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Music's Quill

Since its formation in 2000, Music's Quill has communicated the beauty of the lute song and its companion art, the rich tradition of 17th-century poetry, with concert audiences and master classes throughout the Northeast.

Timothy Burris uses the lute’s intimate voice to provide an artful harmonic foundation for the vocal line. Timothy Neill Johnson’s exceptional tenor beautifully reveals poetic subtleties, introducing listeners to the cast of characters in these miniature dramas, deeply human tales of love and loss.

While Mr Johnson and Mr Burris form the core of Music's Quill, they often incorporate other musicians into the ensemble, as in this program including soprano and cello.

Our Repertoire

The English tradition was the work of over two dozen composers who together produced thirty-odd volumes of songs. The duo Music’s Quill explores this rich cache of musical delights, the impassioned songs of John Dowland and Thomas Morley, as well as the charming melodies of the less well known Philip Rosseter, Thomas Ford, and Robert Johnson. These songs blend tuneful melodies with the near infinite variety of English poetry.

The ensemble’s performances of French airs de cour highlight the rhythmic fluidity inherent in both the French language and these beautiful songs. This rich repertoire, by composers such as Pierre Guédron, Gabriel Bataille, and François Richard, transports the audience into 17th-century France. Music’s Quill takes the listener into a world full of passionate expression, the emotions of love’s innocence, and the bawdy drinking song.

Music’s Quill’s performances of Italian monody—the dramatic repertoire that helped give birth to opera—bring a heightened sense of drama and pathos to the music. Their musical choices combine the declamatory style of the recitative with the flowing elegance of the aria. Composers range from Giulio Caccini, who accompanied himself on the lute, to Girolamo Frescobaldi, a renowned Roman organist who also composed many moving songs, both secular and sacred.

Sample programs

French and English song

Christmas program with violin, 'cello, and reader