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Ross W. Duffin

@rosswmd.bsky.social
491 followers 255 following 312 posts

Music professor (retired) & author, tune detective, Canadian ex-pat Pasadena CA & Washington DC

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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Can't remember the last time I saw a job posting like this: musicology/early music/historical performance. Assistant Professor at Florida State. jobs.omni.fsu.edu/psc/sprdhr_e...
jobs.omni.fsu.edu
Welcome | PS LINKS
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I will be watching this when it comes out next month. Loved the show, especially how they integrated musical guests into the skits - like Al Jarreau playing a jazz singer who wanted to become a cantor! Priceless! people.com/snl-s-cooler...
people.com
SNL’s ‘Cooler, Older Cousin’ That Martin Short Calls ‘the High-Water Mark of My Whole Career’ Gets Props in a New Doc
The trailer for the new documentary ‘SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of’ features show legends like Martin Short and Rick Moranis, and sit-downs with Tom Hanks and Conan O’Brien
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Making a recipe I’ve made before. Calls for 26 oz. jar, which I’ve bought in the past, but now the product comes in 24 oz. jars. That’s shrinkflation right there! Not only more expensive but less of it.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Four young peacocks sitting on a hedge. Since they’re all males, this is the equivalent of teenagers standing around on a street corner.
Four young peacocks sitting on a hedge.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Inspiring story of amputee Terry Fox trying to run across Canada for cancer awareness. My sister Jackie was then the cancer doc in Thunder Bay who had to give him the bad news that ended his journey. apple.news/ANm0F9zVTQd-...
apple.news
‘It’s almost impossible not to feel inspired’: how the story of Terry Fox fired up Canada’s patriotic spirit again — Guardian US
Canada’s citizens are finding unity again in the story of the man who ran cross-country on one leg to raise awareness for children’s cancer research
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Merrily researching as usual and all of a sudden Google Scholar refuses to execute my search saying that they detect "unusual traffic." WTF? Hadn't even been that many searches. Maybe there are early modern poetry keywords that are now banned. Not great that Google can censor even search requests. 😖
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Please please please name the baby Googoo!
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Tickled that Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift bought a home in Cleveland: 8 BR, 3.5 lakefront acres for $5.3M. Good value, for sure (good luck finding that anywhere else in the US), but - niche quibble - had to laugh when I read that the Tudor style mansion was named 'Moyenage'. It's all old, right?
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
So sorry to hear of the recent death of Nik von Huene, son of Friedrich of the von Huene recorder workshop in Boston. I remember being stuck in the dorm at a brutally hot 1988 summer workshop, and the two of us being introduced to single malt scotch! Cheers, Nik. RIP www.vonhuene.com/news.aspx?sh...
vonhuene.com
News Bulletin
enter your site description here
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
I’m very happy for these folks at what is clearly important international recognition, but I laughed out loud at the use of ‘lute, crumhorn, and baroque violin’ as the representative instruments for early music. That may be the first ever sentence with that combination! www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Banbury Early Music Festival 'proud' of international award nomination
Oxfordshire festival says it is "a remarkable milestone" for an event established three years ago.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Oh dear! Another book due out in October. I’m going to need a taller bookshelf!
A shelf full of books, all authored or edited by Ross Duffin.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Sad to hear of the death of Stanley Ritchie, pioneer baroque violinist and teacher at Indiana U. When I spoke at IU once I stayed with him and he said he'd never retire - he loved teaching so much. He finally retired at 86 after teaching generations of students. RIP music.indiana.edu/news-events/...
music.indiana.edu
Indiana University mourns loss of violin and early music professor Stanley Ritchie: 08: Folder Name: Info: News: News & Events: Jacobs School of Music: Indiana University Bloomington
It is with sadness that the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music announces the death of Stanley Ritchie, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of music in violin and early music, on August 23, at age ...
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
For all who love Philip Sidney's poetry—and who doesn't?—my musical edition of his psalms is now out. Some may be surprised at this, but I make a case for his use of French psalm tunes, based on his Huguenot tutor, French church next door, and colleagues using them for their own psalm collections.
areditions.com
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
For friends and colleagues of the late Betty Hageman, her obituary was published by the Washington Post today. A memorial for her will be held at the Folger Library on August 24 at 3 pm. I'll be there in spirit and hope some of you can go. www.legacy.com/us/obituarie...
legacy.com
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
This is so sad. CIM withdrawing from the Joint Music Program with CWRU after 58 years. It made so much sense for the schools and for the students. Now, for example, CIM students will have to pay out of pocket to participate in HPP courses and ensembles, meaning they won’t. A terrible tragedy.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Thinking of writing a new book on acceptable harmonies in Just Intonation. Tentative title: The Overtone Window. What do you think?
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Children's author and Donne scholar Katherine Rundell argues powerfully against the use of AI in schools. I hope that teachers and school administrators take heed!
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
So sorry to hear this news. Her book on baroque string playing was a valuable, pioneering work. Thanks to Peter Holman for a fine remembrance. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...
theguardian.com
Judy Tarling obituary
Other lives: Violin and viola player whose leadership of orchestras and books on the subject greatly influenced the performance of baroque music
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Golden anniversary dinner in Paris! Whole family stood & sang a silly parody—a family tradition! I noted the use of the original tune I reconstructed (Speculum ‘88). Kids said: “You taught us; it’s the only version of the tune we know!” Oral tradition in musicology! Teach your children well.
Song lyric to the tune of Sumer is icumen in.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Three restaurant servers in Paris in 2 days have asked me where I learned French. So either they find it comical or they’re wondering why I sound like a refugee from ca.1600!
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
5 yo granddaughter unhappily captured in a photo: “I want that photo deleted!” Sheesh. Tech-savvy 5 year-olds!
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Sorry to hear of the death of Joel Cohen, pioneering director of the Boston Camerata. classical-scene.com/2026/07/27/j...
classical-scene.com
Joel Cohen (1942-2026) - The Boston Musical Intelligencer
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I Fagiolini @ifagiolini.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Took us 40 years but here it is: Monteverdi 1610 recording with @ecse1610.bsky.social Buy it (buy it?) here or stream for free of course... orcd.co/ifagmont1610 (Actual release Sep 4th but a few films are appearing now.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Vacationing in rural France and met a pianist/choral director at a fête who had read my tuning book en français and called it ‘un révélation’. Thanks to @ziadkreidy.bsky.social for helping to reach that new francophone audience! share.google/6t8MWy8MMz0T...
share.google
Amazon.com
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
An amusing audio essay on the lute and its revival, with old friends like Liz Kenny and Victor Coelho. The occasion is the 400th anniversary of Dowland’s death, but the death of the lute itself is greatly exaggerated! www.signalhill.fm/issue-three/...
signalhill.fm
Issue Three
Where we're coming from and where we're going.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Just flew over Greenland … still Danish fwiw.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
For anyone curious about tablature systems in European music, this monumental tome by John Griffiths, David Dolata, and @pvendrix.bsky.social should go a long way to answering your questions! Out today. link.publicate.it/pub/3092a46b...
link.publicate.it
Tablature. Europe, 1300–1750
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Didn’t buy a lot of LPs when I was in high school but BS&T was one, and I played it a LOT! apple.news/AtDpd1cTpRz-...
apple.news
David Clayton-Thomas obituary — Guardian US
Singer, songwriter and frontman of the American band Blood, Sweat & Tears
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Maggi Parker @notsodivinemsm.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
I am crushed RIP Jay Bernfeld m.youtube.com/watch?v=bdfD...
m.youtube.com
Fuoco E Cenere - Marin Marais - Interview Jay Bernfeld - BOZAR - EXQI
YouTube video by FuocoECenere
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Commemorating the passing of the legendary Alan Greenspan by posting the April 1, 2019 parody that my daughter @selenasd.com did @npr.org about the musical, "Greenspan." He even makes a cameo! Brilliant and fun! www.npr.org/2019/04/01/7...
npr.org
Irrational Exuberance: Audiences Love Broadway Hit 'Greenspan'
A musical inspired by the Broadway hit about Alexander Hamilton tells the story of former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan. (Editor's note on April 2, 2019: This story was an April Fools' joke.)
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
For those who prefer their medical history en français, my sister's marvelously "scandalous" book is now available … www.mqup.ca/Books/H/Hist...
mqup.ca
Histoire de la médecine
Histoire de la médecine de Jacalyn Duffin est un ouvrage phare pour comprendre l'histoire de la maladie, de la guérison, et des professions de la santé qui y sont impliquées. Privilégiant les concepts...
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Fraught times, but hearing about a former student honored as a distinguished alum, is an absolute joy! Julie Andrijeski now leads the CWRU program I led for 40 years. So happy to see her recognized in this way! liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/news-...
liberalarts.du.edu
Distinguished Alumna Profile: Julie Andrijeski
Julie Andrijeski: Bridging Music, Dance, and HistoryIn the field of historical performance practice, Julie Andrijeski (BM ’85) is a luminary whose career is a testament to hard work and passion, with ...
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Yourself, as a cartoon
A man sits in an armchair, listening to an old-fashioned stereo system, while in the manner of a jazz radio announcement, the players of instruments of varying antiquity are named as part of an incongruous "early music" ensemble.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
For those that care 😉, I have a new article on tuning, "Chasing Perfection: Better Harmonic Tuning for Choirs," available here: acda-publications.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/CJ/JuneJuly2...
acda-publications.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com
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Jacalyn Duffin @drugshortage.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Delighted to finally hold my own copy of The Archeology of Disease, 4th ed. --with Cornell UP in USA and The History Press in UK thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/...
thehistorypress.co.uk
The Archaeology of Disease
Explore the archaeology of disease to uncover how ancient societies coped with illnesses and injuries.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to take over from the marvelous Stephen Tabor. If you aren’t aware of the Huntington early modern collection, check to see how many items you view on EEBO have the Huntington stamp! Fabulous collection and magical place!
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Nicolle Wallace carrying the hair for her three guests @msnownews.bsky.social
One woman and four men on TV. The woman has full tresses while all three men have shaved heads.
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Erin E. Kelly @eekelly.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Am I a bad person for laughing out loud at this?
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Continuo Connect @continuoconnect.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
'I’m naturally a connector – that's what lutenists do' 🤝 Elizabeth Kenny reflects on a lifetime of collaboration and how she's passing the same passion onto the next generation at the Royal Academy of Music 👉 go.continuoconnect.com/from-dowland…
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
The basswood trees are flowering in Capitol Hill. It smells like a fragrant soap factory for about 100 feet in every direction!
Basswood blossoms on a tree.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
I think I finally see why e-bikes and scooters are so popular: Apparently they don’t have to obey stop signs, sailing at 25 mph past chumps stopped in cars & buses, tearing the wrong way down one-way streets, avoiding crossing pedestrians (if they’re lucky). It’s great! What a convenience!
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Was it hot in Capitol Hill today?
Blue jay sitting on the rim of a fountain-birdbath.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
And here I thought dentistry was in the stone age when I was a kid!
apple.news
Neanderthals may have drilled out a cavity 59,000 years ago — NPR
Scientists dug up a Paleolithic tooth that shows signs that these hominins may have been capable of executing a precise dental procedure.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Walking the pup today, I approached a stranger who asked how I was. “Fine,” I said, “and you?” “No complaints,” he said … “maybe later.”
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Always fun to hear my daughter @selenasd.com reporting on health policy @npr.org but tickled to see her interviewed about the Mifepristone decision on @msnownews.bsky.social. Bad news, but good coverage. www.ms.now/ana-cabrera-...
ms.now
Drugmakers ask Supreme Court to restore abortion pill access
The makers of the abortion pill mifepristone filed an emergency appeal asking the Supreme Court to restore access to the medication after a lower court cut off mail order access to the drug. NPR Healt...
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
My very wise sister interviewed about medical humanities. You need to hear her physician/historian’s perspective! So great! medhum.org/interview/pr...
medhum.org
Meet the MedHum Team: Dr. Jacalyn Duffin
David Hsu sits down with physician and historian Dr. Jacalyn Duffin to catch up about life, medical humanities and MedHum.
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EarlyMusicNewsOrg @earlymusicnewsorg.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Cleveland Lutefest "Lute Fest will be held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio from Sunday, June 21 through Saturday June 27, 2026."... lutesocietyofamerica.org/events/lutef... === #earlymusicnewsorg #earlymusic #earlymusicnews #historicallyinformedperformance
lutesocietyofamerica.org
Cleveland Lute Fest 2024 Event Details
Details about the upcoming Lute Fest 2024 held in Cleveland, Ohio.
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Saw this headline and of course I thought it meant @oldfortunatus.bsky.social! thedailyeconomy.org/article/from...
thedailyeconomy.org
From Shakespeare to Smith: Why Credit Exists in Every Western Society | The Daily Economy
Credit is not an artificial construct imposed by financiers or states. It arises because modern commercial life cannot function without it.
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Musicology Duck @musicologyduck.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
attention: new but also medieval queer opera in new york next weekend www.alkemie.org/eleanor
alkemie.org
Eleanor — Alkemie
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Ross W. Duffin @rosswmd.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Back to see my Norton Simon Museum Doppelgänger, 8 years later. Dammit, he hasn’t aged a bit!
White-haired bearded man standing by a painting of a soldier who looks similar.
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