The other subjects I take interest in are not always music-related. I find that reading texts about unfamiliar subject matter keeps me sane for when I have to write or read about music.
Der Rattenfänger/The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Spring 2026)
Recently, I have gotten into how various media visually depicts the Pied Piper, especially what sort of instrument he has. I find it very interesting not just from the perspective of an early music enthusiast, but also from the perspective of 'what does the public think the Middle Ages look like'. Because unlike most fairytales, there is a specific year (1284) attached to this tale by the Grimm Brothers, and so it is very interesting to analyse how the Piper is depicted in how they communicate preconceptions about this time period and the Middle Ages more generally. Of course, this doesn't go for all versions (Viktor Dyk's Krysař, for instance, is stereotyped on purpose and more of a critique of German Romantic/Symbolist aesthetic ideals), and it's important to take into account stylistic trends, publication timelines for book artists, what publishers want, and all... but also, I get to bitch about vague or inaccurate instruments for fun.
Giotto di Bondone, and what we know of his life (Summer 2024)
Everything written about him gives me flashbacks to Josquin scholarship. It's not so much a getaway from music as it is deriving grim satisfaction in knowing that Josquin scholars aren't alone in their struggles. However, I have gotten to know a few interesting readings, like this one. I also got to know Marchetto of Padua through reading up about him, so that's a bonus.
Feudal Transformation, specifically in Catalonia (Fall 2023)
It's an early medieval phenomenon, which means it's beyond the scope of what I usually study. But it's fascinating, and Jonathan Jarrett has a series of well-written blog posts about it. It also gives me an insight into bureaucratic and legal procedures during the late 900s to early 1100s, which is fun when one reads between the lines to deduce the implications beneath.
Romanesque Art (Fall 2022)
Thanks to taking interest in the murals of Santa Maria de Mur on one autumn visit to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, I dove headfirst into the art of 1100s Catalonia, as well as its socio-political and cultural relevance in the context of the Renaixença and the early 1900s. (This is partly the reason why I have 2 pieces based off the Mur murals, with another on the way.) Aside from Santa Maria de Mur, however, there are a lot of lovely examples of Catalan Romanesque art that I remain enamored by to this day.
Sometimes, I copy older paintings for fun. View them here, if you wish.
Blogs (or, in this case, other websites) that I recommend, or those made by friends on Neocities.