‘Nisi Dominus’  
This is the opening piece from Vivaldi’s Cantata of the same name (RV 608). The text – Psalm 126 – was composed for the Venetian girls’ orphanage, ‘The Pieta’, where he taught the violin. Vivaldi’s work there caused him to produce concertos in abundance. These previously unknown concertos were a major spur to the so-called post war ‘Baroque boom’ that awakened active performing and recording. 
The message of the Latin is: ‘Unless God is in the building of your house or the guarding of a city – you will have laboured in vain’.

Centuries of Songs

Nisi Dominus

Vivaldi: Nisi Dominus | Marianne Lihannah (Mezzo)| Pete Rosser (Piano)

Marianne is a versatile singer and singersongwriter, who also plays the nyckelharpa. She is both the director and the singer of the successful businesses Funeral Singer UK and Wedding Singer UK.
She is also the lead singer in the duo Elyssia. And the alto in the duo Si Canta.

“It’s not about playing well by being comfortable and wiping out nervous energy. It’s about finding the right channel for all that energy.”
Don Greene, psychologist & performance coach

“It isn’t where you came from, it’s where you are going that counts”
Ella Fitzgerald, singer

“I will cast this spell: I know I can open this door and show you something unforgettable & transforming, and I’m determined to take myself there and to take you with me.” Jeffrey Kahane, pianist

“Practising is not forced labour; it is a refined art that partakes of intuition, of inspiration, patience, elegance, clarity, balance, and above all, the search for ever greater joy in movement and expression.” Yehudi Menuhin, violinist

“Our goal is to be able to ‘experience our experience’ fully, without classifying it as either bad or good.”
Barry Green, bassist

“It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something”
Ornette Coleman, saxophonist and composer

“My strength is my enthusiasm”
Placido Domingo, singer

“When a problem is complex, you become tense, but when you break it down into basic components, you can approach each element without stress”
Yo-Yo Ma, cellist

“I suppose that when I play in public it looks easy, but before I ever came on the concert stage I worked very hard. And I do yet – but always putting the two things together, mental work and physical work.”
Jascha Heifetz, violinist

“There must always be a sense of progression or movement towards definite landmarks”
Tobias Matthay, pianist

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking down your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”
Mark Twain, author

Quotes from ‘The Musician’s Way’ by Gerald Klickstein
A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness

Early Music Channel streams  Early Music + Folk + Art Music as well as Fusions, New Music and related genres.


1: Never let yesterday use too much of today.

2: Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

3: Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside.

4: Once you realize how good you really are, you never settle for playing less than your best.

5: Always do more than is required of you.

6: The purpose of life is a life of purpose.

7: Love is an ability, capacity in our minds, which is to be systematically cultivated.

8: You shouldn’t let a little thing like total public humiliation stand between you and a good time.

9: There are more possible games of chess than there are atoms in the known universe.

10: Unborn tomorrow and dead yesterday, Why fret about them if today be sweet ?