The Renaissance Era

From the 14th to the 17th century, Europe had undergone a change that was culturally prolific as compared to the Middle Ages. The Renaissance era started in Italy and worked its way throughout the rest of Europe. It marked the rebirth of humanism as well as the revival of all forms of art, music and science.

Musicians and artists of the Renaissance period displayed works that expressed more individualism and artistic freedom. Unlike the previous time which was bound to stricter rules.

 In the world of music, new musical ideas, printing techniques and music were more accessible to people as well as it being preserved. While sacred music remained significant, secular music began to grow in popularity and become common. The sounds that were being produced in the Renaissance era were comprised of a smooth, imitative, polyphonic style. The Renaissance Era also saw the growth of instrumental music with the invention of two instruments; the virginal and the clavichord. The lute was also used as a popular instrument among families in the 16th century.

Popular Renaissance era composers include Byrd, Gibbons, Palestrina, Lassus and Gabrieli.

Hildegard von Bingen part 5: The Later Years

In 1171 Hildegard completed her last preaching tour when she was 73 years old and two years later her long-time secretary died. However, she continued to write despite all of her monastery work. Unfortunately, Hildegard was briefly in trouble with her church during her last year for providing a Christian burial for a man who was excommunicated. However, she stated that the man repented on his deathbed and received sacraments. She also protested eloquently when her convent was subject for indictment. This indictment was later revoked. Hildegard von Bingen died on September 17, 1179 at the age of 81.

Support the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra: Sponsor A Chair! :)

I play the Horn in the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We are a small orchestra with professional level musicians; however, we also have a small budget.  As an effort to raise money for the orchestra so everyone in it could get paid, we have decided to give our fans an opportunity to sponsor a chair.  If you are interested in sponsoring a chair, please contact the symphony office at 208-765-3833, email at csosymphony@frontier.net. or donate online at http://cdasymphony.org

Hildegard von Bingen part 4: Preachings and Writings

Hildegard lead a very active life of preaching and writing as well as being a nurse-physician in the infirmary at Mount St. Dusubide. Often prolific in her writing, she would often write about the duty of seeing to it that every person has the opportunity to use the talents that God has given them and to realize their God-given potential. She would also write about social justice and freeing the downtrodden as well as writing several medical texts. She also wrote more than 72 songs, including a morality play set to music. Being one of the largest repertoires of the medieval composers, 80 of Hidegard's works have survived. Among her best known works is the Ordo Virtutum ("Order of the Virtues" or "Play of the Virtues"), a type of early oratorio for women's voices, with one male part, that of the Devil.

Unlike so many women of her time, Hildegard von Bingen was often asked by abbots and abbesses for prayers and opinions on various matters as well as traveling widely during her four preaching tours, the only woman to have done so during the Middle Ages. She also communicated with various Popes which included Anastasius IV and Eugene III as well as various emperors and statesmen. Hildegard traveled and preached throughout southern Germany, Switzerland and even Paris. Deeply moved by her sermons, people asked her to provide written copies of them for their own readings. Her use of metaphor, as well as non verbal means in communication and visual imagery helped reach out to those that were hard of hearing or totally deaf.

Hildegard von Bingen part 3: Hildegard's Visions and Writings

Hidegard was 38 years old when Jutta died, leaving her as head of the convent while living within the cramped walls of the anchorage. She later moved the community to a new monastery on the Rupertsberg at Bingen on the Rhine. Five years after her election as magistra in 1141, Hildegard received a prophetic call from God telling her to write down everything she would  observe in her visions. This vision gave her instant understanding of the meaning of the religious texts.

"And it came to pass ... when I was 42 years and 7 months old, that the heavens were opened and a blinding light of exceptional brilliance flowed through my entire brain. And so it kindled my whole heart and breast like a flame, not burning but warming... and suddenly I understood of the meaning of expositions of the book"

However, feeling of inadequacy overwhelmed her as well:

"But although I heard and saw these things,because of doubt and low opinion of myself and because of diverse sayings of men, I refused for a long time a call to write, not out of stubbornness but out of humility, until weighed down by a scourge of  God, I fell onto a bed of sickness."

Hildegard von Bingen part 2: The Early Years

Hildegard von Bingen was born at Rheinhesse in Germany on September 16, 1098 to Hildebert and Mechthild von Bermersheim. They were a family of nobles in the service of the counts of Sponheim; close relatives of the Hohenstaufen emperors. Hildegard was also the youngest daughter of 10 children and was dedicated to the church at birth.  

She started to see visions of luminous objects at a very early age and continued to have these visions throughout her life; however, she kept those visions to herself with the exception of telling a couple of her instructors. At the age of 8, Hildegard was sent to a monastery in Germany called Disibodenberg to receive religious training from instructors Jutta and Volmar who found out about her visions. Jutta, the sister of Count Meinhard of Sponheim, also served as an anchoress. An anchor or anchoress was a monk or a nun who spent their lives in complete solitude devoting their lives to God through prayer,contemplation, or hand working activities.  Volmar was a St. Disibod monk who acted as prior and father confessor for the nuns

at Disibodenberg.

Artist Title Song Soundtrack Label

Hildegard von Bingen part 1

Throughout the Middle Ages, women had a life that was totally dominated by the male members of the family. They were expected to be very submissive and instantly obey not only their fathers and husbands, but other male members as well. Any kind of "disobedience" was seen as a crime against the church and domestic violence was accepted as a way of beating an  unruly girl into submission. Not only were they expected to be obedient, they were also expected to marry very young and to have large families. The exception of this life was one of a nun; who was given to a church at an early age to devote her life totally to God. One such prolific nun, writer and composer of the Middle Ages was Hildegard von Bingen who, despite the heavy patriarchal times, became very respected and well known by many.

What Influenced Music In The Middle Ages?

In the Middle Ages, the church served as an important patron to the arts and music was an integral part of Christian worship. Daily liturgy provided innumerable texts, all set to music in the style we call Gregorian chant and many composers were associated with the church. By the 12th century, the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris performed what is called organum; which is a polyphonic music that sacred music slowly developed into. Polyphonic music also began around this time with earlier examples through improvisation and singing and is a distinctive feature of Western music. Musical notation also had it's start in the 9th century and only in the cathedrals and monasteries on a regular basis due to the time consuming and and difficult process involved. Because of this,nearly all the music preserved was written for the church until the 12th century. One of the features of Western musical culture was the advent of musical notation which produced a markedly stable body of music.

 Secular music also saw the birth of the polyphonic style in the 14th century as well as the rise of Courtly culture. An elaborate society that centered on the court started with the nobility of southern France. This society became widespread over Europe and music was an important activity among it's people. Compositions of secular works and the performances of these works were done by the aristocracy. Music of the troubadours and trouvères from the 12th century on are surviving examples of this secular music.

Are you looking for a piece of music from the middle ages for a recital or just to work on? Click on the link below to purchase some at a great price!

Machaut: Complete Works in 5 Volumes By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For voice. Choral or Vocal Music. Published by L'Oiseau Lyre (MM.OLCS021) ...more info

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Nine Ballads a 2 - Score By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For 2 recorders; or 2 viola da gambas. Recorder Duets, String Duets. Score. Published by Loux Music Co (MM.LMP0186) ...more info

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La Messe de Nostre Dame By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) and Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). Arranged by Daniel Leech-Wilkinson. For AATT choir, a cappella. Male Voices. Classic Choral Works. Standard Choral Works. Vocal score. 40 pages. Duration 14'. Published by Oxford University Press (OU.9780193373976) ...more info

Contrepoint A 4 By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) and Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For French Horn, 2 Trumpet, Trombone. Standard notation. Published by Gerard Billaudot Editeur (PR.534013250) ...more info

What Does Coeur d' Alene Idaho and Young Artists Have In Common?

Every year in January, young artists from all over the world descend on the small picturesque city of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.  You might ask yourself what these artists are doing in Coeur d' Alene. This North Idaho town holds many treasures and one of it's best kept secrets is the Coeur d' Alene Symphony Orchestra and it's annual Young Artists Competition. This competition encourages young talent and the first place winners have the opportunity to no only win scholarship money, but to perform with the Symphony in their March program. Come hear the Coeur d' Alene Symphony and the winners of this Competition in concert Friday, March 8 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 PM at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Click Here for ticket information!

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Winners of the 2013 Young Artist Competition:

In the High School Division:

Hana Cohon, age 16, Cello, from Seattle, Washington

Felicity James, age 16, Violin, from Seattle, Washington

In the College Division:

Ashley Hoe, age 19, Piano, from Lake Forest, California, a student at USC

Seula Lee, age 21, Violin, from Carrollton, Texas, a student at University of North Texas

Colin McCall, age 22, Marimba, from Rochester, New York, a student at Eastman School of Music

Courtney Ruckman, age 25, Soprano, Mount Vernon, Washington, a student at University of Maryland

The Professional Division:

Catherine Daniel, Mezzo Soprano, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

What Is A Crumhorn?

The Crumhorn is a woodwind instrument that peaked in popularity during the Renaissance and was revised in modern times. It is a double reed instrument that is J shaped with a cylinder bore.

The origin of the Crumhorn dates back to the 1300's to the 1600's in Europe. This said to originate from the bladder pipe and the chanter from bagpipes. King Henry the VIII of England had 25 pieces of the instrument and it could be assumed that they were played in his court.

It is also noted that the Crumhorn in modern times was used by Richard Harvey and Brian Gulland from the rock group named Gryphon.

Jazz Legend Lionel Hampton

One of the best-known jazz musicians the history of music is a vibraphonist, bandleader, percussionist and actor by the name of Lionel Hampton. He was born in 1908 Louisville, Kentucky and was raised by his grandmother. Soon after he was born his mother decided to move both him and herself to her hometown in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1916 his family decided to move to Chicago Illinois.

By the 1920s, Lionel started playing the xylophone and drums and his music career began when he started to play drums for the Chicago Defender Newsboys Band. In 1927, he moved to California and started playing drums for the Dixieland Blues Blowsers. His recording debut was with the Quality Serenaders led by Paul Howard. He later went on to play for Les Hite band at Sebastian's Cotton Club in Culver City.

While he was in Culver City, Lionel began saying the vibraphone and Louis Armstrong asked him to play the vibraphone on two songs. Because of this, the vibraphone became a popular instrument. While he was in the Les Hite band while he was studying music the University of California. Lionel  also worked with the Nat Shilkrer orchestra and in 1936 he was in the film called "Pennies From Heaven" starring Bing Crosby.

It was also in 1936 when Benny Goodman came to watch Lionel  perform. Pleased with his performance, Benny asked Lionel to join his trio which consisted of Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson and of course, Benny himself. Before joining the trio, which became a quartet after, Lionel worked with Billie Holiday along with Benny's orchestra. Because of this there were known as one of the first integrated music groups the performed openly in society.

While playing for Benny Goodman, Lionel also recorded with other groups and in 1940 he left to create his own band; which became popular in the 40s and 50s. One of his popular hits was a rhythm and blues style number called "Flying Home". The song became so popular that another version of the tune was made called "Flying Home, Number Two". Lionel's music was often a mixture of rhythm and blues and jazz and while having his band, he worked with even more jazz greats such is Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Johnny Griffin and Dinah Washington.

In the 1970s, recorded with the Who's Who record label. One could say that his success was due to his college education. Lionel Hampton and his band would regularly perform jazz concerts at the University of Idaho and in 1985, the annual music festival in which Hampton played at took the name The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. In 1987,the music department at University of Idaho decided to name themselves The Lionel Hampton School of Music. Lionel continued to play until he suffered a stroke while he was in Paris in 1991. After his stroke, he didn't perform as much as he used to; but he continued to perform and therefore he did a performance at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2001 shortly before his death.

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The History Of Audio Recording

With the capabilities of technology and the understanding of how sounds are used within a recording studio, you may think that recording music is a recent thing. However, recording audio has a much longer history than you think.

Recording sound started back in 1890s when most of recording was done through acoustic means.  The process included the use of a tape that would allow the audio to be documented on. After the documentation, it would go through a horn which would record the sound frequencies that were being played. Then it would be documented by putting grooves into the recording itself through the waves and how they were translated.

This early recording process included limitations on how the sound was recorded as well as the sound rooms themselves. The recording studios that were more upscale usually consisted of only a soundproof wall so that the sound would not bounce around. Abilities such as  master, edit, or mix was not available at the time. A second popular means of recording is for the person recording to take the records outside of the studio and into the field where the sounds of nature were to be placed into the recording.

Different equipment and options for recording sound started in the 1930s. The use of amplifiers and microphones were added in order to record more certain frequencies. By that time the sounds could be manipulated and changed while recording by use of a mixing board and loudspeakers. As a result more accurate recordings could be done.

These combined methods was a popular way of recording among the studios until the 1970s. Acoustic rooms combined with microphones and were recorded live to the mixing board and straight into the disk or recording tape. Unfortunately this left very little room to record or edit. The majority of the recording was done by complete orchestra's bands are groups that would place everything onto the disc at one time.

During the late 1960s and into the 70s, analog recording moved into the field. This would allow for more complex machinery to be at the forefront of recording. This kind of recording consisted of a magnetic tape that would carry the sound waves and read them back through the recording.  This could then be written over and revised according to what was recorded.

This time period created experimentation with new equipment, sounds and effects that became popular for recording studios as well as allow advancement within recording. Those who were working within the industry found not only new technologies for recording, but also developed sounds that were unique because of the ability to process the mixing and mastering in a different way.

The movement into analog recording changed recording into an electronic and digital set of capabilities as well as industry standards that are now accepted as the normal setting among all recording studios. Due to new technology and experimentation, certain conclusions about what worked better with recording and how production could be effective can be made by those who work in the recording industry.

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Happy 2013 Everyone!!

Well, here we are at the beginning of another year. 2012 brought many challenges to me and my family in so many different ways. Even though there were so many challenges, though some good things that happened too. Not only did we moved out to the Spokane Valley, where I grew up last fall, I also had the wonderful opportunity of returning back to my birthplace; the San Francisco Bay Area California. I looking forward to what 2013 will bring. I have many goals in mind and I'm anticipating many good things.

I hope that 2013 will bring you lots of good things; love, joy, peace and prosperity. Happy new year everybody!! :-)