APRIL 2021

COMING EVENTS

MPRO’s next online rehearsal using Zoom will be held on Wednesday, April 14. See Fred Palmer’s column in this issue for detailed information.

The American Recorder Society's events calendar includes a free virtual concert on April 17 by Clea Galhano and the baroque trio Flying Forms, and two different online classes by Clea on April 18. See the calendar at: https://americanrecorder.org.

The San Francisco Recorder Society's workshop with Rotem Gilbert and Hanneke van Proosdij on April 25 is titled "Confluences" and is open to players of recorders and other instruments. There will be breakout sessions with one of the instructors followed by a "tutti” session. For more information, see: The San Francisco Recorder Society (SFRS).

Frances Feldon is conducting virtual classes during the month of April. For information see the East Bay Recorder Society's April newsletter at: Welcome to our playing schedule for April.

The San Francisco Early Music Society plans to announce its next round of online classes soon. See the Concerts and Workshops/Classes links at the top of the main sfems.org web page for more information.

CONDUCTOR’S CORNER

Dear members of the Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra,

        Ray White and I will be co-hosting a virtual MPRO meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, April 14, at 7:30 P.M.  Those attending will be admitted to the meeting starting at 7:15 P.M.  We will be working on the following music:

Quagliati:   Canzon 17

Mendelssohn:  O Rest in the Lord

Praetorius:  Passameze

Praetorius: il Gaillarde

Purcell:  Chaconne

 I have sent PDF files of this music to all MPRO members.  Please remember that I will be conducting each of the selections scheduled.  This means that the music will not appear on the screen, and those attending will need to read from hard copies they have downloaded when playing along with the sound files.  I will also be including instructions on how to log into and participate in a Zoom meeting that the orchestra’s Assistant Director, Greta Haug-Hryciw, has generated for those taking part in the virtual meetings that she directs.  Finally, Ray White will be sending out invitations to all MPRO members with a link to the virtual Zoom meeting and other information.  Please contact him at <rayhwhite@yahoo.com> if you do not receive an invitation.

Again, best wishes, stay healthy and I look forward to seeing those that will be attending the meeting on April 14.  

 Sincerely,

Fred Palmer

LATEST NEWS FROM AEROSOL STUDY

The following is a link to the current recommendations of the International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study, in response to revised Centers for Disease Control direction on social distancing. This summary notes that the CDC recommendations are only for seated classroom situations, and that because of the rapid spread of coronavirus variants, "health officials do not recommend a change in physical distancing for activities that have increased exhalation." See: International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study.

RECORDINGS OF MPRO’S “NEW” MUSIC

The following are links to recordings of the sheet music most recently emailed to MPRO members:

Quagliatti, Canzon 17, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmPa1Z_9B54

Mendelssohn. O Rest in the Lord, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVTqrOApdA8 (This piece is from the oratorio Elijah and most YouTube recordings emphasize the vocal part. The link is to an orchestral only version with the score.)

Praetorius, Passameze and Galliard, Michael Praetorius - Passameze and Galliarde - "Terpsichore" - Music of the Baroque Brass Ensemble

Purcell, Chaconne, Henry Purcell -- Chaconne in G minor.

DOES PRACTICE AFFECT MUSICAL ABILITY?

One scientific study compared pairs of identical twins, one of whom had spent much more time practicing music than the other. The musical skills measured included ability to detect differences in pitch, distinguish different melodies, and recognize different rhythms. The study concluded that there was no relationship between the amount of practice and these measures of musical ability, and that genetics, and perhaps other factors, played a larger role than practice. See: Is Musical Talent Rooted in Genes?

BACH'S LAUTENWERCK

One of several "lost'' early music instruments that have been reconstructed by modern builders is the lautenwerck, also called "lute-harpsichord." It differs from the "regular" variety in having mostly gut rather than metal strings, which gives it a different tone. The inventory of J.S. Bach's estate shows that he owned two of these instruments, and he is known to have composed music for them. A performance of Bach's Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro in E-flat on a lautenwerck begins at 7:39 minutes in this video: https://youtu.be/ZDJfmUZPX_A.

The Board: President: Judith Unsicker; Treasurers: Chantal Moser and Mary Ashley; Recording Secretary: vacant; Membership: Chris Flake and Tom Granvold; Publicity: vacant; Graphics: Mary Ashley; Newsletter Editor: vacant; Workshop Coordinator: vacant; Hospitality: vacant; Music Sales: Laura Gonsalves; Historian: vacant; Webmaster: Dan Chernikoff;  Music Director: Fred Palmer.  MPRO website: http://www.mpro-online.org      

Past Months' Issues: http://www.mpro-online.org/MPROArchives.htm