EMS "Tielman Susato: composer, caligrapher, printer, pioneer" 16/3/2025

[AuntDaisy]

Another interesting looking Early Music Show "Tielman Susato: composer, caligrapher, printer, pioneer", 5pm 16th March 2025.

Tielman Susato: composer, caligrapher, printer, pioneer
The Early Music Show

Hannah French delves into the life and music of the Flemish composer and publisher Tielman Susato who was active in Antwerp in the mid 16th Century. Susato initially worked as a calligrapher, but was also employed as a trumpter, flautist and piper, and in 1543, he founded the first music publishing house using movable music type in the Low Countries. His shop could be found in Antwerp, "At the Sign of the Crumhorn".

Susato was also an accomplished composer. He published several books of his own masses and motets as well as a vast array of instrumental music, especially dances, which remain popular to this day.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028t44

[smittims]

Many older listeners will have encountered Susato in David Munrow's classic HMV LP 'Two Renaissance Dance Bands'.

[AuntDaisy]

Many older listeners will have encountered Susato in David Munrow's classic HMV LP 'Two Renaissance Dance Bands'.

Also on CD with Monteverdi's Contemparies...

[AuntDaisy]

Tielman Susato starts in 10 mins... Present crumhorns!

[MickyD]

There was a very good account of Susato's Danserye on L'oiseau Lyre from the New London Consort but I presume that version will have been blacklisted.

[vinteuil]

There was a very good account of Susato's Danserye on L'oiseau Lyre from the New London Consort but I presume that version will have been blacklisted.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tielman-Susato-Dansereye-Pickett/dp/B000004CY2

.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8050430--susato-danserye?srsltid=AfmBOooeClFAU9zRaxiJiaP8bgappRSGn2FXOp7RqT1DJwdQtLnTf8tz

[oddoneout]

There was a very good account of Susato's Danserye on L'oiseau Lyre from the New London Consort but I presume that version will have been blacklisted.

One of the tracks was in the programme.

[MickyD]

One of the tracks was in the programme.

Oh, interesting !

[AuntDaisy]

I enjoyed that EMS - varied selection of pieces and interesting history from Hannah French.

[oddoneout]

I enjoyed that EMS - varied selection of pieces and interesting history from Hannah French.

I was already familiar with some of Susato's music, firstly from the Early Music Consort LPs which my father had and then later from playing in a newly formed early music group as a student and, decades later in an informal recorder group for which the Susato dances were a valuable resource. However I had never thought about the other aspects of his life and wasn't aware of his importance as a printer, so this was not only an interesting programme to me but also a useful way of adding knowledge.
It still gives me a jolt to hear the EMC recordings and be reminded Munrow's premature end. It will be 50 years next year; I hope that it is marked by R3 but fear that if it is they might make a pig's ear of it.

[AuntDaisy]

I was already familiar with some of Susato's music, firstly from the Early Music Consort LPs which my father had and then later from playing in a newly formed early music group as a student and, decades later in an informal recorder group for which the Susato dances were a valuable resource. However I had never thought about the other aspects of his life and wasn't aware of his importance as a printer, so this was not only an interesting programme to me but also a useful way of adding knowledge.
It still gives me a jolt to hear the EMC recordings and be reminded Munrow's premature end. It will be 50 years next year; I hope that it is marked by R3 but fear that if it is they might make a pig's ear of it.

We can but hope... Or, R3 could (re)repeat one of the earlier David Munrow EMS specials:

• 30/10/2004 "Andrew Manze presents a performer portrait of David Munrow, of one of the most influential early music pioneers this country has ever seen." (More info in the 2007 repeat).
• 19/2/2017 "Dufay Collective director William Lyons celebrates the life and work of early music specialist, historian, multi-instrumentalist, broadcaster and pioneer David Munrow."

[smittims]

I well recall the news of David Munrow's suicide and how shocked we were that someone apparently at the successful summit of a chosen life could have chosen to end it .

[MickyD]

I remember the news well, but I have never heard any theory from anyone who knew him why they thought he took his life. Of course sometimes with suicide the person manages to keep the secret entirely to themselves.

[vinteuil]

I remember the news well, but I have never heard any theory from anyone who knew him why they thought he took his life. Of course sometimes with suicide the person manages to keep the secret entirely to themselves.

... wiki has : "In 1976, Munrow hanged himself while in a state of depression; the recent deaths of his father and father-in-law, to whom he dedicated his sole book, are thought to have contributed to his decision to take his own life. He had, however, attempted suicide by drug overdose the previous year... "

[oddoneout]

I well recall the news of David Munrow's suicide and how shocked we were that someone apparently at the successful summit of a chosen life could have chosen to end it .

Personal demons don't see things like that though. I can't help thinking that if it hadn't been suicide it would have been burnout from living life at 90 miles an hour. My mother remarked some time later "perhaps it's possible to be too talented".
An interesting article:

https://www.overgrownpath.com/2015/12/early-musician-who-could-have-become.html