Lyrichord Early & Classical Music Podcast

Show number 21 of the Lyrichord Early and Classical Show Podcast features a new engaging interview with guitarist and lutenist Jerry Willard and guest host Mark Greenberg - musician, writer, and proprietor of Upstreet Productions, specializing in traditional folk music and oral history. Willard's newest recording on the Lyrichord Early Music Series, "Jerry Willard's Night at the Opera" is the star of this edition. The album features rare arrangements of movements from the operas by...

This episode of the Lyrichord Early and Classical Show podcast features an interview with Johannes Somary, world renowned conductor now in his forty-fifth year as Music Director and Founder of the AmorArtis Orchestra and Chorus, and the Fairfield County Chorale. He is joined for this program by his colleague John Ostendorf; the much heralded American bass-baritone who changed careers to become a successful classical record producer. Maestro Somary's discography claims over fifty...

This episode of the Lyrichord Early and Classical Show podcast features guitarist and lutenist Jerry Willard in an interview by Mark Greenberg - musician, writer, and proprietor of Upstreet Productions, specializing in traditional folk music and oral history. Mark and Jerry discuss Willard's recording of his own guitar transcriptions of works by George Gershwin, and play tracks from Willard's Lyrichord release "That Certain Feeling". Jerry talks about his musical background growing up on a...

The fourth and final chapter of our exploration of the music of JS Bach on Lyrichord, begins with "Two Part Inventions" performed by Richard Troeger on the clavichord, and then moves to a stunning "revival era" harpsichord performance of the Chromatic Fantasy by the great Fernando Valenti, on an historic Lyrichord reissue. The mechanics of both the clavichord, and the differences between revival and historically informed are reexamined and discussed. Then, its back to the clavichord for...

Show 12 of the Lyrichord Early and Classical Show Podcast, kicks off a three part series focusing on Baroque music. Nick and Jeffrey first touch on the history and significance of the baroque eras in both music and art, and the explosion of experimentation and exuberant expression that came to characterize this new music in the 17th century. Jeffrey tells stories about his own history of Baroque performance and talks about the new understanding and appreciation of this musical period in...

This show features more gut-strung dual lautenwercke playing by Shawn Leopard and John Paul from their recording of JS BACH Trio Sonatas on Lautenwercke, and discussion and examples of Richard Troeger's highly praised ongoing series "JS Bach on Clavichord". In-depth discussion of the mechanics of the clavichord's action and the instrument's place in the history of music are discussed.

"Hammered and Plucked" continues on show nine of the Lyrichord Early and Classical podcast about the history of the keyboard. Nick and Jeffrey discuss the development of the plucked keyboard instruments into the Baroque era. Examples from John Paul's set of works by French baroque/gallant composer, Jacques Duphly, performances of Scarlatti by Elaine Thornburgh and Elaine Comparone, and JS Bach performed on the gut-strung Lautenwerk, are highlights of this episode.

On this episode of the Lyrichord Early and Classical Show podcast - Nick and Jeffrey discuss the origins and performance practice of the wooden baroque flute, and how it differs from the recorder and from the modern silver flute. Georg Philipp Telemann is the composer of all the works played on this program, featuring the various Lyrichord recordings of baroque flutist Tom Moore and his colleagues.

The next episode of the Lyrichord Early and Classical Show podcast pays tribute to the career of the late Joseph Iadone, lutenist and pioneering figure in the American early music revival. An original member of the New York Promusica, and protege of composer Paul Hindemith, Iadone was also accepted into Yale, prior to finishing high school! Various aspects of Iadone's rich life in life in music are discussed, along with examples of performances on the Lyrichord Early Music Series.

In part three of "The Countertenors", Jeffrey Dooley provides back-story about making the landmark Nonesuch recording "Purcell Airs and Duets", Nick and Jeffrey then dig back to the 14th Century to play an example of the countertenor voice in ensemble renaissance polyphony by Kevin Moll's group Schola Discantus, and then move to the realm of fantasy with Dooley's historically anomalous excursion into Stephen Foster's music, performed by countertenor with baroque ensemble.

In this episode of the Lyrichord Early and Classical Show podcast, Nick Fritsch and Jeffrey Dooley continue their exploration of the countertenor voice, this time concentrating on duets between countertenors and sopranos in both renaissance and baroque music. Duets featuring countertenor Marshall Coid and soprano Jullianne Baird and Jeffrey Dooley's own duets with tenor Howard Crook, are featured and Jeffrey discusses the development of the careers of countertenor Alfred Deller, James...

"The Countertenors" Part 1, is the first program of the series. Lyrichord president and program host Nick Fritsch introduces co-host countertenor Jeffrey Dooley and they discuss the history of the countertenor voice and its resurgence in the 20th century. Examples of early music recordings by American countertenor Russell Oberlin are discussed and played, along with selections from Drew Minter and Larry Lipnik.