Early Music

[bignaf]

There's lots of early music out there that is underheard, and I'm sure people would love it if they were exposed to it, but people need suggestions. how about we throw out the names of our favorite early (pre-Bach/Vivaldi) music?
I'll start with Josquin: Ave Maria
he's a Rennaisance composer, flourished around 1500. scroll down on the linked page for a sample.

[Trumpetmaster]

*ig,

Here are a few of my favorites!

All Gabrieli Canzoni for Brass (of course)

Brumel "Miss Et ecce terrae Motus"
(Earthquake Mass)

Music by Praetorius

[Bones]

Good topic Big.

The old guys really give a different perspective to music, but some it can be a bit much if you're not used to it. For those who aren't highly familiar to the older stuff, I would recommend some of the more mainstream works to get started. Monteverdi's madrigals would be a good place to start. Also, his Psalms are really worth exporing - or something like Cantate Domino, which has been fequently recorded.

Vittoria (or Victoria) was interesting and his O Magnum Mysterium and O vos Omnes are readily available by most choral groups. I like Gibbons's Veni Creator.

The music by Dowland is quite captivating. I would recommend his lute dances, such as The Earl of Essex Galliard, Lady Hudson's Puffe, the Frog Galliard, John Smith's Almaine, Mrs. Vaux's Gigue, and many more which usually appear as collected works.

<small>[ 05-24-2005, 11:20 PM: Message edited by: Bones ]</small>

[Angie Parkes]

Years ago, Rob played a sonata by Biber that was stunning and every bit as virtuosic as Paganini. It brought the house to its feet, I think partly because we're not used to hearing those "old guys" really wail.

I loved singing Palestrina motets.

[OperaTenor]

I like doing just about anything by Byrd. Ave verum corpus est is one of my favorites.

Palestrina is very enjoyable.

I've done Monteverdi's Cantante Domino. You're right(as always) Bones, his music is good introductory stuff.

Kind of a one hit wonder, IMO, is Hosanna to the Son of David, by Thomas Weelkes. I almost did a bio on him.
Has anyone heard this particular piece?

<small>[ 05-25-2005, 02:23 AM: Message edited by: OperaTenor ]</small>

[Trumpetmaster]

OT,
No I have not heard that work.
Will have to check it out.
TM

[Angie Parkes]

OT, the Byrd was just about the last thing I sang in university and I just loved it. The "o dulcis, o pie, o Jesu fili Mariae" is a wonderful rumbly bit for altos. I still sing it in the car, when I'm on my own, of course; early music alto lines take a discerning ear to appreciate!!

[bignaf]

Biber wrote a bunch of really virtuosic "mystery" soantas (to be played in church, supposedly on religioud themes), notable for the detuning of the violin strings. so looking at the score it looks very weird but sounds normal. the detuning gives special tone colors to the music 9but very subtle). try sonata number 9

[bignaf]

there is of course the famous Misrere by Allegri sung at the papal palace that wasn't allowed to be notated (so that no one lese could sing it), which mozart then notated by ear with only two listenings.
read about it here
listen here

[avb]

Good evening, all.I picked up a few pointers from above. Thanks to BigNaf for bringing up this subject.
Biber: would those be Rosenkranz Sonates ?
Can we be little more specific about Palestrina ?

Anyone familair with Marc Antoine Charpentier ?Writing this message I am listening to his Te Deum and love every minute of it.
Just before logging in I listened to the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi and Bononcini, listen to those a few times and they will become "mainstream" automatically.
Best regards,
Ad
MeeeD

[ai4i]

Originally posted by bignaf:
...how about we throw out the names of our favorite early (pre-Bach/Vivaldi) music?

Most early work was vocal. I do not know how simple instruments (by middle age standards or modern standards) evolved into huge orchestras but if I could drop a bit of wit, the other day I was telling a friend how I like harpsichord music and also mentioned Vivaldi's name. Her reply: "Well, that was his forte".

[Angie Parkes]

Thanks for the link to the Allegri, Big. It's lovely.

[Chicken Broccoli]

I just heard about the Washington (DC) Early Music Festival taking place throughout June. If anyone lives around here, or is doing the summer touristy thing, you should check it out; it sounds great:

Early Music Festival

[bignaf]

see inserts

Originally posted by Ad van Bokhoven:
Good evening, all.I picked up a few pointers from above. Thanks to BigNaf for bringing up this subject. you're welcome!
Biber: would those be Rosenkranz Sonates ? yes
Can we be little more specific about Palestrina ?
Palestrina wrapped up the renaissnace period, he wrote lots of masses, in polyphonic style. Ifind his music a little dry. but it still has that monumental quality of great counterpoint. Pope Marcellus mass is famous
Anyone familair with Marc Antoine Charpentier ?
yes, he was a French composer at the time of Lully, Baroque. Lully was granted monopoly on grand opera from the knig, forcing Charpantier to write religious music, and some comic operas. Writing this message I am listening to his Te Deum and love every minute of it.
Just before logging in I listened to the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi and Bononcini, listen to those a few times and they will become "mainstream" automatically. Pergolesi is after Bach...
Best regards,
Ad
MeeeD

[bignaf]

Originally posted by Angie:
Thanks for the link to the Allegri, Big. It's lovely.

the pleasure's all mine!

[bignaf]

you can listen to the complete Pope Marcellus mass by Palestrina (Italian composer, in pope's sertvice, late renaissance, aeeociated with counter-reformation) here:
this is a MIDI version, that is, poor electronic imitation



listen to excerpts here

<small>[ 06-09-2005, 12:05 AM: Message edited by: bignaf ]</small>

[trombonepirate]

Some of Hildegard von Bingen's stuff is fun to listen to. I like Ordo Virtutum especially. Obviously also enjoy anything with a good sackbutt part.
TBP

[Catmando]

This post is worth resurrecting.

I would love to educate myself more on pre-Bach/Vivaldi music (pre-Baroque).

I guess that would be the Renaissance period or before?

Was this the era of famous early composers such as Purcell and Byrd?

I'll check some of the links already established here, but any other information on some of the more famous earlier composers and works are welcomed and appreciated.

Your knowledge of music is a blessing!

Thank you!

[bignaf]

yeah, I got lazy...

[Catmando]

I was close to buying a disc of mixed early music on the weekend. Pretty sure there was some Leonin and Perotin on it.

'twas good price, at HMV. Kicking myself now, should have bought it.