Learning to Listen, Session 1: Ancient Greece through Renaissance

We managed to cover some 2,000 years of music history in 90 minutes Tuesday night (March 1) at our inaugural Learning to Listen session at Classical MPR.

And it was a blast! We actually did it. In the process, we got to listen to quite a bit of amazing music. I told attendees I'd get a list up of the music we heard, and here it is.

For the time being, the list is without context...particularly for those who either couldn't make it to the session, or perhaps couldn't get in since the class filled so quickly.

I wanted to get the list up as quickly as possible. In the next 1-2 weeks, we'll have a page up at www.ClassicalMPR.org with notes from the first class, some helpful links, and a FULL SCHEDULE for the upcoming Learning to Listen sessions!

Byzantine Chants

Bulgarian Orthodox Ensemble; Vivian Klochkov, director: Jade Records 91001

Tr. 10: Psalm 135, Verse 1 from the 13th Century, Messina

Tr. 11: Psalm 135, Verses 8 & 7 from the 14th Century, Mount Latros

Thomas Tallis: English Anthems

The Tallis Scholars; Peter Philips, director: Gimell 7

Tr. 8: Tunes for Archbishop Parker's Psalter: Why fum'th in fight

Eternal Chant: An Overview of Gregorian Chant, Volume 1

Les Ambroisiniens at the Fontenay Abbey: Atlantic 82703

Gregorian Chant

Choralschola of the Niederaltaich Scholars; Konrad Ruhland, conductor: Sony 53899

Music of the Gothic Era

Early Music Consort of London; David Munrow, director: Archiv 415292

Tr. 2: Perotin: Organum Viderunt omnes (All have seen)

Dreams in the Pleasure Garden: Machaut Chansons

Orlando Consort: Archiv 457618

Tr. 13: Ma fin est ma commencement (My end is my beginning)

Forgotten Provence: Music-making in the South of France, 1150-1550

The Martin Best Consort: Nimbus 5445

Tr. 7: A l'entrada del tens clar: 12th c. dance-song in carole form

Trouveres: Courtly Love Songs from Northern France, c. 1175-1300

Sequentia Ensemble for Medieval Music: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77155

CD 1, Tr. 1: Bethun: Tan tai ame c' or me conveint hair (Chanson)

Ottaviano del Petrucci: Harmonice Musices Odhecaton

Fretwork Consort of Viols: Harmonia Mundi 907294

Tr.17: Josquin des Prez: Adieu mes amours

Une Fete Chez Rabelais: Songs and instrumental works from the first half of the 16th Century

Ensemble Clement Janequin; Dominique Visse, director: Harmonia Mundi 901453

Tr. 1: Loyset Compere: Nous sommes de l'order de Saint Babouyn (We are of the Order of Saint Babouyn)

Best Loved Hymns

Choir of King's College, Cambridge; Stephen Cleobury, conductor: EMI 57026

Tr. 5: Martin Luther: A Mighty Fortress is Our God

The Tallis Scholars: 25th Anniversary

Gimell 454990

CD 2, Tr. 2: In manus tuas (In your hands)

CD 2, Tr. 3: O Nata Lux (O light from light begotten)

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass)

Choir of Westminster Cathedral; David Hill, conductor: Hyperion 66266

Tr. 2: Missa Papae Marcelli: Gloria

Music for Holy Week

Choir of King's College, Cambridge; Philip Ledger, director: EMI 65103

Claudio Monteverdi: Madrigali erotici

The Consort of Musicke; Anthony Rooley, director: L'Oiseau-Lyre 421480

There are many, many more recordings that are helpful to understand that first millennium. Once we have our official Learning to Listen page, those recordings will be included as well. Enjoy!