Full Description
Essays on musical performance practice by an acknowledged expert in the field.
These selected essays by conductor Andrew Parrott reflect the thinking behind some four decades of his ground-breaking performances and recordings. Bringing together seminal writings on the performance expectations of, amongst others, Monteverdi, Purcell and J. S. Bach, this volume also includes the full version of a major new article calling into question the presumed historical place of the 'countertenor' voice. Focusing primarily on vocal and choral matters, the time span is broad (some five centuries) and the essays multifarious (from extensive scholarly articles to radio broadcasts). Authoritative, provocative and readable, Parrott's writing is packed with information of valueto scholars, performers, students and curious listeners alike.
ANDREW PARROTT is the founder and director of the Taverner Consort, Choir and Players. His book The Essential Bach Choir (The Boydell Press, 2000) has been acclaimed as 'a brilliant piece of research' (BBC Radio 3); 'utterly fascinating' (Gramophone); and 'a document which will itself no doubt be a subject of study for years to come' (Times Literary Supplement).
Contents
Composers' Intentions, Performers' Responsibilities
A Brief Anatomy of Choirs
Falsetto Beliefs: The 'countertenor' cross-examined
Falsetto and the French: 'une toute autre marche'
Transposition in Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610: An 'aberration' defended
Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 Revisited
Monteverdi: Onwards and downwards
High Clefs and down-to-earth Transposition: A brief defence of Monteverdi
Performing Purcell
How many singers?
Vocal Ripienists and J. S. Bach's Mass in B minor
Bach's Chorus: The Leipzig line
J. S. Bach's Trauer-Music for Prince Leopold: Clarification and reconstruction
Performing Machaut's Mass on record - Review
'Grett and solompne singing': Instruments in English church music before the Civil War
Monteverdi's L'Orfeo - performance notes
Purcell's Dido & Aeneas on record - Radio Review
'Hail! bright Cecilia' (Purcell at 350) - Radio Essay
