Photo by Jason Dodd

‘Lunchtime Live’ talks during the Pandemic

During the pandemic period I am giving live talks on music – especially choirs, singing, conducting and culture.

If you enjoy the talks, please consider ‘tipping’ me, via paypal.me/djallinsonmusic Thank you!

Each week I am recommending some recent listening, and noting these in a Spotify list which you can ‘like’ and ‘follow’ (click through to open Spotify on your device):

Lunchtime Live: 9 October (click here to watch on YouTube)

Today’s listening recommendation
Jean L’Heritier (c.1480-after 1552), Surrexit Pastor Bonus
Several great recordings — Stile Antico, King’s College, London (dir. Gareth Wilson), and Oxford Camerata (dir. Jeremy Summerly)

Additional listening by LHeritier:
Miserere Mei, Deus on the CD Scattered Ashes by Magnificat (dir. Philip Cave)
Nigra Sum – multiple recordings; try Stile Antico

Scores by L’Heritier (free ones!)
http://www2.cpdl.org/…/Jehan_L%27Heriti…

Also – read the comments:
Arvo Pärt, Speigel im Speigel (you’ll need tissues for this one)
https://youtu.be/TJ6Mzvh3XCc

Palestrina, Sicut Cervus
https://youtu.be/0yd5EE0hAB8

Allegri, Miserere (multiple top-rated recordings on YouTube)

Gustavo Dudamel conducting Beethoven, Symphony No.5
https://youtu.be/22wEhOdfAfA

Lunchtime Live: 16 October (click to view on YouTube) – note: talk starts at 13′

Today’s listening recommendations
Palestrina, Missa O sacrum convivium, Kyrie
– Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford (dir. Stephen Darlington)

Rebelo, Lamentations
– Huelgas Ensemble (dir. Paul van Nevel)

Morales, Parce mihi, Domine
– Hillard Ensemble (Officium) with Jan Garbarek

Also:
Cristóbal de Morales, Parce mihi, Domine
– ‘straight’ live version by a Spanish choir, Ars Poliphonica
https://youtu.be/zdaOQYapuN0

Cristóbal de Morales, Parce mihi, Domine
– example of a live version with saxophone by Italian choir, Cantar Lontano
https://youtu.be/Z_EZBfClFsg

(Also note the conductor cooking video: https://youtu.be/EOG0vzmhpjo)

Scores:
Palestrina: https://www.cpdl.org/…/Missa_O_Sacrum_C…
Morales: https://www.cpdl.org/…/Parce_mihi,_Domi…
(Rebelo not easily available)

For next week, please watch this video:
Itay Talgam, Lead like the great conductors
https://youtu.be/R9g3Q-qvtss.

Lunchtime Live: 23 October

 

Today’s listening recommendations
Josquin (d1521), Praeter rerum seriem
– Gabrieli Consort and Players (dir. Paul McCreesh)

Alonso Lobo (1555-1617), Lamentations
– Choir of King’s College, London (dir. David Trendell)

Scores:
Josquin: https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/images/2/2f/Praeter.pdf
Lobo: purchase from Mama Mundi (www.mapamundimusic.com)

Article on Musical Entrainment (Open University):
https://www.open.ac.uk/Ar…/experience/InTimeWithTheMusic.pdf

Lunchtime Live: 30 October

Today’s listening recommendations

Tallis, Videte miraculum

– Taverner Choir (dir Andrew Parrott)
 
Carissimi, ‘Plorate, filii Israel’ from Jepthah
– Gabrieli Consort and Choir (dir. Paul McCreesh)
 
Scores:
Tallis: 
Carissimi: 
https://ks.imslp.net/files/imglnks/usimg/0/05/IMSLP586549-PMLP190763-Charpentier’s_score_of_Histoire_de_Jephte-.pdf
(pp.25-)
 
Videos
Itay Talgam, Lead like the great conductors
Carlos Kleiber in rehearsal (Die Fliedermaus)
Leonard Bernstein conducting Haydn with his eyebrows

Today’s listening recommendations

Gjeilo, Ubi caritas

– Kings Return (https://youtu.be/oCQOXY-FWTk)
 
Richafort, Requiem
– Huelgas Ensemble (dir. Paul van Nevel)
 
Pierre de la Rue, Requiem (Introit)
– Capella Praetensis (https://youtu.be/N5exSCwrpsM)
 
Scores:
Richafort: 
de la Rue, Requiem: 
https://imslp.org/wiki/Requiem_(La_Rue%2C_Pierre_de)

Today’s listening recommendations
Duarte Lobo, Missa pro defunctis a8
– Renaissance Singers on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=833996924023392)
or on Spotify: Schola Cantorum of Oxford / Summerly
Stef Conner, Riddle SongsObrecht, Missa de Sancto Donatiano
Cappella Pratensis (dir. Stratton Bull)Praetorius/Sandström, Det är en ros utsprungen
Siglo de Oro (dir. Allies) (https://youtu.be/86-ulHbApOM)
or on Spotify VOCES8

 

There is a small trim just before the end, where about 40″ of a copyright video of a baby crying has been removed. The video  I played can be found here: https://youtu.be/e3xgh-5lxlQ.

Today’s listening recommendations

Podcast: The Listening Service with Tom Service (BBC)  – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b078n25h (BBC Sounds/also through your usual podcast provider) especially recommend episodes ‘HIPP to be square’ and ‘Is it canon?’

Obrecht, Missa de Santo Donatiano Cappella Pratensis (dir. Stratton Bull) https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7963387–obrecht-missa-de-sancto-donatiano

Verdelot, Beata es Virgo Maria/Ave Maria a7 – The Renaissance Singers virtual choir performance https://www.facebook.com/renaissancesingers/videos/4117715958270677/

Score: https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/images/c/cf/Beata_es_Virgo_Maria.pdf

Today’s listening/watching recommendations
Guerrero, A un niño llorando
Renaissance Singers live
Gjeilo, Serenity (O magnum mysterium)
Live versions:
Jogleresa – especially ‘Blow Northerne Wind’ on the album In hoary winter’s night
Here’s their YouTube channel

Today’s listening/watching recommendations
Morales, Salve Nos, Stella Maris a5
Byrd, Propers for Advent from the Gradualia
The Cardinall’s Musick, dir. Carwood & Skinner (ASV, 1997)
The Carol Album (Taverner Consort, Choir and Players, dir. Parrott)
EMI 1989
James MacMillan on Thomas Tallis (‘Faith in Music’, BBC R4)
…and a book:
Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (Hodder & Stoughton, 1999)

 

Today’s listening/watching recommendations:
Jean Mouton, Nesciens Mater a8
Gabrieli Consort
also: Cappella Pratensis: https://youtu.be/pKqcQYjIVIg
Tomás Luis de Victoria, Quem vidistis, pastores?
Nordic Voices
Will Todd, My Lord has come
VOCES8
Sir James MacMillan lecture: Catholicism and Music
Scores:

15 January: listening/watching recommendations:
Aretha Franklin, Amazing Grace (film)
Phinot, Lamentations
Sospiri (dir. Watson), or Brabant Ensemble (dir. Rice)
Will Todd, No More Sorrow
Tenebrae (dir. Short)
Josquin, Praeter rerum seriem
Gabrieli Consort (dir. McCreesh)
Look out for online university seminar series,
e.g.: All Soul’s, Oxford
or RISM lecture on the Cappella Sistina

22 January: listening/watching recommendations:
Fernandez, Circumdederunt me dolores mortis
A Capella Portuguesa (dir. Rees) – Hyperion*
*not on Spotify; alternative version: Marian Consort (dir. McCleery)

Ivan Moody, Words of the Angel
Trio Mediaeval (which was clipped out of the video by YouTube).

Reading: arrangements for Classical Musicians working abroad
https://theartsdesk.com/classical-music/total-confusion-about-post-brexit-rules-adds-distress-classical-musicians-speak-out

29 January: listening/watching recommendations:

Victoria(?), Jesu, dulcis memoria
Tenebrae, dir. Short (Archiv)
Victoria(?), arr. L. Stokowski, Jesu, dulcis memoria
BBC Philharmonic, dir. Matthias Bamert (Chandos)

Dominique Phinot, Pater peccavi*
Brabant Ensemble, dir. Stephen Rice
*not on Spotify

5 February: listening/watching recommendations:
Praetorius, In dulci jubilo

Gabrieli Consort snd Players, dir. McCreesh (Archiv)

Palestrina, Sicut Cervus (solo voice with lute)

Mignarda (https://mignarda.wordpress.com)
Thomas Tallis, Spem in Alium
TT Virtual Voice project – Andrew Leslie Cooper
(360 degree performance; new score and research)
Space, Place, Sound and Memory research team (University of Edinburgh)
Lecture on medieval rood screens by Richard Hayman
for The Churches Conservation Trust
Virtual old St Paul’s Cross
Philharmonia virtual projects

12 February: listening/watching recommendations:

Dowland, Can she excuse my wrongs? Vivid Consort – live at home performance
click link

Schütz, Auf dem Gebirge Fretwork, Iestyn Davies and Hugh Cutting
click link

Trouvere Medieval Minstrels (This week’s live concert)
https://fb.watch/3Cau6w7dZo/

‘The Listening Service’ programme/podcast
Latest programme: ‘Musical Signatures’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b078n25h

Vocal anatomy and physiology fun – Pink Trombone click link

Blob Opera (Google Arts and Culture) click link

19 February: listening/watching recommendations:

Victoria, Salve Regina a6
Ensemble Plus Ultra, dir. Michael Noone
(esp 6.40 – ‘O clemens’)

Trad. Corsican, Agnus Dei
Artemisia Trio click link

Josquin, Nymphes des Bois
Cut Circle

Josquin, Stabat mater
Graindelavoix click link

Also see how Graindelavoix’s performance of Ashwell makes the piece sound non-English
https://youtu.be/CH1QzyANB5

Gesualdo, Caligaverunt oculi mei
Graindelavoix click link

Interesting video on Graindelavoix and performance styles
’graindelavois – tasteful or nauseating?’ click link

26 February: listening/watching recommendations:

Florentine Intermedii (1980s Channel 4 broadcast)
Taverner Consort, Choir & Players, dir. Andrew Parrott
Una Stravaganza dei Medici
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1145D2CEC1ECC20CRore, O altitudo divitiarum
The Brabant Ensemble, dir. Stephen Rice

(on Hyperion Records, so Spotify version is not the same)

Cappella Pretensis New Year’s Day Josquin 500th anniversary concert
https://fb.watch/3UC78C-Po-/
(also on YouTube but inferior sound quality): https://youtu.be/yh1QMc57SAA

Praetorius 450th celebration: Galliard
Capella de la torre
https://fb.watch/3UDe_fpJfA/

12 March: listening/watching recommendations:

Ensemble Organum sing Salve Regina live (drones and ornamentation) here

Josquin, Ave verum corpus a5
Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, dir. Andrew McAnerney
here

Psalm 22 in Gaelic
The Gaelic Psalm Singers / Back Free Church congregation
here

Corsican chant
here

Georgian polyphony performance – live in Corsica, 2011
here

Georgian drinking songs
here

Friday 19 March: listening/watching recommendations:

Maria (sopra La Carpinese)
L’Arpeggiata, dir. Christine Pluhar

Also on video: here

Psalm 50/51 chanted in Aramaic in the presence of Pope Francis, Georgia 2016
Seraphim Bit-Kharibi

(overproduced recording of the same performers added to Spotify)
Tallis, O Sacrum Convivium
Seldom Sene
Also on video: here
Cappella Pratensis Mouton concert (recorded live 18 March)
 James Stegall: Conducting a Choir: 5 Things That Have a BIG Effect (TEDx talk)

Friday 27 March: listening/watching recommendations:

de Rore, Mon petit coeur (chanson)
Huelgas Ensemble, dir Paul van Nevel
(also on Youtube with score: here)
 
Marian Consort and the English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, dir. Rory McCleery
Schütz, Musikalische Exequien
 
The Listening Service podcast with Tom Service
Episode: ‘Perfect Harmony’ (How does harmony work?)
here [or via your usual podcast provider]
New World Polyphony: Treasures from the Cathedral of Mexico City
Byrd Ensemble, dir. Markdavin Obenza
Sunday 28 March, live online 7pm Seattle time: here
 
Concert for Holy Week
The Art of Music ensemble, Luxembourg: here
(incl. some rarities such as Ferrabosco’s Laboravi in gemitu, around 3 minutes in)


Friday 23 April – a non-talk!

Friday 30 April: listening/watching recommendations:

Morales, Lamentations
Utopia Ensemble (Belgium): video link

Cut Circle, dir. Jesse Rodin
website here; videos at this link.

Josquin, Nymphes des bois
Cappella Praetensis Live TV appearance (around 45’): link

De Labyrintho, dir. Walter Testolin
Josquin, Virgo Salutiferi (on Spotify list)
Video: Josquin, Missa Gaudeamus – Sanctus and Agnus Dei (video)

Book: Liz Garnett, Choral Conducting and the Construction of Meaning (Farnham: Ashgate, 2009)

Friday 7 May: listening/watching recommendations:

Video, in two parts, is here:

Pt.1: https://youtu.be/b1WJctinFkY

Pt.2: https://youtu.be/3C27NWqu-DQ

Degrees outside academia: MOOCs (massive open online courses): link

Kate Tempest interview (James O’Brian podcast): creativity: link

Capella Sanctæ Crucis, dir. Tiago Simas Frieire
de Cristo, Benedicamus Domino (on Spotify list)
See also the group’s soundcloud page: link

Claudio Monteverdi – Confitebor terzo all Francese / Selva Morale e Spirituale
Capriccio Stravagante Renaissance Orchestra / Skip Sempé Vox Luminis / Lionel Meunier: video

Georgy Sviridov “The Bells of Dawn” (from Pushkin’s Garland).
Boys choir of the Glinka choral school, St. Petersburg, dir. Vladimir Begletsov: video

Friday 14 May: listening/watching recommendations:

Josquin Masses (Hercules, etc.): The Tallis Scholars CDGIM 051
Josquin, El Grillo Profeti della Quinta live: video
‘Mille regretz’, ETO Josquin project: here
(recommend you watch the explanatory talk as well)
Josquin festival
Gabrieli in Venice (Venice Conservatoire students live): video
(music starts 7:15)
 
CD: Josquin, Virgo Salutiferi 
De Labyrintho, dir. Walter Testolin
Video: Josquin, Missa Gaudeamus – Sanctus and Agnus Dei: here
Patrick Craig: live talk on Giaches de Wert
Tues 18 May, £5: book here
99 bits of unsolicited advice: link

Friday 21 May: listening/watching recommendations:
Bonnie Blackburn, ‘Luigi Zenobi and his Letter on the Perfect Musician’, Studi Musicali 22 (1993), 61-114
link (scroll down to see the article – no need to sign up)
CD: The Sweetest Songs — Music from the Baldwin Partbooks III
Contrapunctus (dir. Owen Rees)
Cavalli, Magnificat
Ensemble Correspondences (dir. Sébastian Daucé)  
Short film: Beauty and Wisdom in Flemish Polyphony
Capilla Flamenca (dir. Dirk Snellings) link
John Mundy, De Lamentatione
recording: Sospiri (dir. Chris Watson)
Video: The Deller Consort sings English Madrigals (1964) link
Handel, ‘Ev’ry valley’ from Messiah – First Call link
Friday 28 May: listening/watching recommendations


CD: Secret History (Josquin, Victoria, Mouton, etc. arrangements
John Potter, Jacob Heringman, etc.
Cavalli, Magnificat
Ensemble Correspondences (dir. Sébastian Daucé)  
 
Short film: Beauty and Wisdom in Flemish Polyphony
Capilla Flamenca (dir. Dirk Snellings): video 
 
John Mundy, De Lamentatione
recording: Sospiri (dir. Chris Watson) – score here
 
Video: The Deller Consort sings English Madrigals (1964): video  

Friday 2 July: listening/watching recommendations

Anonymous, In te, Domine, speravi
Le Poéme Harmonique, dir. Vincent DumestreOckeghem, Salve Regina I
Capella Pratensis, dir. Rebecca Taverner (score: here)

Conducting: Massive Open Online Course (link)

Video: Que veulent dire les gestes des chefs d’orchestre? [‘What do the conductors’ gestures mean?’]: link

zamus: early music festival – Symposium: ‘The End of Early Music?’ (29 and 30 June 2021)
Interview with Peter van Heyghen: video
Björn Schmelzer (Graindelavoix) talking about de Monte, then round table (begins 59.00): video

Laus Polyphoniae, August 2021 (Festival of live concerts, Antwerp) – lots of Josquin performances: link

Friday 9 July: listening/watching recommendations

Purcell, Hear my prayer, O Lord 
Vox Luminis: video
Gjeilo, Ubi Caritas (with piano improvisation by the composer)
Central Washington University Chamber Choir, dir. Gary Weidenaar: video
Josquin, Missa L’homme armé sexti toni, Agnus III
Cantemus Vegyeskar, dir. Szabó Soma: video
Josquin, Ave Maria a6
Cantar Lontano (singing from a distance!), dir. Marco Mencoboni: video
(encore of an excellent concert)
How to write a stretto fugue (analysis of Monteverdi)
Elam Rotam / Early Music Sources: video

Friday 16 July: listening/watching recommendations

Book: Alf Gabrielsson, Strong experiences with music (Oxford: OUP, 2011)

Ofsted report on music in schools: link

R. White, Portio mea and Domine non est exaltatum
Contapunctus (dir. Rees)

Hildegard von Bingen, O virtus Sapientiae
Kronos Quartet

Hildegard von Bingen, O virtus Sapientiae
Anna-Maria Hefele, Tomek Kolczynski, Giuseppe Lomeo: video

Compére, Venez regretz
Gesualdo Six, live in a car park: video

Jogleresa (dir. Belinda Sykes)
On-line concert teaser (and link to tickets) here

Friday 30 July: listening/watching recommendations

Concert: From Rome to Russia
Constanzi Consort (dir. Peter Leech): video
Schutz, Selig sind die toten
Vocalconsort Leipzig: video
Byrd, Miserere mihi, Domine
Stile Antico (live): video
Cardinall’s Musick
Trad., Sia Laudato San Francesco
The Rose Ensemble (live): video
Tempora Medievalis e Odor Rosae Musices (in costume): video
Cererols, Serafim
La Capella Reial de Catalunya & Hespérion XX (dir. Jordi Savall): video
Josquin documentary (NL) with brilliant playlist: webpage
Africa (Toto) – choral cover
Perpetuum Jazzile: video
Fix You (Coldplay) – choral cover
Young@Heart Chorus: video