Safford Cape
Encyclopedia
Safford Cape was an American conductor
, composer
and musicologist.
Born and educated in Denver, Colorado
, Cape moved to Belgium
in 1925 to further his studies in composition and musicology. From 1933, after a few years of chamber music composition, Cape began focusing on the performance of medieval and Renaissance music. To this end, he founded and conducted the Pro Music Antiqua of Brussels, an ensemble specialising on music from the medieval and Renaissance periods. This group toured throughout Europe and the Americas and produced many recordings. Cape's work inspired Noah Greenberg
to form a similar ensemble in America, the New York Pro Musica.
For health reasons, Cape retired in 1967 and died in Brussels six years later.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and musicologist.
Born and educated in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Cape moved to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1925 to further his studies in composition and musicology. From 1933, after a few years of chamber music composition, Cape began focusing on the performance of medieval and Renaissance music. To this end, he founded and conducted the Pro Music Antiqua of Brussels, an ensemble specialising on music from the medieval and Renaissance periods. This group toured throughout Europe and the Americas and produced many recordings. Cape's work inspired Noah Greenberg
Noah Greenberg
Noah Greenberg was an American choral conductor.In 1937, aged 18, Greenberg joined the Socialist Workers Party of Max Schachtman, and worked as a lathe operator and party activist. He lost work-related draft deferment in 1944 and joined the U.S. Merchant Marine till 1949. By this time he had lost...
to form a similar ensemble in America, the New York Pro Musica.
For health reasons, Cape retired in 1967 and died in Brussels six years later.