EMA FEATURES & PRESS RELEASES
EMA at 40: Musings on Our Beginnings
At an early EMA board meeting, Thomas Forrest Kelly recalls 'serious discussion of whether we wanted to be the American Dairy Council (lobbying association for the professional field), or the Rah-Rah Association of Enthusiasts (focused on amateurs). EMA, after 40 years, has still perhaps not quite figured that out, and creative discussions continue.'
State of Being: Restoration or Conservation?
Restoration means bringing an instrument back to a playable condition. Conservation is about preserving an instrument in its current state and ensuring its survival. Is "restorative conservation" the solution, or just the latest trend?
Jamming with Southeastern Early Music Community
Two musicians with Deep South connections recently launched a Facebook group, hoping to encourage the small and far-flung scene. Over the holidays, they came together for the first time in an afternoon jam. Baroque violinist Lindsey Tootle, an Alabama native, sends a session report.
The Big Event for Palestrina 500 is in Grand Rapids
If you're in Europe, hoping to hear a deluxe celebration of Palestrina's 500th birthday, go to the Duomo in Milan. In North America, the biggest Palestrina 2025 party will be in Grand Rapids, Mich., where an ambitious Catholic church will host a dozen ensembles, from the Tallis Scholars and Gesualdo Six to their own parish choirs -- and all of it sung at regular Mass services.
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EMA RECORDING & BOOK REVIEWS
Espresso Shots with Apollo’s Fire
It's easy to speculate that J.S. Bach was tired of the daily grind as Cantor of the Thomasschule in Leipzig and found Zimmermann's Coffeehouse a space to refresh his creative drive. Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo's Fire scored a 2024 hit with their "Bach's Coffeehouse," debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Classical charts, as they celebrated the fun and flair of music by Bach, Telemann, and Vivaldi — fit for café life.
We Can’t Get Enough of the Troubadours
The moniker "troubadour" stirs the modern imagination like no other Medieval vocation. A smart new book offers concise studies of some of the most famous troubadours, offering thoughtful observations on poetic style alongside vivid descriptions of the historical context that shaped the tradition.
Corelli Violin Sonatas, More Alive Than Ever
Violinist Rachel Barton Pine can trace her pedagogical lineage straight back to Arcangelo Corelli. But for historical performance style, she studied with gamba player John Mark Rozendaal and harpsichordist David Schrader. Joined by lutenist Brandon Acker, they offer imaginative and rewarding readings of Corelli's Op. 5 collection of violin sonatas.
The Magic of Turning Secular to Sacred
A sacred 'parody Magnificat' pays homage to another composer's smaller work, such as a secular madrigal. The parody's craftsmanship and originality display reverence for the original. A recent album of Magnificats by Orlandus Lassus, alongside the pieces that served as inspiration, is a brilliant game of matched pairs.
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COMMUNITY NEWS & PRESS RELEASES
Sunday, February 2nd, 3:00 pm, 2nd Presbyterian Church Chapel, 7700 N Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260 Concert open to the public and free of charge Tonos del Sur, directed by ...
Presenting J.S. Bach Works for Lute Vol. 2 by Jadran Duncumb, a unique reading of the master organist’s exquisite music through the prism of the lute and its unique palette ...
Cappella Amsterdam and its celebrated chief conductor Daniel Reuss present an integral recording of Lassus' Penitential Psalms. Building on their exquisite recording of Schnittke’s Psalms of Repentance, this release explores new ...
Following the success of her acclaimed Essence Baroque album in 2022, featuring solo baroque violin and harpsichord, Judy Hung now presents Essence Romantique, an album performed on historic pianos from ...
The Salish Sea Early Music Festival offered 93 performances on period instruments in 2024 and will present 103 performances in 14 cities in Washington State in 2025 from January through ...
