There is a wonderful richness and variety in Western music before the year 1700. The Early Muse is a weekly program created for HPR in 2004 by music volunteer Ian Capps, who brought fresh programming to listeners each week for nearly 20 years. It explored the critical formative years of European music, from Medieval chant, song and dance, through the rich polyphony of the Renaissance and into the Baroque ‘revolution’ of the 17th century with its invention of the opera, oratorio and orchestral music as we know it today.

Born in London, Ian performed early music since childhood, and during a career as an international media executive until retirement in Hawaii. He was also President of Early Music Hawaii, a non-profit organization which has presented professional performers, both local and from the mainland, in annual concert series of early music since 2006. Learn more about Ian

We remember Ian Capps with deep appreciation for their contributions to our community and to public radio in Hawaiʻi. Read more about his contributions to HPR.

The last episode of The Early Muse aired on Oct. 25 with The Early Muse: The Sunset Show Finale. Listen on demand