Melos Choir and Period Instruments

Join us tonight for our Guided Zoom Study - tonight topic is 'Coventry Carol/ Medieval mystery plays' with guest speaker, Bryan Martin, research librarian, U. of T.; member of Sine Nomine Ensemble for Medieval Music You can join us for $10 a session, please email [email protected] to register, and visit www.melos-earlymusic.org for more information. Our final evening of the series will be on December 16th, where we will look at the Messiah by Handel - For unto us.../ No di voi non vuoi fidarmi (Duetto XVI HWV 189) Don't forget to pick up your copy of our CD A Star in the East, you can find it digitally on your preferred platform, or you can purchase a copy at Send in The Clowns, Novel Idea and Old Farm Fine Foods.

Join Melos in a Guided Zoom Study of Early Advent and Christmas Music! November 25th: Puer natus est - Evolution of Notation; chant as a base for polyphony; biciniae, motets, mass settings You can join us for an individual session for $10 - email [email protected] to register.... For more information visit us at www.melos-earlymusic.org

Hunting for the perfect holiday gift? Well look no further! Our CD ‘A Star in the East’ is now available for purchase at Send in The Clowns in downtown Kingston! Support your local community and enrich your holiday season with a copy of this locally recorded CD! This holiday season, shop Downtown Kingston, and support Early Music in South Eastern Ontario!... https://www.kingstongiftstore.ca

Don't forget to register for this intimate look in to early music with our Artistic Director Holly Gwynne-Timothy! If you are unable to make the full 6 week commitment, we have an option to purchase one session for $10. More information by clicking the link below, or visit us at www.melos-earlymusic.org!

Next in our Historical Instrument Minutes - The vielle with Heather Schreiner! https://youtu.be/_GJdC2To4QY Melos instrumentalist Heather Schreiner discusses the "vielle", or medieval fiddle, an ancient bowed stringed instrument appearing in medieval literature and stories. It was extremely popular with troubadours, in royal households, and even in the church. Vielles can be heard in Melos concerts accompanying other musicians. Have a look!... Video Music: Porque ben Santa Maria, Cantiga 327, by Alfonso X El Sabio (1221-1284) Further listening: Ensemble PAN, Danse d’Abroz (vielle and lute): https://www.youtube.com/watch Ensemble PAN, J’ai mon cuer (2 vielles): https://www.youtube.com/watch Medieval dances played on vielle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPKhBkLgFLk Cantiga 100, Santa Maria Strela do Dia (Alfonso X El Sabio, 13 c), on vielle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuHgWntaEEI Jordi Savall playing 3 pieces: (Anon) Lamento; (Anon) Saltarello; (Alfonso el Sabio) Cantiga 353, Quen a omagen da Virgen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YocpO7R8kMo Sources: David Munrow: Instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance Ian Pittaway: https://earlymusicmuse.com/vielle-introduction/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vielle Photo Sources: Art photos: Public Domain from Wikipedia Instrument photos by Heather Schreiner Melos Rehearsal photo by Elizabeth Cohoe

It's time for another Historical Instrument Minute, this time featuring the Harpsichord. Jeff Hamacher presents the harpsichord, a keyboard instrument at the center of music making in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The discussion includes information about its mechanical functioning and sound, particularly in contrast to the piano, as well as its musical role in performances of historical repertoire. Presenter, Video Editor, and Historical Instrument Minutes Series Prod...ucer: Jeff Hamacher Background music: J.S. Bach, Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier No. 21, Prelude and Fugue in Bb Major https://youtu.be/fIYGJ-BpgIU

The next instalment of our Historical Instrument Minutes features the Baroque bassoon with Katie Legere. Check it, and our other videos in the series, by visiting our youtube page. Melos is greatly indebted to series producer Jeff Hamacher for all of his fantastic work on this project. ... https://youtu.be/gm3XvZQZqk4