian compositions.
                   
Founded in Geneva in 1981, The Elyma Ensemble continues to be based there and is directed by its founder, Gabriel Garrido ... "
              

“Each year in June, bring the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival, waking the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Berlin-Brandenburg from the slumber of centuries.” A festival of international early music groups play in spectacular venues.
                 

“Things are definitely picking up again, as you can see from the March concert calendar -- here's a preview! …

[Read on for the concert dates]
             

La Nuova Musica dir. David Bates with Lucy Crowe (soprano)
Trinity College Chapel

La Nuova Musica is a vocal and instrumental ensemble dedicated to the music of the European Renaissance and Baroque. In less than five years since its foundation by counter-tenor David Bates, it has shot to prominence in the UK and abroad.
      

“David McVicar’s production of The Marriage of Figaro, previously staged in 2006 (twice), 2008, and 2010, now returns as part of the Royal Opera House’s ‘Da Ponte cycle’. I cannot help wishing that funds had stretched to commissioning three new productions, preferably from the same director, with a sense of how the works might actually cohere as a ‘cycle’.  …
                    

EarlyMusicNews.org Weblinks Revisited

“Jerry Fuller began studying the double bass at age 16 and was invited to join the Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestra three years later. Within two years he was promoted to first desk of the double bass section in addition to performing with the Santa Fe Opera. Mr Fuller has also served as solo double bass of The Musikkollegium Winterthur Switzerland. While in Europe, Mr. Fuller became interested in historically-informed performance practice and has achieved international recognition for his work with period instruments. A Chicago Artists Abroad grant recipient, Mr. Fuller’s performances in London, Rome, Geneva and Edinburgh have been broadcast worldwide. In addition, Mr. Fuller has performed at the Ravinia and the Aspen Music Festivals and both the Boston and Berkeley Early Music Festivals. …”
                  

Location: Dance Studio → Manhardt, Neubaugasse 38, 1070 Vienna (1st floor, by the yard)

“The original folk dance from the Friaul region (hence the name: friulana - furlana - Forlana) was popular towards the end of the 17th century. It was introduced by the composer André Campra at the French court and was immediately received with great enthusiasm - the theme of "Venice" was in vogue in Paris at that time.

This workshop can be registered without a partner.”
                       

You may be interested in some of the newest releases as Oxford Press. Of note: 

 

Joyas Divinas y Otros Secretos (Divine Jewels & Other Secrets)

“This year's theme alludes to the discovery of the rich culture and history of the Baroque period. It's for all lovers of the arts interested in a unique opportunity to discover the architectural, artistic and gastronomic treasures of Baroque. Enjoy a fun-filled week in the company of World-class musicians showcasing some of the most Priceless Jewels of Music ever composed. Join us for an incredible journey through richly layered textures within a compositional aesthetic to which festival musicians add energy and gallant. …”
              

A reminder that the Early Music America (EMA) scholarship application deadline is fast approaching. Early Music America (EMA) offers a variety of scholarships to its members. The application deadline is 15 April 2012.
  

EarlyMusicNews.org Weblinks Revisited

“Since 1993 we  have been running the workshop ' Le Pin Lyre ', where I make  harpsichords and Isabelle  restores violins, lutes and violes. In fact, we work together on lots of tasks, but that's the  basic setup.

The harpsichord side of things: As of 1988, I learned the basics with  Lewis Jones, at the London College of Furniture, later London Guildhall, now London Metropolitan University. After much research 'Ariata' eventually came into being, and this is the trade name for my  interpretation of a  single manual F to f French harpsichord.
           

(From the latest newsletter at Project MUSE, some more research journals additions and some changes. Note that access to these journals are usually accomplished through University libraries or some municipal libraries. You will have to check with these local libraries to check to see if access to Project MUSE periodicals is available.  If your interest lies in early music research, Project MUSE inventory of publication may be of interest to you. -- Editor)

Background: “Project MUSE is a leading provider of digital humanities and social science content for the scholarly community.  Since 1995 the MUSE journal collections have supported a wide array of research needs at academic, public, special, and school libraries worldwide. MUSE is the trusted source of complete, full-text versions of scholarly journals from many of the world's leading university presses and scholarly societies, with over 120 publishers currently participating. UPCC Book Collections on Project MUSE, launched in January 2012, offer top quality book-length scholarship, fully integrated with MUSE's scholarly journal content.“