As we gather with our families and friends to give thanks this November 25th, my mind drifted, relatedly, to St. Catherine of Alexandria, whose feast day coincides this year with our Thanksgiving Day. St. Catherine’s story is literally one of legend. Converted to Christianity at 14, she protested against the persecution of Christians under the … Continue reading Interlude: A Thanksgiving
Category: Renaissance Period
Brunelleschi’s Dome, an at the side of the road interlude
For The Professor: The grand Duomo of Florence, Santa Maria del Fiore, was dedicated by Pope Eugenius IV on March 25, 1436. An architectural marvel, the Duomo is crowned by a great dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, which remains (despite later inteventions by Michelangelo) the enduring symbol of the city, at once instantly recognizable. Brunelleschi's … Continue reading Brunelleschi’s Dome, an at the side of the road interlude
Renaissance Music IX: The End of an Era, Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Part I
We now arrive at the singular musical genius of Claudio Monteverdi. In any list of the most important composers in history, he’s Top 10, easily. As much as I love Tallis and Allegri, neither is on Monteverdi’s level artistically. Unlike Bach, who fully embodied his age with such mastery that (at least for me) his … Continue reading Renaissance Music IX: The End of an Era, Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Part I
Renaissance Music VIII: Pop Stars
In the late Renaissance, music began to change in substance, form and function. The Church, the mighty patron of composers since the beginning of the European musical tradition, was about to take a back seat to secular music, led by a wave of popular songsmiths of the late 16th century. Chief among these new pop … Continue reading Renaissance Music VIII: Pop Stars
Renaissance Music VII: Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)
Right on the heels of Thomas Tallis comes what may be my favorite work of Renaissance music. In the 1630s, Gregorio Allegri produced what for more than a century was considered—widely considered—to be the most beautiful music ever composed. As most of us will recall, chasing after obscure bootlegs even before the CD age, scarceness … Continue reading Renaissance Music VII: Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)
A Gertus History of Music 