Summer School Courses - Week 1

Music of The Sun King gives special flavour to this opening week of the 2009 Summer School. Louis XIV gathered around him some remarkable artists, musicians and playwrights in his court at Versailles – a court which inspired the exiled Charles II – including Lully, Charpentier, and de Lalande, with the influence of Molière much at hand. We welcome back Andrew Parrott to Dartington after an absence of 25 years, and the Barbirolli Quartet join us for the first time.

Choir

Director Andrew Parrott
Charpentier Te Deum (Baerenreiter, sung in Latin)
Gilles Requiem (A R Edition, sung in Latin)

Orchestral Workshop

Director Rupert Bond
The all-comers orchestra will study music composed by the European contemporaries of the musicians surrounding the Court of the Sun King.
Players of all levels are welcome.

Vocal Ensembles

Directors David Bates & la Nuova Musica
La Melancholie -17th century European madrigals

Many of the madrigals and airs de cour written at the beginning of the 17th century enjoyed ‘La Melancholie’ as their chief affect. The singers of “La Nuova Musica” will lead a course which focuses on madrigals for 4, 5 and 6 voices by John Dowland, Claudio Monteverdi, François de Chancy and Heinrich Schutz. A detailed repertoire list will be available at the beginning of July and editions will be available for purchase on day one.

We welcome pre-formed groups, and will encourage singing one-to-a-part where possible.

Chamber Music

Coordinator Rhiannon Evans
Barbirolli Quartet

The chamber music course will offer one formally-organised session each day. Each participant will be assigned to a group in advance, and suitable repertoire chosen (any pre-formed groups are welcome to bring their own choices). Groups can get together informally at other times (when some coaching may also be available).

Please complete the Chamber Music form with your booking before 1st July 2009, as places are limited. If you have any specific repertoire requests mention these on the form as well as any other courses you are enrolling for. You will be contacted with details of your group and suggested music before the start of Summer School.

Exploring the Roots of Music – Ecosonics

Director Stephen Preston

A course for players interested in exploring the sounds their instruments make as a basic form of communication. Ecosonic improvisation focuses on ideas of natural soundmaking, on birdsong and dialogue, or relationships between sound and emotion. Of particular value to teachers who work with people with little experience of musical instruments.

Instrumental & Vocal Classes

Dame Emma Kirkby Voice +
Nicholas Clapton Voice
John Lill Piano*
David Miller Lute, Theorbo and Baroque Guitar*
Jill Kemp Recorder
Colin Tilney Harpsichord*
Rakhi Singh & Katie Stillman Violin (not daily)
tbc Cello (not daily)
Stephen Preston Baroque flute
Alastair Mitchell Baroque Bassoon
Marion Whittow Oboe

* These classes are for advanced participants only.

+ Applications from bursary and non-bursary students for this course must be received by 03 April 2009. Please send an application form, covering letter, CV, recording, tutor’s reference and a large stamped addressed envelope if you would like your recording returned.

Harpsichord Masterclass

Director Colin Tilney
François Couperin Pièces de Clavecin, Second Livre

From the seven suites (ordres) in Couperin’s 2nd Book, choose 2 and prepare 3 pieces from each suite. In addition, prepare 2 of the 8 preludes in Couperin’s L’Art de Toucher le Clavecin. Your preludes should be in the same keys as your suites; for instance, if you choose Les Baricades mistérieuses, your prelude should be no.7

Balinese Gamelan

Director Saj Heming

The wonderful Indonesian tuned percussion of the Gamelan varies widely in terms of the level of musicianship required to play them. Anybody, regardless of age or musical experience, is welcome on this course culminating in a short informal performance.

Continuo from Scratch

Director Colin Booth

An introduction to the art of playing from the bass, a method of accompaniment by improvisation. Those finding playing continuo from realisations unrewarding will be amazed as Colin reveals the simplicity and attractiveness of the method, having participants playing from the bass within five days! During weeks 1 and 2 Colin will also offer some hands on introductory sessions for pianists interested in trying that exotic beast: the Harpsichord!

Viol Consorts

Coperario’s Musique
Directors The Rose Consort of Viols

This course will focus on the music of four great English composers: Alfonso Ferrabosco the younger, Thomas Lupo, Orlando Gibbons and John Coprario. Their fantasias, dance music and In Nomines provide a wealth of wonderful music to explore. More advanced players will also have opportunities to be coached in music by Marin Marais and his contemporaries at the court of the Sun King.

Competent sight-reading is essential: numbers are limited and it may be necessary to select participants to form balanced groups. There will be two sessions during the week when complete beginners can ‘try the viol’.

Music, dance and art from Tibet

From the heights of the Himalayas, eight Tibetan monks bring a taste of the unique culture of Tibet, and of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in particular. The course covers the musical instruments, the magnificent costumes and masks of the New Year dances, an introduction to the Tibetan tradition of dialectical debate, as well as the visual arts of sand mandala-making and butter sculpture with many opportunities for participation. The course is particularly suitable for families, and anyone is welcome, regardless of age or ability.

African Drumming

Director Georgie Watts & Rob Shipster

A week of workshops in West African Music with a special emphasis on Ghana. This music is great fun, engaging and challenging. You will find yourself playing traditional drums using your hands or sticks, singing in harmony, dancing, playing bells, rattles and much more.

Baroque Dance

Director Sarah Cremer

This course is open to all ages and abilities exploring the dances of Rameau’s opera Naïs. In close collaboration with the Baroque Orchestra all instrumentalists are invited to dance.

Musicianship for beginners

Director Rhiannon Evans
Musicianship for Beginners

This course welcomes all (including children and families) who wish to improve, and discover, their basic musicianship skills and features elements of the Kodaly and Dalcroze systems, with musical games and exercises to develop rhythmic and aural skills. It will include sight-singing and notation work and choir members wishing to brush up on their reading skills may find it useful.

Baroque Orchestra

FULL TIME
Directors Nicolette Moonen & Jenny Ward Clarke

The Baroque Orchestra will work on an orchestral suite from Rameau’s opera Naïs and repertoire for this week’s choir concert. The course combines playing and dancing and is aimed at music students and professionals, playing on period instruments. String players with no experience playing on period instruments are welcome, but will need to bring a period instrument to play on.

Please note the deadline for both bursary and non-bursary students applying for this course is 27 March 2009. Applicants must send an application form, covering letter, CV, a recording, a written reference and a large stamped addressed envelope if you would like your recording returned.

TWO WEEK COURSES

Early Brass: Cornetts and Sackbuts

FULL TIME
Directors David Staff & Sue Addison

This course is for Cornett and Sackbut players, working on 16th and 17th century repertoire. Morning sessions focus on instrumental tuition. Afternoon sessions will explore polychoral works by the great Venetian masters such as Gabrieli, Grillo and Viadana. There will be various performance opportunites, including the Friday concert with the choir.

Jazz / Jazz Improvisation

FULL TIME
Directors Keith Tippett & Lewis Riley Piano
Course tutors Julie Tippetts Voice, Ben Clark Drums,
John Richards Double Bass, Ben Waghorn Saxophone,

Dave Holdsworth Brass

This jazz course is open to instrumentalists and singers, with or without jazz experience, and covers a wide range of styles and approaches with an emphasis on improvisation. There will be three daily workshops in improvisation, standard and Latin jazz as well as individual help from the course tutors. It is possible to attend one or both weeks of this course.