H.I.P.P. Baroque Music
Ben A. Spalding
This session will explore topics for the conductor related to the H.I.P. movement (Historically Informed Performance) of performing music with special attention to the technology and performance conventions that were present when a piece of music was composed.
The topics discussed will benefit each conductor in attendance, ranging from the gifted aficionado to the newly intrigued, who wants to embrace more fully a H.I.P. style of music making. This session will showcase musical examples as well as a compendium of ideas from the world-class Baroque specialists of the Spire Baroque Orchestra who have shared tremendous insights from their wealth of experience and perspective.
Meet Your Professor
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Ben A. Spalding is one of the most exciting professional choral conductors of his generation and has established himself as an exemplary conductor, creative programmer, composer, arranger, keyboard artist, and arts entrepreneur whose skills are increasingly in demand. Hailed for creating âexceptional sonic painting" (Kansas City Star) and âfresh and fiery, grand and graveâ (Kansas City Public Radio) concert programs, Spalding is the Founder and Artistic Director of Kansas Cityâs Spire Chamber Ensemble and Baroque Orchestra, which has quickly gained a national reputation for excellence in choral performances receiving rave reviews for his work with the music of contemporary American composers as well as historically-informed interpretations of Baroque and Classical repertoire. He consistently works with the best choral artists and early music specialists in North America and was recently honored to lead Spire in riveting featured performances at the 2023 & 2019 National American Choral Directors Conventions and 2018 American Guild of Organists National Convention.
Spalding is also active as a composer, regularly accepting commissions and is known for his creative keyboard and vocal improvisations. His oratorio The Great War Requiem was featured for the opening performance at the 2018 National American Guild of Organists Convention, commissioned in honor of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. He recently recorded the Frank Martin Mass for Double Choir with Naxos Records along with his original works, and the music of Jake Runestad, Stephen Paulus, and Sir John Tavener to acclaimed success. Â
He has a particular interest in promoting the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was the consummate master of polyphony or âmany voicesâ â and this serves as the catalyst for all his musical explorations. He is an established early music leader with a thorough knowledge of performance practices for both modern and period instruments. He recently conducted and produced half of Bachâs sacred cantatas (approximately 100) in one of the first Midwest performance series of its kind featuring the Trinity Chamber Artists, which he also founded. His multiple performances of Bachâs choral-orchestral masterworks, including the Easter Oratorio, Magnificat, B-minor Mass, St. Matthew, and St. John Passions have been lauded for scrupulous attention to detail.