Beautiful Music

October 5 is the annual celebration of World Teachers Day. It’s an opportunity to give special recognition to the dedicated heroes who go into the teaching profession. We’ll mark the occasion with music by an extraordinary baroque era teacher: Johann Sebastian Bach. Not only did he teach musicians in his own time, his musical legacy […]

In honor of Oktoberfest, it’s Bavarian Brass playing Beautiful Music. They are performing baroque music (not traditional oompah music!) but feel free to wear your dirndl or lederhosen while you listen to their bold and energetic playing. Zum Wohl!    

My friend Gene Murrow with Gotham Early Music Scene in NYC tipped me off to this fascinating and wonderful performance, and I am excited to share it with you. Two talented musicians — soprano Sonya Headlam and square piano player Rebecca Cypess — perform music by Anne-Louise Brillon de Jouy and Ignatius Sancho. This Beautiful

Beautiful FUN Music is my offering to you on this second day of October.  Baroque oboe player Debra Nagy, viola da gamba player Emily Walhout, and harpsichordist Eric Milnes play a couple of tunes you may well recognize. You’ve probably never heard them played on these instruments, though! Enjoy AUTUMN LEAVES and SEND IN THE

Where did September go? Here is Beautiful Music tailor made for the first day of October: it’s English viol player Christopher Simpson’s OCTOBER Suite from his collection, The Monthes.    

My toes are tapping as I enthusiastically share this Beautiful Music with you! It’s from a production called TOO HOT TO HANDEL: THE GOSPEL MESSIAH. It’s a spirited gospel adaptation of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio MESSIAH. Handel was such a showman, I think he’d love this reimagining by esteemed conductor Marin Alsop. Below you will

Today’s Beautiful Music is the aria WHEN I AM LAID IN EARTH. It’s from English musician Henry Purcell’s opera DIDO AND AENEAS. This hauntingly lovely performance is by soprano Pumeza Matshikiza with Aarhus Symfoniorkester. (grab a tissue!)      

My offering of Beautiful Music to you today is FANTASTIC. The “Fantastic Style” (stylus fantasticus) was a free form musical style popularized in 17th century Italy. Violinist Ingrid Matthews and harpsichordist Byron Schenkman explored this improvisatory form on their recording,”in Stil Moderno,” including this Sonata Duodecima by Isabella Leonarda. [Technical note: you will have to

I love so much about this …  Jeanine De Bique uses her phenomenal voice and gorgeous sense of phrasing and line to sing a beloved aria by George Frideric Handel, Cleopatra’s aria V’adoro pupille from Handel’s “Giulio Cesare.” She also sings it a capella and with such ease, purity and elegance. Enjoy this Beautiful Music