Delving Deeper Series

Online videos that take deep dives into historical and performance topics

All Delving Deeper Episodes are free with Online Subscription or In-Person Subscription

Delving Deeper Episode 1

The Teenage Violin: Growth Spurts in the Seventeenth Century by Sarah Darling

Originally used as an instrument for dance bands, the violin really grew to maturity as a solo voice between 1600-1700. Excitement over the flashy new instrument and its potential manifested itself in the Italian "stile moderno" and the German "stylus fantasticus" with highly virtuosic and experimental writing that will be explored in this talk with musical samplings.

Delving Deeper Episode 3

Unaccompanied Cello Repertoire: Origins through J. S. Bach by Daniel Ryan

This presentation explores the origins and early development of the cello. Unlike the violin and viola, the size and tuning of the cello was not standardized until the 1680's, much later than its smaller string counterparts. The variety in structure of and approaches to the instrument is reflected in the fascinating early repertoire written for it. Music performed and discussed in includes some of the earliest works for the cello, including works by Giovanni Battista Degli Antonii, Domenico Gabrielli, and J. S. Bach.

Delving Deeper Episode 2

Journey of the Transverse Flute by Suzanne Stumpf

Co-Artistic Director Suzanne Stumpf traces the evolution of the flute from the Baroque era as the first fully chromatic transverse flute, to the development of multi-keyed, old system Classical and Romantic flutes, to Theobold Boehm's modern flute. As she discusses and performs on seven different instruments, listeners will learn about the cultural and technological influences that guided changes to the flute and experience the charm of each instrument through short performances of works by Hotteterre, J.S. Bach, Telemann, Quantz, Tromlitz, Kuhlau, Fiala, Debussy, and Gaubert.

Delving Deeper Episode 4

Sites and Sounds of Early Sudbury

Musicians of the Old Post Road teams up with the Sudbury Historical Society to explore some of history-rich Sudbury’s most fascinating historical sites. Historical Society members offer brief talks at each location, providing a richer understanding of each site’s history and key personages in Sudbury’s past. The ensemble performs modern-day premieres of fascinating, rediscovered works by 18th-century Massachusetts composers and arrangers at each site, bringing this history to life!

Delving Deeper Episode 5: Behind the Curtain

Back by popular demand, our Delving Deeper online series provides explorations of intriguing historical and musical topics. With Episode 5, Behind the Curtain: Mining, Polishing, and Showcasing Lost Musical Gems, we continue our long-standing commitment of uniting historical performance with historic architectural sites along the Old Post Road.

In this online presentation-performance, Co-Artistic Directors Suzanne Stumpf and Daniel Ryan respond to our viewers' most frequently asked question: How does the ensemble find and revive overlooked musical treasures? This behind-the-scenes tour of the research, reconstruction, and editing processes includes discussions about our legacy of championing unknown composers, how research has changed over the years, and an introduction to Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the first known Classical composer of African descent.

This journey of exploration culminates in a performance of a rediscovered quartet by the Chevalier de Saint-Georges in Worcester’s beautiful Salisbury Mansion, a stunning historical venue. In the film, viewers are also treated to a tour of the Mansion, one of the finest house museums in the country.

This project is supported, in part, by a grant from The Fletcher Foundation.

A live Zoom reception and Q & A session with the musicians follows the premiere. The event and all previous Delving Deeper episodes are free to both in-person and online subscribers. Single tickets are: $10 students; $35 individual; $70 family. For single ticket holders, the link will be live for 72 hours after the February 4 premiere.

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