‘The Baroque Violin & Viola’ provides an important introduction to Baroque violin playing for the modern violin and viola student, in 50 highly detailed lessons. The book is a rich collection of ideas, techniques, insights, and sources compiled and interpreted by the author during a teaching career of 30 years as professor of Baroque violin.
The small, almost-forgotten pipe organ called an Organetto is the star of this week’s Newberry Consort’s “Music Fit for the Medicis.” The organetto was typically played perpendicularly on a performer’s lap and was one of the most popular instruments in the 13th and the 14th centuries. None survive. What experts know today about the organetto comes from its depiction in hundreds of medieval paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and stained-glass windows.
Meet the Organetto, the Original Laptop Read More »
The Oakland-based Cantata Collective opens its Bach series with a sampling of the solo-cantata repertoire in an engaging, intimate setting of one-to-a-part performances. This rewarding new disc features two gifted singers and Nic McGegan at the keyboard.
CD Review: Cantata Collective Opens Its Bach Account Read More »
Thinking about the current state of early-music singing, I polled friends, colleagues, students, and teachers, both here and abroad. Many instrumentalists find singers more confident with style than in the past, more flexible vocally, and more expressive with a variety of repertoires. Singers themselves are much less upbeat.
Let Voices in Early Music Be Heard Read More »
It started with a blunt, personal question: How many times has an artist of color entered a rehearsal room full of musicians only to discover that they are the only artist of color — although they know many capable colleagues of color who weren’t asked to participate?
The Open Gates Project and ‘Forgotten’ Voices Read More »
