I am an unabashed “early music” aficionado. Since the start of highschool I have loved Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music and have listened extensively to everything from the often melancholy lute songs of Elizabethan England to the triumphalistic and brazen brass of Venice to the soaring and energetic organ concertos of Handel. Part of my journey, though, has been research and delight in scholarship about the instruments, musicians, and contexts wherein such music originated.
May I petition you Julian to build a Spotify playlist of your favorite music? Throughout my younger years I was into rock/modern music. Since my conversion to the Catholic Church a few years back, I have slowly weaned myself off of almost all of that type of music. I'm hungry to find something new to latch onto - but frankly, it can be exhausting and difficult finding the right pieces/composers/conductors, etc... to listen to. I would be extremely interested in a curated playlist from you to listen through and learn from!
All lovely instruments of which I have never heard. I will pass this on to our daughter who loves old instruments and learning to play them. She last year acquired a hammered dulcimer and it sounds truly intriguing- I recommend you give it a listen. It is one of those instruments that once you hear it played well, you are a fan for life. She also plays a mandolin, a descendant of the lute. And it too is lovely. So many beautiful instruments that also make lovely music.
Wonderful instruments and a great way to familiarize us about these unusual works of art in their own right. Thank you!
Will you be writing about the awful new document from the Vatican. Someone said you had made some excellent points on X (is that the old Twitter? I don't use it). I would like to see your thinking.
The lute, about which I know nothing except that it is an early guitar, is outstanding choice for an instrument. One might surmise that in terms of antiquity it came the morning after discovery/invention of the drum.
May I petition you Julian to build a Spotify playlist of your favorite music? Throughout my younger years I was into rock/modern music. Since my conversion to the Catholic Church a few years back, I have slowly weaned myself off of almost all of that type of music. I'm hungry to find something new to latch onto - but frankly, it can be exhausting and difficult finding the right pieces/composers/conductors, etc... to listen to. I would be extremely interested in a curated playlist from you to listen through and learn from!
All lovely instruments of which I have never heard. I will pass this on to our daughter who loves old instruments and learning to play them. She last year acquired a hammered dulcimer and it sounds truly intriguing- I recommend you give it a listen. It is one of those instruments that once you hear it played well, you are a fan for life. She also plays a mandolin, a descendant of the lute. And it too is lovely. So many beautiful instruments that also make lovely music.
Wonderful instruments and a great way to familiarize us about these unusual works of art in their own right. Thank you!
Will you be writing about the awful new document from the Vatican. Someone said you had made some excellent points on X (is that the old Twitter? I don't use it). I would like to see your thinking.
Managed to go back and have a listen to the musical smorgasbord you supplied.
Fascinating! I was pleasantly accosted by evocative hints of Shetland fiddle, A Man for All Seasons, Bach, and Jethro Tull!
Enjoyed that! Quite an education.
The lute, about which I know nothing except that it is an early guitar, is outstanding choice for an instrument. One might surmise that in terms of antiquity it came the morning after discovery/invention of the drum.