October 29, 2018.John Dunstaple.Vincenzo Bellini was born this week, on November 3rd of 1801 (here’s the final scene from La Pirata, with Maria Callas and the Philharmonia orchestra conducted by Nicola Rescigno).Also, two wonderful conductors: Eugen Jochum, on November 1st of 1902, and Giuseppe Sinopoli, on November 2nd of 1946.Jochum, one of the most interesting interpreters of the music of Bruckner, was a long-time conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic, which he directed during the Nazi era (Jochum never joined the Nazi party or any other Nazi organizations).After the war he became the founding music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.He also had long-term relationships with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and other major orchestras.Here’s the first movement of Bruckner’s Symphony no. 6.Jochum conducts “his” Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The Italian conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli was only 54 when he died of a heart attack while conducting Aida at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin.He was best known as anopera conductor, having worked at the Bayreuth, the Metropolitan opera and most opera houses if Europe.He led the Staatskapelle Dresden for almost 10 years.Like Johum, Sinopoli made several interesting recordings of Bruckner; he was also an insightful Mahlerian.Here Sinopoli is conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in Robert Schumann’s Manfred Overture, Op. 115.
We find John Dunstaple’s music irresistible.Duntsaple was born around 1390, about the same time as the famous Burgundian, Guillaume Dufay.In England, Dunstaple was followed by Robert Morton (born around 1430), Walter Lambe (1453), John Taverner (1490), Thomas Tallis (1505), William Byrd (1540), John Dowland, John Bull (both born in 1563), and Orlando Gibbons (1583).These are just the more famous names; the tradition of the Early English Renaissance is quite remarkable.Dunstaple served in the court of John of Lancaster, a son of king Henry IV and a brother of Henry V.John led the British forces in many battles of the Hundred Year War with France (he was the one to capture Joan of Arc).It’s likely that for several years Dunstaple stayed in Normandy, where John was the Governor.From there his music spread over the continent.Considering that a major war was raging in France, that is quite remarkable.Dunstaple’s influence was very significant, especially affecting musicians of the highly developed Burgundian school; the reason was both musical and political, as Burgundy was allied with England in its war against France.The poet Martin Le Franc, a contemporary of Dunstaple, came up with the term La Contenance Angloise, which could be loosely translated as “English manner” and said that it affected the two greatest composers of Burgundy, Guillaume Dufay and Gilles Binchois.Dunstaple probably returned to England after John’s death in 1435; he served in the court of Humphrey of Lancaster, John’s brother.In addition to writing music Dunstaple studied mathematics, astronomy and astrology.He died in 1453.When, during the reign of Henry VIII England became Protestant, many monasteries – the main keepers of musical tradition – were "dissolved" and their libraries ruined.Most of the English manuscripts of Dunstaple’s music were lost.Fortunately, many copies remained in Italy and Germany – evidence of Dunstaple’s international fame.About 50 compositions are currently attributed to him (these attributions are sometimes challenged).Among these are two masses, a number of sections from different masses, and many motets.Here’s Dunstaple’s Quam pulchra es.It’s performed by the Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier conducting.
Dunstaple and more
October 29, 2018. John Dunstaple. Vincenzo Bellini was born this week, on November 3rd of 1801 (here’s the final scene from La Pirata, with Maria Callas and the Philharmonia orchestra
conducted by Nicola Rescigno). Also, two wonderful conductors: Eugen Jochum, on November 1st of 1902, and Giuseppe Sinopoli, on November 2nd of 1946. Jochum, one of the most interesting interpreters of the music of Bruckner, was a long-time conductor of the Hamburg Philharmonic, which he directed during the Nazi era (Jochum never joined the Nazi party or any other Nazi organizations). After the war he became the founding music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He also had long-term relationships with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and other major orchestras. Here’s the first movement of Bruckner’s Symphony no. 6. Jochum conducts “his” Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The Italian conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli was only 54 when he died of a heart attack while conducting Aida at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin. He was best known as an opera conductor, having worked at the Bayreuth, the Metropolitan opera and most opera houses if Europe. He led the Staatskapelle Dresden for almost 10 years. Like Johum, Sinopoli made several interesting recordings of Bruckner; he was also an insightful Mahlerian. Here Sinopoli is conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in Robert Schumann’s Manfred Overture, Op. 115.
We find John Dunstaple’s music irresistible. Duntsaple was born around 1390, about the same time as the famous Burgundian, Guillaume Dufay. In England, Dunstaple was followed by Robert Morton (born around 1430), Walter Lambe (1453), John Taverner (1490), Thomas Tallis (1505), William Byrd (1540), John Dowland, John Bull (both born in 1563), and Orlando Gibbons (1583). These are just the more famous names; the tradition of the Early English Renaissance is quite remarkable. Dunstaple served in the court of John of Lancaster, a son of king Henry IV and a brother of Henry V. John led the British forces in many battles of the Hundred Year War with France (he was the one to capture Joan of Arc). It’s likely that for several years Dunstaple stayed in Normandy, where John was the Governor. From there his music spread over the continent. Considering that a major war was raging in France, that is quite remarkable. Dunstaple’s influence was very significant, especially affecting musicians of the highly developed Burgundian school; the reason was both musical and political, as Burgundy was allied with England in its war against France. The poet Martin Le Franc, a contemporary of Dunstaple, came up with the term La Contenance Angloise, which could be loosely translated as “English manner” and said that it affected the two greatest composers of Burgundy, Guillaume Dufay and Gilles Binchois. Dunstaple probably returned to England after John’s death in 1435; he served in the court of Humphrey of Lancaster, John’s brother. In addition to writing music Dunstaple studied mathematics, astronomy and astrology. He died in 1453. When, during the reign of Henry VIII England became Protestant, many monasteries – the main keepers of musical tradition – were "dissolved" and their libraries ruined. Most of the English manuscripts of Dunstaple’s music were lost. Fortunately, many copies remained in Italy and Germany – evidence of Dunstaple’s international fame. About 50 compositions are currently attributed to him (these attributions are sometimes challenged). Among these are two masses, a number of sections from different masses, and many motets. Here’s Dunstaple’s Quam pulchra es. It’s performed by the Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier conducting.