Week 3 Courses, 4-11 August 2012

The heart of this string focused week is the all comers String Orchestra directed by Jonathan Morton and Sir Neville Marriner. We are delighted that the distinguished violinist and teacher Eberhard Feltz is with us to coach Advanced Chamber Music. We welcome newcomers Priya Mitchell, Garth Knox and Natalie Clein for their respective masterclasses and also welcome back the Barbirolli Quartet who will be coaching Chamber Music. Thea Musgrave is teaching composition and Ilan Volkov coaches the first week of the Advanced Conducting course. Pete Cooper returns with Folk and Sanju and Jaymini Sahai will be bringing a carnatic violinist with them to open their Indian Music course up to more string players.

One Week Courses

Choir

Director Stephen Cleobury
Haydn Te Deum in C
(OUP 978-0-19-336776-0)
Haydn Creation Mass
(Bärenreiter BA4656-90)

String Orchestra

Director Jonathan Morton
With guest director Sir Neville Marriner The all-comers string orchestra will study Elgar’s Serenade, Penderecki’s Threnody and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade working towards an end of week performance.

Chamber Music

Coordinator Becka Rickard
with the Barbirolli Quartet

PRE-FORMED ENSEMBLES
To take part in a pre-formed ensemble, you MUST complete a chamber music form with your initial booking and indicate which session(s) you wish to play in. Places in pre-formed groups will be limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will be sent details of your ensemble in July. Please note that, unlike in previous years, each group will be free to choose their own repertoire, either from their personal collection or from the Summer School library. Coaching will be available for Sessions 2 and 3 only.°

‘THE CHAMBER POT’, 4-5pm
The Chamber Pot is a daily informal gathering to play through a major work from the chamber music repertoire. Absolutely all are welcome, but you should be prepared to double-up or swap if necessary.

SPONTANEOUS CHAMBER MUSIC
In addition to the pre-formed ensembles, there will be notice boards and meetings where you can arrange your own informal group, with help from the chamber music team.

Instrumental and Vocal Masterclasses and Workshops

Joan Rodgers voice*
Jessica Cash voice
Daniel Adni piano*
Helen Reid piano
Priya Mitchell violin*
Jonathan Morton violin
Garth Knox viola
Natalie Clein cello
Graham Mitchell double bass

Chamber Choir

Director Leigh O’Hara
The Chamber Choir will be focusing on 20th Century English a capella music culminating in a concert at the end of the week. The choir will work on music from Thea Musgrave’s On The Underground which are settings of poems published on the London Underground and somewhat resemble modern-day madrigals. Alongside this, the choir will also work on folk song arrangements by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. These two composers were two of the greatest exponents of this kind of free arrangement and the results range from the humorous to the profound. The music for this course is demanding and there is a lot to cover in a short rehearsal time before the concert so is suited to experienced singers who are confident sight readers or quick learners. Auditions will be held on the first day straight after choir, after which there will be time to buy the music before the first class in the afternoon.

Advanced Chamber Music: String Quartets**

Director Eberhard Feltz
This course offers a rare opportunity for one conservatoire student or emerging professional string quartet to receive professional coaching from Eberhard Feltz. Please note that this course is subject to an application process. Please “click here”/summer-school/2011-advanced-courses for full details.
Closing date for applications: 13 April

Composition

Director Thea Musgrave
During this course participants will write music for one or two violins, imagining one is Angry and one is Peaceful, exploring the dramatic interaction between the two contrasting emotions: how will the different lines be affected by the interaction – will the emotion be exchanged or develop independently? During the course of the week participants will write short pieces which will be worked on, discussed and workshopped by players in daily sessions and performed at the end of the course. This course is suitable for experienced and competent composers interested in exploring this idea.

Demystifying Indian Music and Dance

Directors Sanju Sahai & Jaymini Sahai
Indian music is traditional and modern, classical and contemporary, and has richness and depth in its melodies and rhythms. The course is led by internationally renowned tabla maestro Sanju Sahai, who is joined by Jaymini Sahai, who will be leading the Kathak Dance workshops. Together they will demonstrate and explore the intricate relationship between Indian classical music and dance. In this string focussed week Sanju and Jaymini are joined by Kala Ramnath, an outstanding violinist who has performed both Indian and western classical music. This course gives participants of all ages, backgrounds and levels an introduction to Indian classical music and the North Indian classical dance style called Kathak. This is a chance to appreciate and enjoy the tradition of improvisation, composition and rhythm. Indian classical music is raga based and the course will aim to cover at least one morning and one evening raga. Workshop participants are encouraged to bring their own instruments.

Gospel Choir

Director Carol Pemberton
Uplifting, harmonious, soul-stirring, challenging and fun all describe the power and appeal of the Gospel Choir sessions. These are led by Carol Pemberton – music director of internationally acclaimed a capella group Black Voices. The workshops will cover a range of black music traditions that influence and shape what today we call black Gospel. The course will culminate in a performance of some of the pieces covered in the week’s sessions.

English Roots: Fiddle & Cello Tunes, 1651 – 2012

Directors Pete Cooper & Richard Bolton
Pete Cooper, fiddle, and Richard Bolton, cello and guitar, explore dance tunes – jigs, reels, hornpipes, waltzes – and other repertoire from the English folk tradition, as well as presenting their own original pieces inspired by it. Expect a relaxed, aural teaching method: those new to folk music and more experienced players are all welcome.

Introduction to the Viola d’Amore

Director Garth Knox
Garth will offer an introduction to and demonstrations on the Viola d’Amore for those with no previous experience of the instrument. He will also be very happy to give a masterclass to anyone already playing the instrument.

Three Week Course

Advanced Conducting**

FULL TIME
Director Ilan Volkov (Week 3)
Nicholas Kraemer (Week 4)
Pierre-André Valade (Week 5)
This course is a unique opportunity for advanced student and emerging professional conductors to work intensively with an orchestra under the direction of three different conductors, on repertoire for which they are renowned. This is an invaluable opportunity for conductors on the threshold of their professional careers. This course is subject to a process of application and audition, and participants must commit to all three weeks. Please “click here”/summer-school/2011-advanced-courses for full details.
Closing date for applications: 16 March

+ These courses are suitable for those with little or no musical experience.
* These classes are for advanced participants only.
** These courses are for advanced participants only and entry is subject to an application process. Click here for details.