But when I play early music, I draw on jazz techniques including improvisation and spontaneity. In early music, as well as in jazz, you add ornamentation and often improvise the accompaniment. Marilyn Roper Simon said she sees interest in early music growing worldwide, often from people who have just recently heard it. Early music isn't just for stuffed shirts despite its image. The students started dancing as we interspersed waltzes, early American fiddle tunes with Irish music.
Good music is timeless and when people are exposed, they become turned on.
It was a sublime moment and very lovely. When people just relax and listen they begin to appreciate early hit tunes. Much of contemporary music is loud, Simon said. When I first heard a forte piano, an early instrument, it was like I had ear muffs on. But if you sit quietly a whole world of sound comes alive.