Viola da Gamba Dojo

Workshop We invite applications for participation in a free workshop of Latin American early music from Friday, March 1 – March 4, 2024. See the faculty page

Last Saturday, at our first meeting of 2023, the Viola da Gamba Dojo had ten players in attendance. This is the first time this has happened since before the plague.
We enjoyed works of Matthew Locke and John Coprario.
Sarah Pillow joined us for Medieval Strings, and music of Hildegard and Machaut.
We have room for more, so let us know if you would like to join our next session, on Saturday February 4. [email protected]

This Sunday, duos by Orlando Lasso, Thomas Morley, and John Coperario for all sizes of viols.

Check out the repertoire here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9grvp88m3yu46da/AADwaurAmGepVYIV-AKYsYLGa?dl=0

Join us this Sunday for AEM ONLINE classes with Annette Bauer, and John Mark Rozendaal, and next Saturday, with Tish Berlin and Frances Blaker!

❦ Bon Jour, Bon Mois - New Year’s Songs by Dufay and Anonymous, with Annette Bauer, early notation
Sunday, January 29, 1:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. Central / 10:00 a.m. Pacific

Playing from original notation, we’ll look at two early 15th century chansons related to the New Year: one by Dufay in Ox Misc. 213 (white mensural notation), the other by Anonymous transmitted in the beautiful Escorial MS V.III.24 (black mensural notation). These two songs share some text, even though the music does not seem to be related.
open to: all who have basic knowledge of original notation, including rules for triple mensuration (tempus perfectum). reference sound files are on recorders. Pitch: A = 440

❦ Duets, a Didactic Delight, with John Mark Rozendaal, viol
Sunday, January 29, 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. Central / 12:00 p.m. Pacific

During the Renaissance, bicinia, contrapuntal compositions for two voices or instruments, were a source of pleasure and a wonderful way for musicians two learn some basics of the language of counterpoint, lyrical rhetoric, and the joy of musical dialogue.
Our class will enjoy looking at duos by Thomas Morley, Orlando Lasso, and Giovanni Coprario. The upper parts are suitable for treble viol; and the lower parts can be played on either tenor viol or bass viol. Other instruments or voices are welcome to join. Open to: viols, other instruments or voices welcome to join. Pitch: A=415

❦ Play-Along, with Tish Berlin and Frances Blaker, recorders
Saturday, February 4, 1:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. Central / 10:00 a.m. Pacific
Join Tish Berlin and Frances Blaker in a musical tea party with trios and a quintet, courtesy of GarageBand. We’ll start out with a trio from the American Recorder Society’s Members’ Library, and move on to William Byrd’s Fantasy a3 (VdGS #1), a trio by Johann Mattheson, and finally, a 5-part setting of Susanne un jour by Orlando de Lassus. Open to: intermediate to advanced recorder players but other 440 instruments are welcome to join. Pitch will be at 4-foot, so viols and other strings should play middle or lower parts. Pitch: A=440

https://www.amherstearlymusic.org/online-classes

There are some wonderful listening suggestions here!

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/arts/music/classical-music-renaissance.html?referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwAR0RGFjuatdCKlEICitrmmRPbpliK87yjb57poWksWBoQq3QabFeFKob684

5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Renaissance Music Here’s your introduction to the shining, stirring sounds of a revolutionary period in cultural history.

Cedille's album of the week is An English Fancy from Trio Settecento! Save 25% on CD orders of An English Fancy and the trio's Grand Tour boxed set this week only: https://cutt.ly/AA3FE4Z

Trio Settecento Rachel Barton Pine, Violinist John Mark Rozendaal David Schrader