This section of the website contains over 3000 pages, not counting
dynamic lookups. It can therefore be a challenge to organize,
especially since content is not restricted to only those items
which can be easily organized. The main index
attempts to give a quick overview of many important areas of the
site. The present listing will be both more detailed and more
discursive.
Each active page will be indicated in the outline below, although
not always individually when it exists in close parallel with
others.
What is Early Music? - A
fundamental question without a precise answer, discussed in some
detail.
- What is Historically Informed
Performance? - A subsection of "What is Early Music?"
which takes a more philosophical look at some of the underlying
issues.
- It is important to note that the remainder of this site works
to answer this question, as much as anything, by way of numerous
examples in all areas.
Repertory Overviews - In some ways,
this is the heart of the website, as these listings provide an
orientation for the CD data files, which are in turn referenced in
various other discussions.
- Medieval Overview - The
origins of polyphony to the end of the Ars Subtilior and the English
transition.
- Renaissance Overview - The
generation of Dufay & Binchois to the madrigal styles of the
beginning of the 17th century.
- Baroque Overviews List -
An alternate index point to the rather longer Baroque overview and
related surveys
- Baroque Overview - The main
Baroque overview, mostly complete, but representing the edge of
our interests here at the FAQ. The Baroque repertory is of course
much more thoroughly surveyed on record, making writing an overview
a different sort of task than e.g. the medieval overview.
- J.S. Bach - Quasi-Overview -
This section of the main overview has not been completed, and so
this brief & mostly useless page constitutes a place to gather
those Bach CD citations for which we do have details.
- French Baroque Opera Overview
- A discursive survey covering the period 1670-1770.
- Les Indes Galantes - Review
of a performance by Les Arts Florissants in 1993
- Médée - Review of
a performance by Les Arts Florissants in 1994
- French Baroque Harpsichord Overview
- A discursive survey covering the period 1650-1770
- Ancient Music Overview -
A brief discussion of the small number of surviving ancient music
sources and the available recording attempts.
- Recordings Demonstrating Instruments
- Some suggested references for those who want to hear a selection
of instruments used in early music.
- Most Popular CD files - A one-time feature, now retired.
CD Index - The point at which any CD file
can be accessed, without going through the overviews above. This
page also features a powerful search engine, allowing various data
files to be located.
- Recently released CDs - The 12
(or at least one month's worth) most recent "new" items
added to the FAQ database are listed here for the convenience of
regular visitors.
- CD files modified in the past
week - This listing provides a means to assess any changes made
to CD files, as well as to see additions of older material which
are not listed in the previous page. Serious collectors bookmark
this page.
- Index by Record Label - A
listing of record labels, upon which individual links are presented
for each which will give all data files available for that label
as well as a further link to contact information for the label via
the "purchase database."
- Full CD listing - This is a very
long file and is not recommended for downloading.
- [Thousands of individual CD files] - Full content
details are included when possible, as well as links to related
releases, an indication of whether and how the item may be purchased,
as well as a "backwards" link to other references to the
file.
- Notes on CD Search Engine
- A discussion of how the search engine works, something which
frequest users should certainly read.
- Regular expressions - More
details on how the search engine works in "refined" mode
with regular expression matching.
- Random CD page - A silly toy which
allows one to visit one of our CD data files at random. Note that
although we call the collection "CDs" it also contains
many LPs and other media.
Pierre-F. Roberge Memorial
Composer discographies - This is a listing
of those composers for which FAQ authors have prepared specific
comprehensive discographies. Note that in many cases, even if no
such specific page is present, complete or nearly-complete composer
discographies are listed in the relevant CD files as per above.
- Alexander Agricola
(1446-1506) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Alfonso X, El Sabio
(1221-1284) - The driving force behind the compilation of the
massive Cantigas de Santa Maria.
- Anon. - Llibre Vermell de
Montserrat (c.1399) - The popular Spanish medieval pilgrimage
cycle.
- Jacobus Barbireau
(c.1455-1491) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Gilles Binchois (c.1400-1460)
- A preliminary discography of the Burgundian master.
- Antoine Brumel (c.1460-c.1515)
- A preliminary discography of the French master.
- Antoine Busnoys (c.1430-1492)
- A preliminary discography of the Burgundian master.
- Firminus Caron (c.1440-c.1475)
- A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish master.
- Marin Codax (fl.c.1230) -
The Galician "troubadour" who wrote the Cantigas de
Amigo.
- Loyset Compère
(c.1445-1518) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474)
- A very preliminary discography, not organized, but including a
biographical sketch.
- John Dunstaple (c.1390-1453)
- A preliminary discography of the pivotal English composer.
- Guillaume Faugues
(before 1442-after 1471) - A preliminary discography of the
Franco-Flemish master.
- French Secular Music of the
14th Century - A very preliminary listing of works from this
era, with some recordings.
- Walter Frye (fl.c.1450-75)
- A preliminary discography of the Franco-English master.
- Johannes Ghiselin
(fl.c.1503) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Hildegard von Bingen
(1098-1179) - The increasingly popular female medieval mystic.
- Heinrich Isaac (c.1450-1517)
- A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish master.
- Josquin Desprez (c.1455-1521)
- A very preliminary discography, not organized, but including a
biographical sketch.
- Pierre de la Rue (c.1460-1518)
- The widely-acknowledged Habsburg-Burgundian master.
- Francesco Landini
(c.1325-1397) - The famous Florentine Ars Nova composer.
- Guillaume de Machaut
(c.1300-1377) - The most famous composer of the middle ages.
- Compiled discography
page - Made from the individual files, for convenience.
- [Several dozen individual files giving lyrics &
discography for each of Machaut's works]
- Claudio Monteverdi
(1567-1643) - A preliminary listing of LP recordings devoted to
this landmark figure in Western music.
- Jacob Obrecht (1457/8-1505)
- The Dutch master of large-scale mass architecture.
- Johannes Ockeghem
(c.1420-1497) - The composer of some of the most innovative and
imposing contrapuntal works of the era.
- Marbrianus de Orto
(c.1460-1529) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Perotin (fl.c.1200) - A
preliminary discography of the master of the Notre Dame school.
- Matthaeus Pipelare
(c.1450-c.1515) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Johannes Regis (c.1425-1496)
- A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish master.
- Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585)
- A very partial discography of the popular composer of Tudor
England.
- Johannes Tinctoris
(c.1435-1511) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Gaspar Weerbeke
(c.1445-c.1516) - A preliminary discography of the Franco-Flemish
master.
- Troubadours and Jongleurs
- A chart of surviving repertory and index to an in-progress
discography of the songs of each troubadour.
- Bertran de Born
(fl.1159-1195) - A major troubadour discography.
- Gaucelm Faidit
(fl.1185-1220) - The first to be done, a relatively complete
discography of a major troubadour.
- Guillaume de
Poitiers, Duke of Aquitaine (1071 - 1126) - A discography of
famous Duke & Count of Poitiers, often called the first of the
troubadours.
- Folquet de Marseille
(fl.1180-1231) - Another major troubadour discography.
- Jaufre Rudel
(fl.1125-d.1148) - Another major troubadour discography.
- Peire Vidal
(fl.1183-1204) - Another major troubadour discography.
- Bernart de
Ventadorn (fl.1147-1170) - A discography for this troubadour,
sometimes called the greatest of them all.
- [Several other listings for troubadours who left fewer
works.]
- Other Recordings
- A very incomplete listing of some troubadour recordings not
presently compiled elsewhere, awaiting further work.
- Minnesang - A discography
project just underway.
- Other very incomplete discography pages usually listing mostly
older media, in preparation for more thorough work in coming months
or years:
Performer discographies - This is
a listing of those performers for which FAQ authors have prepared
specific comprehensive discographies, or for which the performers
have sent in other significant information. Note that in many
cases, even if no such specific page is present, complete or
nearly-complete performer discographies are listed in the relevant
CD files as per above.
- Alla Francesca (f.1989) - The
French medieval music ensemble.
- Beauty Farm (f.2014)
- The latest Mauerbach ensemble specializing in Franco-Flemish
masses.
- Martin Best - The English
pioneer of troubadour recordings.
- Thomas Binkley (1932-1995)
- The famous & important medieval & sometimes Renaissance
music director, founder of Studio der Frühe Musik.
- Safford Cape (1906-1973) -
The legendary Early Music pioneer, and founder of Pro Musica Antiqua
Ensemble of Brussells.
- Capilla Flamenca - The
Belgian instrumental & vocal consort, specializing in music
of the Low Countries from the Golden Age.
- René Clemencic
(b.1928) - A very preliminary discography of this important medieval
music pioneer who has remained an active recording artist.
- Clerks' Group (f.1992) -
The English choral ensemble specializing in Franco-Flemish polyphony,
directed by Edward Wickham.
- Joel Cohen (b.1942) - A
discography of the lutenist and director of the Boston Camerata.
- Consort of Musicke (f.1972)
- The English song & madrigal ensemble, directed by Anthony
Rooley and featuring Emma Kirkby.
- Hugues Cuénod
(b.1902) - A discography of the prolific and long-lived tenor.
- Alfred Deller (1912-1979)
- The pioneering countertenor and director of the Deller Consort
- Diabolus in Musica -
The French medieval ensemble, directed by Antoine Guerber.
- Ensemble Anonymus (f.1978)
- The French-Canadian early music ensemble, directed by Claude
Bernatchez.
- Ensemble Gilles Binchois
(f.1979) - The distinguished French medieval & sometimes
Renaissance music ensemble, directed by Dominique Vellard.
- Ensemble Claude-Gervaise
- The French-Canadian early music ensemble, directed by Gilles
Plante.
- Ensemble Organum (f.1982)
- The innovative French plainchant & organum specialists,
directed by Marcel Pérès.
- Ensemble Tre Fontane
(f.1985) - The French medieval music ensemble.
- Ferrara Ensemble (f.1983)
- The international late medieval ensemble.
- Gothic Voices (f.1980) -
The English vocally-oriented medieval music ensemble, directed by
Christopher Page.
- Hilliard Ensemble
(f.c.1977) - The world-famous all-male English choral ensemble,
specializing in early & modern works.
- Huelgas Ensemble (f.1971)
- The European medieval & Renaissance vocal & instrumental
ensemble, directed by Paul Van Nevel.
- Maria Cristina Kiehr - A
very incomplete discography of this famous soprano, not presently
being maintained.
- London Early Music Group -
One successor to Munrow in the 70s, directed by James Tyler.
- I Madrigalisti di Genova -
Italian early music ensemble from the 70s.
- Medieval Ensemble of London
- A discography of this short-lived, but significant medieval music
ensemble from the early 80s.
- Les Menestrels (f.1963)
- The long-lived Austrian early music ensemble.
- Les Menestriers
(1970-1980) - The French popular-medieval fusion group.
- David Munrow (1942-1976)
- The popular recorder player and founder of the Early Music Consort
of London.
- Musica Antiqua Köln
(f.c.1975) - The German Baroque music ensemble, directed by Reinhard
Goebel.
- Musica Reservata - The
English from the 60s and 70s, directed by Michael Morrow and John
Beckett.
- Les Musiciens de Provence
(c.1973-c.1984) - The lively early music ensemble from Provence.
- New York Pro Musica (f.1952)
- The pioneering American early music ensemble, founded by Noah
Greenberg.
- Russell Oberlin (b.1928)
- The pioneering early countertenor and sometime member of NYPM.
- Orlando Consort (f.1988)
- The four-man English vocal ensemble.
- Ensemble Perceval - The
French troubadour and chanson ensemble, directed by Guy Robert and
Katia Caré, plus a supplementary discography of Guy Robert
as a lutenist.
- Purcell Consort of Voices -
The English vocal ensemble from the 60s and 70s, directed by Grayston
Burgess.
- Red Byrd - This page was
constructed from information as sent by John Potter.
- Scott Ross (1951-1989) -
The famous Baroque keyboardist.
- Konrad Ruhland - An
incomplete, yet extensive, listing of recordings directed by this
medieval and Renaissance pioneer.
- St. George's Canzona - The
English traditional ensemble from the 1970s, directed by John
Sothcott.
- René Saorgin
(b.1928) - The French organist.
- Jordi Savall (b.1941) -
The Catalunian viol player, and founder of important early music
ensembles Hespèrion XX, La Capella Reial de Catalunya &
Le Concert des Nations.
- Schola Discantus (f.1992)
- The American choir devoted to Franco-Flemish polyphony, directed
by Kevin Moll.
- Schola Hungarica - The
Hungarian chant specialists, directed by Laszlo Dobszay and Janka
Szendrei.
- Sequentia (f.1977) -
The ground-breaking American medieval music evangelist ensemble,
founded by Benjamin Bagby and the late Barbara Thornton.
- The Sound and the Fury - The
Austrian ensemble specializing in Franco-Flemish masses.
- Stile Antico - The
young British singers.
- Stevie Wishart - The
Australian medieval fiddle player and vocalist, director of
Sinfonye.
- Other items:
Concert Listings - We host some
pages sent by some concert organizations or individuals, and are
happy to host others.
Chord structure in medieval
music - An introductory discussion of the basic philosophy
behind the way medieval composers & theorists viewed chords
and vertical relations.
- Thirteenth-Century Polyphony - A
Quick Guide to Combinations and Cadences - A fairly lengthy
& technical discussion of the way 13th century polyphony cadences
for different numbers of voices.
- [The five remaining parts of this document] - These
are indexed and cross-referenced.
- Pythagorean Tuning and Medieval
Polyphony - A lengthy technical discussion of Pythagorean
tuning, how it was used, and what some of its implications may be.
- Hexachords, solmization, and musica
ficta - A lengthy technical discussion of hexachords, how they
were used in the medieval era, and how they affect such performance
decisions as unwritten accidentals.
- Foreword: Why learn hexachords?
- The foreword for this project, written in an effort to frame the
relevance of the main sections of the document.
- [The five major parts of this document] - These are
indexed and cross-referenced.
- Landini cadence - An
explanation of this theory term.
- Triads - A discussion of the
music theory term "triad" and how it might or might not
apply to medieval and/or Renaissance music.
- The Tritone - A discussion
of how this much-misunderstood interval was used in the medieval
era.
Diverse topical questions -
These are only some of many discussions which can be included here,
and the list will slowly grow.
Mirrors - Copies of other sites hosted here as a service
to their owners and to our readers.
Recording information -
This page primarily indexes some links and items previously described,
in addition to the following other resources.
Early Music newsgroup &
mailing list - A description and instructions for using our
associated discussion forum.
Early Music FAQ - The index to this subsection
of the www.medieval.org website.
- Link Index - A convenient entry
point to our more than 2000 links to other web sites.
- New at the FAQ - A listing of some
recently added pages.
- Mission Statement - This page
describes some of our goals and philosophies, as well as solicits
more volunteers.
- Author & Contact Information -
A listing of email addresses for various FAQ authors. Please refer
to this page if you want to contact anyone who volunteers with
us.
- Copyright - A statement that these web
pages are protected by copyright law.
For those pages containing our extensive compilation of links
to other web sites, please see the Link
Index whose contents have not been duplicated here.
The present listing gives only those pages containing local
content.