Hank Reynolds
Dufay, Supremum est mortabilus Guillaume Dufay (c. 1397-1474) was a significant figure among the composers of the Burgundian School, which included Binchois, Busnois, and Dunstaple. We have not featured any of these composers yet in this series, although we included Dufay’s music in our Early … Read more
The High Road to Kilkenny Kilkenny (Cill Chainnigh) began as an ecclesiastical settlement in the 6th century. Its history as a medieval capital, St. Canice Cathedral, Round Tower, and many other attractions make it today a popular tourist destination. I have never been there, but … Read more
Shostakovich, Festive Overture I have decided to listen to more Shostakovich for awhile. No, it’s not exactly my Lenten discipline. After all, I really like Shostakovich, so it doesn’t involve any sacrifice. I used to enjoy a steady diet of his music, collecting and learning … Read more
Tallis, Spem in alium Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585) held positions early in his career as organist in Benedictine priories and at Canterbury Cathedral. With Henry VIII’s suppression of the monasteries in 1536-1541, Tallis found employment with the Chapel Royal. He served four monarchs and played … Read more
Roman, Violin Concerto in D Minor Two facts jump out if you look up Johan Helmich Roman (1694-1758): (1) he is known as the father of Swedish music, and (2) he is known as the Swedish Handel. Those two things seem to be in conflict. … Read more
Machaut, Douce dame jolie Douce dame jolie (“Sweet, beautiful lady”) is a virelai in which the poet sings of his adoration and anguish that his attentions are not returned. Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) composed both the music and the lyrics. Since today is Valentine’s Day, … Read more
Bernstein, A Simple Song Simplicity is a virtue, the virtue of removing everything extraneous to something in order to reveal its true essence. After enduring the hoopla of the Super Bowl this week, I’m convinced it is mostly a forgotten virtue. I remember a lecture … Read more
Strauss, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche Driving back home from Dallas recently, Professor Carol reached into her bag of road toys and put on a recording of Till Eulenspiegel. She played this particular recording, by Maestro Classics with commentary for children, primarily for our granddaughter. Of … Read more
Beethoven, String Quartet Op. 130 (Cavatina) The late string quartets of Beethoven have a special place in the repertoire. Written in 1825, two years before Beethoven’s death, they are the last major works that he completed. We tend to divide Beethoven’s works into three periods: … Read more
Barbara Allen We have made numerous references to musicologists who have gone out into the countryside to record folk music. Bartók and Kodály in Hungary, Kolberg in Poland, Janáček in Moravia, John and Alan Lomax in America, for example. And we’ve often noted how folk music … Read more