Subscription Rates

• UK : £22.50
• Europe : £27.50
• Rest of the world : £40.00 (air), £27.50 (surface)

Foreign rates are £5 cheaper without the Diary.

Publication details and subscription options are here.

The Early Music Company Ltd.

Early Music Review

New books and music.

CD & DVD reviews.

International events diary

New publication news.

Early Music Review is normally published six times a year.

In 2009 there will be only five issues: February, May, August and November, with
a special issue in December devoted to 2010's anniversary work,
Monteverdi's Vespers (contributions welcome)

The International Concert Diary appears every month except January.

We welcome inclusion of concerts, courses etc. for our diary. There is no charge, but we hope regular contributors to it will subscribe.

You can now email diary entries to Helen.Shabetai@ntlworld.com

Issue 133 - December 2009

• Editorial

Monteverdi Vespers

• Programme Notes
• Notes to Performers
• Editing
• Memories of the Vespers (Simon Carrington)
• Liturgical Background

Other Regular Items

• London Concerts (Andrew Benson-Wilson)
• Music - Salve Regina a2 (Monteverdi)
• Greenwich Concerts (Peter Grahame Woolf)
• New Editions and Books (CB)
• Musicological Journals (Barbara Sachs & CB)
• CD reviews
• Elgar's Dream
• Mary Yates
• Cartoon collection
• Epiphany fare (Jennie Cassidy)
• International concert and event diary.

Editorial

I first encountered Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers fifty years ago in a broadcast from York Minster conducted by Walter Goehr. My fust score was edited by him and published by Universal Edition, presented in a style proclaiming its association with the Second Viennese School . I collected a variety of scores, until I finally produced one of my own...The 'work ' (if that is an appropriate term) has run through my life all this time. I heard significant performances, such as Denis Stevens' of his new edition in Westminster Abbey in 1961 and Andrew Parrott's Prom in 1977. I first played it for Louis Halsey in the mid 1970s, and must have been organist for more than a dozen performances or workshops (at least half of them directed by Philip Thorby - exciting, because every one is so different). I've not tired of it yet, though I find many recordings exasperating rather than stimulating.

A review of a Vespers recording in the current BBC Music Magazine categorises recordings as stylistically before- or after-Parrot. I'm proud to have had a little involvement in that revolution, including being (with the lute-maker Michael Lowe) the first to sing a bottom D in 'Esurientes' since the early 17th century.

Most of what I have written here derives from what I have assimilated over the last half-century , with ideas weighed in the balance of performance and discussion rather than listed on paper with footnotes. I owe much to Andrew Parrott, Hugh Keyte, Philip Thorby and Roger Bowers. There are other views, and there are plenty of 'pre- Parrott' performances still taking place. I believe strongly that every singer should have a chance to enjoy the Vespers from the inside, and that involves making compromises - but they are more likely to work if made from knowledge rather.than ignorance.

CB

Publication Details & Subscriptions

EMR appears six times a year (February, April, June, August, October, December). These months will include a concert diary, which will be published independently in the other six months of the year (except January).

UK subscribers receive the diary as part of their subscription. Foreign subscribers are charged on the assumption that they do not receive the diary, but there is an option to receive it if you pay more to cover the postage.

The EMR diary includes

1. Free basic listings - this will be a short listing without details of soloists/programmes/ticket prices etc
2. Paid entries, giving much fuller information including programme, ticket prices etc. These cost £12
3. Display advertisements, with rates dependent on the amount of setting involved, but approximately: Full page £100, 1/2 page £50, 1/4 page £25.

All listings and advertisements are handled by Helen Shabetai, who can be contacted on phone 01707 889893, fax 01707 322743, by email to Helen.Shabetai@ntlworld.com or by post: 118 Handside Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6SZ. Cheques for listings and advertisements should payable to 'The Early Music Company Ltd.' and sent to Helen. Listings should ideally be sent by email to ensure we include all the information accurately! The listings will be circulated by the first of each month (blizzards and postal strikes permitting), and all information and advertising should be with Helen by the 7th of the month preceding publication.

If you wish to take out a regular display advertisement, please speak to Helen about discounted rates. We are particularly interested to receive news from groups who will be touring not only round Britain but also abroad. Many of our readers are based abroad and tell us how useful it is to know what is going on here, and publishing details of your foreign tours informs your followers back at home about the breadth of your work as well as advertises the concerts to local readers.

If you have not previously advertised in Early Music Review please ask Helen to send you a complimentary copy of the magazine. We hope our regular advertisers will also become subscribers.

We will continue to insert leaflets: rates by negotiation, but roughly £50 for a single A5 or A4 sheet.