Re: Early Music Performance
Ian (dorioni@intellinet.com)
Tue, 01 Oct 1996 11:09:48 -0500
MWall30051@aol.com wrote:
>
> I am seeking advise regarding the performance/research of early music.
>
> Some background first: I am involved in with a medieval re-creation group
> (the Society for Creative Anachronism - SCA) and I am considering entering in
> some upcoming competitions they host. I am stuck, though with regards to
> where to begin researching the type of music to perform. Ideally I would
> like to perform something from 13th century Scotland. However, while music
> exists, I am under the impression that very little (if nothing) exists that
> was actully written for the harp.
>
> Furthermore, if I were to "arrange" a piece of music from this period, I am
> also unsure of what type of bass line would be appropriate (e.g. would rolled
> chords and other such flourishes be period in medieval harp music - or would
> a medieval harper more likely perform a simple drone in the bass.)
>
> Any suggestions anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated - also,
> primary sources for research would also be appreciated since I must document
> everything.
>
> Please feel free to email me directly or post to the harp list.
>
> Many thanks in advance - Mary Wallace
Do you have Therese Honey's book The Royale Harpist? I played from it
at an SCA event about six weeks ago, and the listeners were quite
pleased. (I'm not a member but attended as a guest of a member friend
who also plays harp. She creates her own arrangements from listening to
ancient music on CDs. Michael Praetorius is her favorite composer.)
Anyway, Therese includes a very nice bibliography in her book. I got my
copy from Melody Music in Houston. Please reply if you need their
address, phone number, e-mail addr or whatever. Deborah Friou's Ancient
Music is great, too, and she also includes a nice bibliography. I find
Therese and Deborah do some similar things when they arrange, and since
they are both serious students of ancient music I have used these
"tricks" to medievalize even contemporary tunes, like Stairway to
Heaven, for instance. - Pam