Our new choirbook stand is a thing of beauty and ingenuity. Put together from components purchased from eBay, an antiques market, Ikea, and the local hardware store, it is now ready to hold music in choirbook format, large enough for the
It’s been whirlwind getting this recording together, from finding the music to booking the recording dates and trying to find time to do that thing – rehearse! – but we did it, and we could not be happier about the
What a thrilling week! Monday, we met at the beautiful Tudor church of St Michael the Archangel in Southampton to rehearse some beautiful new repertoire, which we will be recording at St Michael’s in May this year. This includes a
We would like to invite you to join us this summer in the extraordinary medieval town of Triora, high up in the Ligurian mountains, for a week of convent polyphony. From 7-14 July, we will be singing, eating, and laughing
Before the Christmas season gets underway, we thought we’d round up our autumn news and give you a few reminders about what’s coming up in 2019. September’s big news was the long-awaited release of Women and Music in Sixteenth-Century Ferrara.
We are so sad this evening to hear the news of Tony Newcomb’s passing. His book, The Madrigal at Ferrara, 1579-1597, was our go-to reference for many years and the inspiration for the projects that led to recordings, concerts, and research
Musica Secreta has, over the past few decades, done concerts in England, Ireland, Germany, France, Croatia, in cathedrals, decommissioned churches, hotel restaurants, and once memorably in a tent in a field. But we have never performed in Italy before, so
As usual, it’s all very busy here at Musica Secreta central, what with performances and workshops being planned, oh and books being published… Well, one book in particular, Women and Music in Sixteenth-Century Ferrara, which is finally out and available from Cambridge University
In anticipation of the publication of my (Laurie’s) book in two weeks’ time, I thought I’d share some of the stories I’ve unearthed and insights I’ve had about Ferrara’s singing ladies and their families.
It feels like a lifetime since I began to write this book but it’s only been, what, nineteen years? Oh, and only four hundred years since the last duchess of Ferrara died in 1618. And finally, finally it is done
Give us a hug, then, and welcome back! Well, that didn’t quite go to plan. I notice that it has been almost exactly a year since the last update on the Musica Secreta blog, for which I apologise.
Well, friends, finally I can start making the scores from the recording available as PDFs. It’s not quite as I would want it: despite our best intentions, we are having to operate with human intervention rather than making them downloadable
Finally breaking radio silence after many weeks of boffin activity for me (Laurie) and course activity for Deborah! I certainly didn’t intend to leave off news for such a long time, but so many things converged in the spring and
Just. Blown. Away. by the reaction to the Guardian piece this morning. 1000+ shares already and still climbing! Laurie here – wanting to say to anyone finding us here to ask about articles, scores etc. that it’s all in train.
We are very pleased that this year Triora Musica will again be hosting a week-long course for experienced female singers – high sopranos to low tenors! – looking at convent polyphony from the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, including works
