Historical Performance is a way of looking at music, one in which the performer takes on some of the responsibilities of a scholar.
Our aim is to provide students with the tools needed to make historically informed decisions about the pieces they perform. Department Overview
Historical Performance is a way of looking at music, one in which the performer takes on some of the responsibilities of a scholar. This requires an understanding of the music’s cultural context, familiarity with the practical aspects of historical instru
ments and performing conventions, and an appreciation of how performance styles and traditions have changed over time. Oberlin offers degree programs leading to the BM, MM, or Artist Diploma in performance on historical instruments. Master’s students may elect to pursue a program combining the study of multiple historical keyboards. The program also offers a minor, as well as a five-year program combining the BM in a traditional conservatory major with an MM in Historical Performance. Coursework includes applied study on historical instruments, music history, music theory, continuo realization at the keyboard, and courses in performance practice, as well as historical performance ensembles. Students are exposed to the latest thinking in the field and take advantage of Oberlin's extensive music library to pursue their own research. The college's broad range of courses in history, theater, dance, and the visual arts complement and enrich the Historical Performance program's offerings. Some of the world's foremost artists are brought to campus as performers and teachers, augmenting the resident faculty. Curriculum Overview
Private instruction (principal or secondary) is available in harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, organ, baroque violin, viola da gamba, baroque cello, historical flutes, recorder, and historical oboes. Although some students come to Oberlin already specializing in an early instrument, others come with more traditional musical backgrounds and begin their study of an early instrument in the conservatory. Winter term is traditionally rich in events of interest to early music students. Recently, these have included an early piano workshop and introductory courses in baroque violin, viola da gamba, recorder, hurdy-gurdy, crumhorn, portative organ, and lute. Many students in Oberlin's historical performance program participate in off-campus tours, including recent engagements in New York City, at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and at the Boston Early Music Festival. They may also perform in the Baroque Performance Institute, an intensive two-week program that takes place on campus every summer.
The second performance is Sunday afternoon at 3 in Lorain.
Both rooms will be nice places to hear this music.
02/27/2024
My 4th article since last Fall has hit the news stands - one more to go next month. My latest article just published in The American Recorder - "French Baroque Recorder Music from Marin Marais" just came out. This presents 2 flute duos, one by Marais and arranged by Hotteterre and a second duo from my Marais manuscript. These have been transposed appropriately for alto recorder. There is also a video of the 2 pieces performed by me and David Dyer along with some comment by me. It is very nice music - give it a go! https://youtu.be/EhfjWAFQl6E
01/29/2024
Flutists - are you a baroque flutist or interested in learning the baroque flute. If so, you should consider attending Oberlin’s Baroque Performance Institute - June 16-29. I will be teaching the baroque flute class this year and the theme of BPI is “Music of Paris and Versailles, 1660-1760.” This is one of my favorite topics because there is so much fantastic French baroque flute music and this class is an ideal place to learn about the playing styles of this repertoire. Potential composers for our class include, Hotteterre, La Barre, Leclair, Marais, Dornel, and many others. This workshop is excellent for all levels of players, including serious modern flutists who have not previously played the baroque flute. We will loan you a fine baroque flute and by the end of two weeks you will be playing quite well.
The recorder class will be taught by Anne Timberlake and this year includes a new option where one can study solo and chamber music, or take a new path focusing on consort playing.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. [email protected]
Baroque Performance Institute | Oberlin College and Conservatory
Music of Paris and Versailles, 1660-1760 June 16-29, 2024 Featuring the Oberlin Baroque Ensemble, distinguished resident faculty, and special guests Emma Kirkby and James Taylor The Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, the premiere summer workshop focusing on baroque instruments and voice, will ma...
01/26/2023
One of the first class of recorder majors to graduate from Oberlin, was Avery Gossfield. Avery and her group Lucidarium have just released a beautiful video, "Ritual Echos" A film by Avery Gosfield and Matthias Barthel filmed at the Jewish Court of Speyer. Well worth watching and listening!
This second video is of music examples to be listened to in conjunction with the Introduction to Baroque Instruments video.
The Oberlin Baroque Ensemble
Mark Edwards, harpsichord
Michael Lynn, baroque flute & recorder
Marilyn McDonald, baroque violin
Rebecca Landell Reed, viola da gamba and baroque cello
with special guests, The Diderot Quartet
music of Christopher Simpson, Domenico Gabrielli, Godfroy Finger, Jacques Martin Hotteterre, Francesco Barsanti, and J.S. Bach
The first video is a 50 minute class designed for the 1st year students taking music history. It is to introduce them to "baroque instruments" and a few elements of performance practice and style. Thus, we are assuming some general musical knowledge but none specific to Historical Performance.
Performed by the Oberlin Baroque Ensemble
Mark Edwards, harpsichord
Michael Lynn, baroque flute & recorder
Marilyn McDonald, baroque violin
Rebecca Landell Reed, viola da gamba and baroque cello
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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
04/23/2020
I have just finished a big video project on 19th Century American flutes, focusing on the basic 1-key models meant for playing tunes. I use 5 different flutes by Peloubet (2), William Hall & Son, Weygandt, and Whiteley. Three of these have not been demonstrated previously. I use two pieces from Blake's Select Beauties and one short trio from Foster's Social Orchestra. The video is indexed so it is easy to move around in. I hope you enjoy it.
Five 19th Century American Flutes
Flutes by Peloubet NY/NJ, William Hall & Sons NY, Whiteley NY, and Weygandt Philadelphia playing music from Blake's Select Beauties and Foster's Social Orche...
03/24/2020
I have just started a new project of recording the 6 Partitas for solo flute of Johann Georg Tromlitz. I'm going to play each Partita on a different flute which I hope will prove interesting. I have started on a flute that would have been quite out of fashion by Tromlitz time, but still works surprisingly well. I'm playing on my Buffardin copy of Martin Wenner. I didn't do my playing as a video but I intend to try to do that for the rest of the series. These are nice pieces with lots of challenges. Playing the right notes is easier than putting in all the articulations and dynamics that Tromlitz notates.
Johann Georg Tromlitz - Partita 1 for solo flute
This is the first in a series of videos that will include the complete 6 Partitas for solo flute of Johann Georg Tromlitz (1725 - 1805). I will be playing ea...
10/11/2019
Peter Croton is an Oberlin grad from the late 1970s and now a Professor at the Schola in Basel.
Schola Professor Peter Croton will talk about his new lute tutor (published by Le Luth Doré) at the next Donnertags-Akademie on Thursday, October 17th at 19h in the Klaus Linder-Saal.
03/01/2024
02/27/2024
01/29/2024
01/26/2023
09/02/2020
04/23/2020
03/24/2020
10/11/2019