New pursuits, old treasures

2025 ended with my acquisition of a 13-course Baroque lute, upon which I'm now learning music by 17th and 18th century composers including S. L. Weiss and G. E. Barron, as well as learning how to play basso continuo with the d-minor tuning. I've also been lucky that Wells School of Music Dean Christopher Hanning purchased a beautiful theorbo for me to use with my collegium, and I'm also enjoying learning that instrument along the same lines, especiallty enjoying Kapsperger and Hurel. Last year I had two wonderful premieres, one by Network for New Music and the other by counter(induction, both viewable on my videos page, both involving spectacular guitarists, the former Thomas Schuttenhelm, the latter Daniel Lippel. Thomas S. has been an incredible collaborator who I will be writing more music for; I'll soon share his solo video of the first movement of NonStandard Deviations, "The Old Man is Sick (a Prophecy)", as soon as it drops. This coming year I'll be teaching lute at both the Amherst Early Music Spring Break Workshop in Arlington, Va. and the LSA Lute Fest in Cleveland. I'm also appearing with Hesperus in a private house concert in January and with the Folger Consort in May. I plan to do more playing and composing, so watch my website and social media for any later breaking news. Happy Holidays! Mark