William Kempster | University of Alberta (original) (raw)

Videos by William Kempster

Papers by William Kempster

Renewals and Reincarnations (Audio album), 2023

Cappella Nova Mundi's new album "Renewals and Reincarnations" was released on December 15, 2023. ... more Cappella Nova Mundi's new album "Renewals and Reincarnations" was released on December 15, 2023. The new album contains 9 world premiere recordings, 8 of which are of music by Renaissance master Pierre de la Rue.
The current document reproduces conductor William Kempster's notes for the recording in their original English. Readers can download the full booklet - with full notes also in French and German, as well as all of the texts and translation - at CNM's website: https://cappellanovamundi.weebly.com/recordings.html

Liner notes to the CD of "A Game of Thrones" - presented by HBO and Giant Spoon at the South-by-S... more Liner notes to the CD of "A Game of Thrones" - presented by HBO and Giant Spoon at the South-by-Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, in March, 2019. You can listen to the results via the link included on this page.

As any scribe, copyist, or editor of any historical time would admit, it is virtually impossible ... more As any scribe, copyist, or editor of any historical time would admit, it is virtually impossible to transcribe a large body of someone else's work without making any errors at all. In the process of compiling my recently completed edition of the works of Renaissance Master Pierre de la Rue, I worked closely with every known piece by the composer and came across quite a few errors, not only in relatively contemporary 16th century sources, but also in more modern editions, whether traditionally published or transmitted via online resources. This paper details these errors and my proposed corrections.

Preface to "A 'Complete' Edition of the Works of Pierre de la Rue", 2020

Preface to my newly completed edition of the works of la Rue

Contents of William Kempster's 'Complete' Performing Edition of the Works of Pierre de la Rue, 2020

Reflections on one of the iconic works in Music History on the eve of Beethoven's 250-year annive... more Reflections on one of the iconic works in Music History on the eve of Beethoven's 250-year anniversary. Examines Beethoven's unique communication of extra-musical ideas, as well as some performance practice observations.

Of the 30 firmly attributed Masses of Habsburg-Burgundian master Pierre de la Rue, many remain v... more Of the 30 firmly attributed Masses of Habsburg-Burgundian master Pierre de la Rue, many remain virtually unknown today outside of a very specialized academic circle. One of these works is the Missa Almana. The purpose of this paper is to argue that this particular Mass has been incorrectly named, and that it should indeed be known as the Missa Pourquoy non, after the chanson of the same title by la Rue himself. One early 16th century scribe did indeed name the Mass accordingly, but modern scholars have rejected that naming, declaring the scribe to have been mistaken.
This paper will firstly examine la Rue's use of a distinctive motive which appears at the very end of the chanson, and which also is found to appear on two occasions in the Mass. This motive, as the very last compositional gesture of the chanson, would not normally attract particular attention, but it will be found that this same motive also appears - in similar places - in another Pourquoy non Mass based on la Rue's chanson, that of contemporary Mathieu Gascongne. The paper will then go on to examine the structure and deployment of various head-motives in the two la Rue works, as well as some of his characteristic compositional techniques, which establish further strong relationships between the Mass and the chanson. The paper will conclude that there is overwhelming evidence to suggest the contemporary scribe was indeed correct in naming this Mass Missa Pourquoy non.

Thesis Chapters by William Kempster

Chromatic Alteration in the "Missa L'homme Armé" of Pierre de la Rue: a Case Study in Performance Practice, 1999

Part 1 of my Doctor of Music Thesis (University of Alberta, Canada, 1999). Intended for those les... more Part 1 of my Doctor of Music Thesis (University of Alberta, Canada, 1999). Intended for those less familiar with the theories behind central Renaissance "Musica Ficta".

Drafts by William Kempster

In his 2010 paper on three psalm-motets associated with la Rue, 1 Wolfgang Fuhrmann argues a case... more In his 2010 paper on three psalm-motets associated with la Rue, 1 Wolfgang Fuhrmann argues a case that would discount la Rue's authorship of two motets generally previously considered genuine compositions of his: Laudate Dominum omnes gentes, and Lauda anima mea Dominum. I have no particular quarrel with any of the arguments Fuhrmann raises, and-on the face of it-that may seem to be that. What I believe has not been taken into account in the case of Laudate Dominum omnes gentes, however, is an almost formulaic structural approach that mirrors virtually exactly the manner in which la Rue's motet Pater de caelis Deus-the authenticity of which is not in doubt-is also constructed. I do not believe two different composers could have done this, and indeed I feel it is exceptionally unlikely any other composers could have been aware of this method. For this reason, therefore, I believe Laudate Dominum omnes gentes-like Pater de caelis Deus-is the work of Pierre de la Rue. To outline my argument, I will now present a structural analysis of both of these works, 2 after which I will draw together the information thereby presented in order to demonstrate that the works must indeed be by the same composer. Pater de caelis Deus Nigel Davison, the editor of the motets volume in the incomplete Opera omnia of la Rue, 3 considered this to be la Rue's motet masterpiece. 4 The work is a canonic extravaganza, with the canon being maintained in the tenor, sextus and discantus (at the fifth and then ninth, respectively, above) throughout. Only the prima pars will be considered in the analysis which follows, 5 but la Rue's method in the secunda pars is very, very similar. In this first part of the motet, there are eleven canonic entries, arranged either singly or in pairs as follows:

A follow-up to my 2015 paper suggesting la Rue's "Missa Almana" should in fact be known as the "M... more A follow-up to my 2015 paper suggesting la Rue's "Missa Almana" should in fact be known as the "Missa Pourquoy non". This paper was presented at the Pierre de la Rue conference in Mechelen, Belgium, in November, 2018.

Books by William Kempster

A Singular Voice: The Choral Music of Ross Edwards, 2024

This book has been over a decade in the writing, but has now been published (effective January, 2... more This book has been over a decade in the writing, but has now been published (effective January, 2024) by Wildbird Music in Sydney, Australia. The book provides a chronological survey of the Choral and Vocal works of Australian composer Ross Edwards, who is widely regarded as the country's greatest living composer. Each work is given detailed background and analysis, with well over 100 musical examples. All texts and translations (where required) are also given.
A number of Edwards' works - conducted by William Kempster - are available via the various streaming services. The Spotify and Pandora links are included here under "files", but the albums are also available on other streaming sites as well.

Teaching Documents by William Kempster

echoraleditions, 2023

echoraleditions is a website that brings together approximately 200 of the editions I have made f... more echoraleditions is a website that brings together approximately 200 of the editions I have made for performance with numerous ensembles over the last 30 years. A link to the website is provided in the "files" section (also in my comment).

Album Cover, 2024

The cover page of my latest album, available on the various streaming sites.

Erratum et complementum, 2024

Recordings from various ensembles over the past 20 years that via this album will now be availabl... more Recordings from various ensembles over the past 20 years that via this album will now be available on the various streaming services.

Pierre de la Rue: Missae (recordings), 2024

Live performances now available on all the streaming services. Missa Pourquoy non dates from 2007... more Live performances now available on all the streaming services. Missa Pourquoy non dates from 2007, and Missa Sub tuum praesidium from 2016.
The Amazon Music link sis supplied with this citation.

Charles Hubert Hastings Parry - Songs of Farewell, 2012

The live performance of Parry's last - and greatest - work by the University of New Hampshire Cha... more The live performance of Parry's last - and greatest - work by the University of New Hampshire Chamber Singers (2012) is now available on all of the streaming services. The TIDAL link is included in this citation.

A Grainger Sandwich (Fully Loaded), 2024

A compilation of recordings done over the past 10 - 15 years, most of which are previously unrele... more A compilation of recordings done over the past 10 - 15 years, most of which are previously unreleased. Various artists from the USA and Canada. All performances conducted by William Kempster

Conference Presentations by William Kempster

William Kempster Recordings, 2024

Program and texts. Recording available on most of the streaming sites. Follow the push link under... more Program and texts. Recording available on most of the streaming sites. Follow the push link under "files"