UMBC Collegium Musicum
director Joseph C. Morin

UMBC Collegium Musicum is a performance ensemble dedicated to exploring and performing vocal and instrumental music from European Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, sampling musical repertoires created between 800 and 1750. Open to all students with musical ability. Permission of instructor required.

Under the direction of Joseph C. Morin, the UMBC Collegium Musicum is a unique ensemble in the Visual and Performing Arts program and is devoted to the performance of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music. Members meet in ensembles of various sizes to study and perform period vocal and instrumental music. Students are given the opportunity to sing in a variety of conventional and extended vocal styles, and to play recorder, krummhorn, racket, cornetto, shawm, sackbut, viol da gamba, vielle, harp, organetto, lute, and other historical instruments from the UMBC Department of Music's collection of instruments. Emphasis is given to the study of musical style, performance practice, singing and playing one-on-a-part, and excellence in ensemble performance. This ensemble is designed for all students who are interested in either performing and/or learning about the music and instruments of these periods with an emphasis on performance.

The course samples sacred and secular music from expansive and culturally diverse European regions ranging from Andalusian Spain to pre- and post-Reformation Germany and England. Participants are exposed not only to a broad variety of music, but also to the study of cultural influences through the use of primary source materials such as fascimiles of musical manuscripts, as well as literary sources that shed light on music; music-making; dance; courtly, ecclesiastical, and folk entertainment; and on art in society in general. For the music major or minor, the course functions as a complement to the required period history survey courses; as an elective for the non-music major, it provides perspective on the history of European art music through performance within a cultural framework.

Auditions
Students wishing to take part in the Collegium need to demonstrate musical proficiency on their instrument or in singing. The Collegium welcomes musicians who are interested in performing Baroque music, where "modern" instruments such as the violin, viola, cello, flute, oboe, bassoon, etc. are used. Students who wish to participate using medieval and Renaissance instruments (and who are not already proficient on those instruments) should audition on an instrument that closely approximates the "early" instrument (for example: students wishing to play the recorder might audition on flute or clarinet, while students wishing to play cornetto would audition on trumpet or cornet, and students interested in playing shawm could audition on oboe).

To schedule an audition please contact Dr. Joseph C. Morin at (410) 455-2941 or by e-mail morin@umbc.edu

Rehearsal
Locations and Schedule Rehearsals always take place in the Fine Arts building. Given that the Collegium consists of a number of small ensembles, there is quite a bit of flexibility in scheduling rehearsals. In a majority of cases, the members of an ensemble decide when to meet.

Instruments
As in any ensemble, participants are expected to play their own instruments; however, the Collegium will provide "early" instruments to students involved in ensembles performing medieval and Renaissance repertoire.

Performances
The Collegium musicum generally performs one recital every semester and occasionally gives performances in various area locations and events.

Questions
If you have questions or would like further information, please contact Dr. Joseph C. Morin at (410) 455-2941 or by e-mail morin@umbc.edu