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What's "Early" about Early Music? [F-15-56]

“Early Music” is traditionally defined as music written before 1750 (the death of Bach). However, Early Music still is a relatively new, and perhaps unusual, concert music phenomenon. That definition has been expanded in recent years, but still basically holds true. In many ways this music is from cultures substantially different from ours. In this course we will explore this remarkable and vast repertoire from the Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval periods, as much as possible on its own terms.

NOTES (after day 1):

QUESTION: How did early music develop? Let's proceed chronologically. Starting with medieval music we have: chant, organum, motet, Spanish, Occitan and French songs, trecento Italian songs, 14th century (Ars Nova) French music, more specifically by Guillaume de Machaut who was so highly regarded in his time that he was granted the privilege of supervising an edition of his complete works (the Machaut manuscripts are legendary).

Please feel free to Google and explore on Youtube any of the above.  Here are some LINKS to get you going:

Hana Blazikova: Rosa de Rosas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uAlL2Oe4aU

Alla Francesca: Thibaut de Champgne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqYhwm9M8Jw

Alla Francesca: Llibre Vermell / Cantigas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8pBMiSOZHc

Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall: Cantigas Santa Maria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj5Bc8zwwU0

Anonymous 4: Landini songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_guhqPlFnt8

NOTE: Suggested book: Early Music: A Very Short Introduction – by Thomas Forrest Kelly.

Barry Torres has been the Director of Music Ensembles at SLU since 1998. He is the founding (in 1975) and current director of Schola Cantorum of Syracuse. Barry is also a professional countertenor.