Julia Dokter is a musicologist and organist who ‘messes around’ with art. In a personal essay, she walks us through several of her re-imagined Medieval illuminations. Hand-drawing and painting these images, she writes, ‘allows me to learn different things about [early music] than I would by researching and analyzing them in the usual academic ways.’
Dragons! Gold! Medieval Art and its Music Read More »
The well-trodden ground under Josquin interpretations may be shifting thanks to Jesse Rodin and his Cut Circle ensemble. They rethink key approaches to this repertoire, from tempo and vocal timbre to the choice of acoustic — with often startling results.
Cut Circle’s Josquin, Dramatic and Revelatory Read More »
For most of us, the early-music repertoire is so great it needs no special pleading — even as attendance numbers might suggest otherwise. So what works in early-music programming? Who’s been successful at audience engagement, and how do presenters select their historical performance projects?
The Peculiar Programming of Early Music Read More »
Montreal’s Infusion Baroque joyously blurs the lines between Western ‘early music’ and ‘world music’ in their latest album, East is East. The ensemble’s core musicians, plus an array of distinguished guests, make East and West sound refreshing and new.
Avoiding the Trap of Musical Exoticism Read More »
Basso continuo usually takes an accompanying role, but Montréal’s Space Time Continuo puts the bottom on top and into the fore. The ensemble adapts Italian lyricism for versatile lower-voiced instruments, depicting heaven and earth and all the emotional states in between.
All About That Bass: Continuo on Top Read More »
