Early Music
Magistra Anne came and presented at Bardic last night. I had her her "square notation and modal music" presentation once before, as an SCA day in December 2002. It was an incredibly well researched and presented lesson then, but I stopped paying attention half-way through because it was information overload.
Tonight was so much better. First, I had heard it before and had even glanced at my notes once or twice in the last year and a bit. Repetition is good and I found myself both remembering things from before and having "a-ha" moments where things clicked and became more clear.
Secondly, she realized that her research is information overload to people who have never studied early music before and is now separating it into two separate presentations. Tonight, she just spoke about square notation.
It was really cool because she brought in her song book. She sings in a choir that does early music using songbooks that use square notation. It encouraged me that she had transposed the sqaure notation to solfage in her book. (i.e. if Anne had to cheat and do this because she finds it hard to sight read, or just read, square notation, then I'm not stupid for having such a hard time with it.) She does have a second copy of the same songbook that she has not marked up, as she is trying to work her way out of using the solfage crutch.
It was encouraging and dazzling. Anne always re-energizes me as a bard.
And next month, she is coming back to speak about modal music!!
Tonight was so much better. First, I had heard it before and had even glanced at my notes once or twice in the last year and a bit. Repetition is good and I found myself both remembering things from before and having "a-ha" moments where things clicked and became more clear.
Secondly, she realized that her research is information overload to people who have never studied early music before and is now separating it into two separate presentations. Tonight, she just spoke about square notation.
It was really cool because she brought in her song book. She sings in a choir that does early music using songbooks that use square notation. It encouraged me that she had transposed the sqaure notation to solfage in her book. (i.e. if Anne had to cheat and do this because she finds it hard to sight read, or just read, square notation, then I'm not stupid for having such a hard time with it.) She does have a second copy of the same songbook that she has not marked up, as she is trying to work her way out of using the solfage crutch.
It was encouraging and dazzling. Anne always re-energizes me as a bard.
And next month, she is coming back to speak about modal music!!