There are plenty of Renaissance keyboard recordings floating around. So what makes this release special. Three things: the music, the performer, and the instrument. The music is mostly from Tisdales Virginal Book, supplemented with selections from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. Very little is known about William Tisdale, save that he was a composer and keyboardist […]
early music
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Ensemble Almara with the best of Carmina Predulcia
There are collectors for everything — even information. Take Hartmann Schedel (1449-1514) for example. He amassed a collection of over 600 volumes comprising all the knowledge of his day. He compiled the Schedel Song Book not so much out of a love for music, but just to collect and record the information. The Schedel Song Book […]
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Antonio Vandini Complete Works carefully researched
Antonio Vandini was one of the celebrated cellists of his age. And that age was the early 1700s when he shared the spotlight with his close friend Giuseppe Tartini. Vandini, like other virtuosos of his time, composed music for his instrument. But he didn’t write much that survived — just six sonatas and a concerto. […]
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Classical Interviews – Reggie Mobley
The Countertenor, Reggie Mobley, spoke with WTJU about his career, the art of singing, and keeping spirituals alive. Reggie Mobley will be part of Early Music Access Project’s Expanding the Narrative: Slave Songs and Spirituals as Early Music on Sunday, November 22 at 4pm. These interviews air as part of WTJU’s Classical Sunrise, weekday mornings from 7-9am. For […]
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Cantica Symphonia masterfully perform Josquin Desprez
This is the fourth volume of music by Josquin Desprez that Cantica Symphonia has released on Glossa. Giuseppe Maletto and the ensemble released two volumes of Josquin’s motets, plus one of chansons. Their next release was a collection of Marian motets (compositions in praise of the Virgin Mary) by various Renaissance composers. This recording seems […]
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Classical Interviews – David McCormick
Photo by June CollmerDavid McCormick is the executive director of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival and artistic director of the Early Music Access Project. He spoke with WTJU about different violin styles across time and his work with the Early Music Access Project. For more on David McCormick, visit DavidRyanMcCormick.com For more on the Shenandoah […]
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Harry Christophers and The Sixteen new Purcell release most welcome
Bottom line. If you enjoyed Volumes One and Two, you’ll find Volume Three of equal quality. Also, if you’ve enjoyed any of the Sixteen’s previous Purcell releases on Coro, you’ll definitely want to add this one to your library. If the previous paragraph doesn’t apply to you, read on. Harry Christophers and The Sixteen have […]
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Anonima Frottolisti demonstrate Humanism in music
I first fell in love with early music through recordings of David Munro. In many ways, the Anonima Frottolisti reminds me of those recordings. The ensemble performs with enthusiasm and energy. The album is a survey of music heard in 15th Century Italy. The Humanist movement grew out of a rediscovery of ancient Greek writings […]
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Un’Arpa Straordinaria – Fine selection of Baroque harp music
Up through the Renaissance, harps were relatively simple instruments, able to play diatonic scales. In response to more complex music of the early Baroque, an arpa doppia, or double harp was developed. These harps had a second course of strings (tuned differently than the first). This gave the player more notes, with the two courses […]