PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS:
The late Patric Standford may have written these short pieces deliberately to provoke our feedback. If so, his success is reflected in the rich range of readers' comments appearing at the foot of most of the pages.
WORD SEARCH: Can you solve Allan Rae's classical music word search puzzles? We're currently publishing one per month.
British conductor and musicologist Andrew Parrott was born on 10 March 1947. He is best known for his historically informed performances of pre-classical music with the period instruments ensemble The Taverner Choir, Consort and Players, and for his three books, The Essential Bach Choir (2000), Composers' Intentions? (2015) and The Pursuit of Musick (2023).
He conducted the first performance and recording of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera and has conducted other modern classical music. He was also music director of the London Mozart Players for several years. He has also published articles on Bach, Monteverdi and Purcell, and is co-editor of The New Oxford Book of Carols.
Classical music news. The Pursuit of Musick - Some new publications and other news
Book Review. A Work of Profound Scholarship - Andrew Parrott's 'Composers' Intentions? Lost Traditions of Musical Performance', read by Roderic Dunnett
CD Spotlight. A Strange Choice - Violin concertos by Vivaldi, heard by Howard Smith. '... reliable and persuasive ...'
Ensemble. Infectious Enthusiasm - Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenoble, heard by Robert Hugill