Essays & Facts

Ancient Groove Music prides itself on rigorous academic research to produce quality editions that are both of musicological interest and of practical use to performers. Please click on any of the links below to read more.

Gregorio Allegri's Miserere mei: an essay detailing the history of this extraordinary piece, and the research which went into producing the Ancient Groove edition. Also a short note about his Sinfonia for four strings.

The various ways in which the Lord's Prayer was set to music in Tudor times, and an essay on the history of Choral Responses (with free downloads).

A commentary on Music for the Burial Service.

The text of the poem Nolo mortem peccatoris, written by the organist John Redford, and set to music by Thomas Morley.

Biographies of Antonio Lotti, Gregorio Allegri, and Thomas Wilkinson. There is also a discussion of portraits of Antonio Lotti.

A short essay which displays the complete text of the popular Christmas Carol, This is the truth sent from above.

Editorial notes for each piece in the repertoire can be found here, including notes on Latin settings of the Nunc dimittis. There is also a section on Music of the Italian Baroque.

Details of the links between the various settings of Crucifixus by Antonio Lotti and the larger Credos and masses from which they come. There are also some notes on Lotti's opera, Teofane.

A timeline graphic showing the lives of composers from 1500 to 1800.

A short list of dos and don'ts for digital music engraving.

From Plate to Page. A look at metal plate engraving, and how to match it using computer software.

We also produce a series of books, PDFs and ebooks on subjects related to music (and a few others). These can be found on our free files for download page.