Baroque Mini Challenge 
Hey fellow toneBuddies!! 
We will have an insightful live stream roundtable discussion featuring some of the most renowned experts in the Baroque and Renaissance music (learn more about that here: 
). To keep the spirit of these incredible eras alive and flourishing, we thought it would be a fantastic idea to create a mini community challenge for all of you to participate in!
The Challenge:
We invite you to record and upload a video of yourself playing a piece from the Baroque or Renaissance era. We want to see your passion and skill while you bring these timeless compositions to life.
How to participate:
Record a video of yourself performing a Baroque or Renaissance piece.
- Upload your video to your preferred platform (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
- Share the link to your video in the comments section below.
- Feel free to add a brief description of the piece you chose and why you love it.
Interact and engage:
Don't forget to check out the performances of your fellow toneBuddies! Show your support by leaving comments, constructive feedback, and appreciation for their efforts. Let's encourage each other to improve and enjoy the beauty of these historical eras.
Reward:
There's no specific prize for this challenge, but it's an opportunity to showcase your talent, receive feedback, and connect with like-minded music lovers. Who knows? You might even make some new friends along the way!
Need inspiration?
Can't make it to the live stream roundtable discussion that inspired this challenge, don't worry! The stream will be recorded, you can rewatch it at any time!
Ready, set, play!
We can't wait to see your incredible Baroque and Renaissance performances. Let's keep the spirit of these eras alive and thriving in our community!
Happy playing, everyone! 
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I'll happily post a couple pieces of early music.
- Fantasia 61 by Francesco da Milano (1497-1543). I love everything by "Il Divino". His fantasias just seem to me to be the purest examples of music ever written for plucked instruments. I decided to record this one on my guitar and not my lute, only because I feel a lot more confident about my sound and technique on the guitar (plus, I already had it out
). - Prelude to the Suite in D minor by Robert de Visée (1650-1725). Short and technically straightforward, but it's just so beautiful. Despite it's short length, there is a lot going on in there. I think this piece would be a great vehicle to teach students about polyphony and harmonic progressions.
I have attached scores for each if anyone is interested. (The da Milano is a tablature, but the de Visée is in standard notation.)
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Eric Phillips Love it, Eric! Do you enjoy playing music from this era more on your Lute or guitar?
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Barney Yes! (I like both.) I have a Renaissance lute, so I have not played any Baroque music on it (not that I couldn’t). I adore the sound of da Milano on the lute, but when played by true lutenists, unlike myself. I find playing the lute very enjoyable, but listening back on my recordings, I like my sound more on the guitar usually.
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Eric Phillips Those are wonderful Eric! I can imagine Robert de Visee playing for Louis XIV as he drifted off to dreamland.
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Eric Phillips Eric, there is plenty of early baroque music that was written for what we today, misleadingly in my opinion, call the 'renaissance' lute. (What we call the 'baroque' lute did not emerge until the middle of the 17th century, well after the new style was established.) While much of this music was intended for a nine or ten course instrument, a great deal of it can be played on a lute with eight (or even seven) courses. Composers you might want to check out include the Italians Kapsberger, Piccinini and Michelangelo Galilei (brother of the astronomer!). Or Nicolas Vallet, a Frenchman resident in Amsterdam. Here's a beautiful (and challenging) Passacaglia by Piccinini:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ9Ry2LN8oM
https://www.lutemusic.org/sources/Piccinini/v.2_1639/pdf/30_passacaglia.pdf
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Eric Phillips Both very well played, as usual! I find Francesco works very well on the modern guitar - in fact, I'm surprised guitarists so rarely play his music. And I've long admired the little prelude by de Visee; I first heard it on an old Bream recording that my parents happened to have.
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David Krupka Thanks David for the kind comments, and the information those Italian lute composers. I had heard several of their pieces, but I was not aware of what type of lute they wrote for. I guess that's another whole new world for me to explore some day.
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Eric Phillips nice playing! Milano is so great to play, and who doesn’t live de visee. I’d love to work the Dmajor suite back up for theorbo.
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John armato And I’d love to hear you play it, especially on the theorbo!
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Eric Phillips Those are great, Eric. da Milano fantasias are always nice. I am familiar with the de Visee though I can't seem to find from where. I have various collections that include de Visee suites (but not that Prelude). That Prelude is very nice and you played both pieces wonderfully. All the de Visee suites I have are pretty nice.
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Eric Phillips Very Beautiful as always, Eric. I think da Milano is not really baroque, but I appreciate you sharing this . Great music.
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joosje Thank you, Joosje. No, da Milano is not Baroque, but when I read the whole challenge, it included Renaissance, so I went with it.
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Eric Phillips so fresh!
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Eric Phillips that was great Eric, you're so productive! I have to play more of this, I really like da Milano music, thanks for sharing.
- Fantasia 61 by Francesco da Milano (1497-1543). I love everything by "Il Divino". His fantasias just seem to me to be the purest examples of music ever written for plucked instruments. I decided to record this one on my guitar and not my lute, only because I feel a lot more confident about my sound and technique on the guitar (plus, I already had it out
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Can we use period instruments? Lutes, theorbos?
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John armato Lutes, yes; theorbos no - they're too big, and liable to make guitarists feel inadequate ... Just kidding! Of course, period instruments are not only allowed, they're encouraged! (By me, at least.)
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John armato Please do! David Krupka might even pull out a sackbut!
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I am working on some Gaspar Sanz pieces, here’s some YouTube links:
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Vilio Celli Those are really nice, Vilio. The Canaries is coming along very well and the Las
Hachas was very good. Great job.
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Vilio Celli I love your kitchen! so nice!!! Thank you for playing the Sanz, I did never try to play that, but it pleases me. I would try slower
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Jack Stewart thanks jack it helps to memorize the pieces
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Here is my transcription of the Prelude, BWV 1007. Enjoy :)
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bryan. burns2011 That's a beautiful arrangement and performance, Bryan, as is the video. The setting of the prelude in C major gives it a fresh character for those of us used to the 'standard' arrangements in D. I like it a lot! Have you arranged the entire suite? I'd love to hear more! Thanks for sharing.
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bryan. burns2011 That was incredible, Bryan, on so many levels - the transcription, the performance, and the video production were all outstanding!
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Eric Phillips
Many Thanks !! All Best
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
