Next week, we will start more than five months devoted to the twin geniuses of the late Baroque: Handel and Bach. Together (and with a significant assist from Telemann), these two composers wrested the center of musical development away from Italy and planted music's flag stoutly in the German states, where it would remain, more … Continue reading Interlude: At the side of the road with Dietrich Buxtehude
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The Scarlatti Conversations
Scarlatti's keyboard sonatas seem curiously out of time. But did they influence subsequent composers? Although some are quick to dismiss Scarlatti as a historical aberration, the facts are quite to the contrary. A collection of the first 30 sonatas were compiled and published in London as Essercizi per gravicembalo. Handel, who Scarlatti had met when … Continue reading The Scarlatti Conversations
Baroque Music X: Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
What was going on in the world in 1684 that produced a trio of composers the following year unrivaled in music history? The two more celebrated composers are to come, but first up is the curious case of Domenico Scarlatti, favored son of Alessandro Scarlatti who we covered a several weeks ago. From what we … Continue reading Baroque Music X: Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)
Rameau’s Harmony
Rameau’s importance to the development of opera notwithstanding, his claim to fame lies in his music theory. Rameau’s harmonic innovations, and especially his development of a fundamental bass, form the basis of modern theories of tonality. Rameau’s 1722 Treatise on Harmony (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traité_de_l%27harmonie_réduite_à_ses_principes_naturels) more or less governed musical composition until Debussy more or less threw it … Continue reading Rameau’s Harmony
Lists for the New Year
Two quick hits for New Years’ Eve. First, a playlist. Nothing too fancy about this one—just those songs I want to hear tonight. Something old, with a bit of swing and nostalgia. Only one of these songs will feature on this blog properly. But who said music can’t be simple and fun? https://open.spotify.com/playlist/189hm5EStw2kNVYEkuHGQ7 Finally, because … Continue reading Lists for the New Year
A Gertus History of Music 