by Bill Jamieson, Executive and Artistic Director, EMSI
and member of Bourdons medieval ensemble
The Cantigas de Santa Maria, featured in our upcoming concert on October 25 are truly a treasure trove of medieval music: over 400 songs with…
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Cantigas_de_Santa_Maria_Musicians_Codex_page_Bl-2_039V-3-for-website-blog-cropped.jpg?fit=657%2C347&ssl=1347657William Jamiesonhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngWilliam Jamieson2025-10-09 21:17:242025-10-09 22:38:09Treasure Trove – Cantigas de Santa Maria
By Farrah O'Shea, Ph.D., M.M (Director, EMSI)
We at EMSI are busy preparing for our season opening concert, “Amanda Forsythe Sings Handel,” a celebration of Handel’s tuneful arias and music both old and new.
In this concert, Forsythe,…
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Amanda-Forsythe-performance.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=17791200William Jamiesonhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngWilliam Jamieson2025-09-18 14:37:242025-09-18 14:45:48Amanda Forsythe – a mix of old and new
An interview with Trevor Eliot Bowes, who will be singing the role of Polifemo in the upcoming dinner and opera presentation of Aci, Galatea e Polifemo as part of the Early Music Society's 40th Anniversary Season.
Buy tickets to 40th…
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Trevor-Eliot-Bowes-for-website.jpg?fit=348%2C232&ssl=1232348Joanne Whiteheadhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngJoanne Whitehead2024-08-28 14:34:072024-08-28 14:34:07Interview with Trevor Eliot Bowes
Three years ago, EMSI and Ensemble Caprice agreed to a series of three concerts. The first was to feature the music of Bach, the second of Vivaldi and the third of Handel. We have been treated to two extraordinary and exciting concerts and…
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2647774057_def0a30a72_b-e1710886624725.jpg?fit=757%2C468&ssl=1468757Joanne Whiteheadhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngJoanne Whitehead2024-03-20 13:54:422024-03-20 13:54:42Interview with Matthias Maute, Ensemble Caprice
Portrait, oil on canvas of Gottfried Reiche (1667–1734) by Elias Gottlob Haussmann (1695–1774), 1727
Bach specified an instrument he called the "tromba o corno da tirarsi" for the elaborate brass line in three of his cantatas: the only…
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/640px-Reiche1726_crop.jpg?fit=640%2C499&ssl=1499640Joanne Whiteheadhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngJoanne Whitehead2023-08-12 15:57:012023-08-12 16:09:04Corno da tirarsi
A 'new' innovation for electric guitars, the fanned fret concept actually dates back to the 1590s!
Read more about the wire-strung bandora and orpharion from the Lute Society of America and Early Music Muse (with videos). And for a electric…
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bandora1-1.jpg?fit=576%2C255&ssl=1255576Joanne Whiteheadhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngJoanne Whitehead2023-05-20 14:34:142023-06-04 13:34:41Fanned frets, circa 1590
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Screenshot-284.jpg?fit=652%2C579&ssl=1579652Joanne Whiteheadhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngJoanne Whitehead2023-04-10 12:50:132023-04-10 12:50:13EMSI in The Bastion
https://i0.wp.com/earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/theorbo-6308243_1280_crop.gif?fit=623%2C846&ssl=1846623Joanne Whiteheadhttps://earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/EMSI_logo_centered-white.pngJoanne Whitehead2023-04-03 17:15:592023-04-03 17:16:23Learn about the Theorbo
Treasure Trove – Cantigas de Santa Maria
Concert NewsAmanda Forsythe – a mix of old and new
Concert NewsInterview with Trevor Eliot Bowes
Interview, VideosInterview with Matthias Maute, Ensemble Caprice
Interview, VideosCorno da tirarsi
VideosCats & Lutes
FunFanned frets, circa 1590
FunEMSI in The Bastion
AnnouncementsLearn about the Theorbo
VideosSalonEra: Finding Lisette
Videos