More Arts at Dartington...
Summer School Courses - Week 1
26 July to 02 August
The Schütz Dresden Vespers, interspersed with Schmelzer and Biber will involve cornetts and sackbutts, baroque strings, consorts of viols and recorders, and multifarious choirs: a glorious start to Dartington’s 60th anniversary. An early music week? Not only but also: Taiko drumming, Gamelan, African drumming, and Keith Tippett’s jazz course – all for young and old, surrounding a first visit of the acclaimed Henschel String Quartet, and a welcome return of pianist Martino Tirimo.
ONE WEEK COURSES
Choir
Director James Weeks
Schütz Dresden Vespers
The choir will perform music for an imaginary festal Vespers at the Dresden court, together with brass consorts, extravagant continuo and the vocal ensemble EXAUDI. Extracts from Schütz’s magnificent polychoral Psalmen Davids form the backbone of the repertoire, alongside motets from the Geistliche Chor-Muzik and the great Magnificat, SWV468.
Orchestral Workshop
Director Leigh O’Hara
The orchestra will explore instrumental music by
contemporaries of Schütz, including Schmeltzer,
Biber and the Moravian composer, Wejvonovsky,
whose music richly deserves to be better known.
Players of all levels are welcome to attend.
Vocal Ensembles
Directors EXAUDI
Renowned vocal ensemble, EXAUDI will lead a course focused
on madrigals, exploring music from both the English and
Italian traditions. The formations will be one to a part as
far as possible, so participants should be confident enough
readers to hold a line on their own.
Chamber Music
Coordinator Rhiannon Evans
Henschel Quartet
The chamber music course will offer one session each day,
coached by the Henschel Quartet. Groups can get together
informally at other times (when some coaching may also
be available). Each participant will be assigned to a group
in advance, and suitable repertoire chosen for each group.
Any pre-formed ensembles are welcome to bring their
own repertoire.
Please complete the Chamber Music form with your booking
before 1 July 2008 as places are limited and will be filled
on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any specific
requests for pieces please mention these on the form.
You will be contacted with details of your group and
suggested repertoire before the start of Summer School.
Musicianship for beginners
Director Rhiannon Evans
This course welcomes all including children and families who
wish to improve, or discover, their basic musicianship skills.
It will feature elements of the Kodaly and Dalcroze systems,
with games and exercises to develop rhythmic and aural skills
and a sense of internal pulse. It will include sight-singing
and notation work, helpful for choir members . Everyone
can be a musician – you just need to know where to start!
Instrumental & Vocal Classes
Evelyn Tubb Voice**
Nicholas Clapton Voice
Martino Tirimo Piano*
Simon Young Piano
Colin Tilney Harpsichord*
Walter Reiter Baroque Violin
Joseph Crouch Baroque cello & continuo
David Miller Lute*
Michael Fields Lute and lutesong
Emma Murphy Recorder
- These classes are for advanced participants only.
- Entry to this class will be by audition, which
will take place at the start of the week.
- Entry to this class will be by audition, which
Piano Duets
Directors Simon Young & Leigh O’Hara
Simon Young will direct piano duet classes (including
two pianos) with Leigh O’Hara. Works by the Bach
family (including transcriptions) and Stravinsky
will be particularly welcome.
Harpsichord Masterclasses
Director Colin Tilney
Students should prepare Handel Eight Suites (1720)
and Rameau Pieces de Clavecin (1724).
Preludes & Improvisation – an introduction for harpsichordists and pianists
Director Colin Booth
This course gives keyboard players a chance to discover
or develop their skills in improvisation, using the baroque
prelude as a source of inspiration.
Baroque Cello and Continuo
Director Joseph Crouch
“Somebody who wishes to make the violoncello his profession
would do well to apply himself above all to becoming a good
accompanist… A good accompanist is of greater service in
an orchestra than a mediocre soloist.” J.J.Quantz
This course will explore historical techniques and practical
skills that served continuo cellists in the accompaniment
of instrumentalists and singers. Students will also have a
chance to join the orchestra for Friday’s Schütz programme.
Viol Consorts: Alpha and Omega
Directors The Rose Consort of Viols
This course will focus on the great repertory of English
consort music, from the court of Henry VIII and the Lumley
partbooks, to music by Tallis, Tye and their contemporaries.
More advanced players will also be coached in later music,
such as Jenkins, Lawes and Locke, leading to the crowning
glory of Purcell’s Fantasias. Competent sight-reading is
essential.
During the week there will be one or two sessions
offering complete beginners the chance to play the viol.
Mediaeval & Renaissance Music
Directors The Dufay Collective
The Dufay Collective return for their much-loved course on
early music from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Participants
should bring their own instruments, be able to read music,
and be willing to work in mixed ensembles. Existing ensembles
are welcome. Singers should state their voice type and area
of interest.
African Drumming
Director Georgie Watts
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.
Balinese Gamelan
Director Saj Heming
The ancient gamelans of Bali thrive today more than ever
as a steady stream of enthusiasts from all over the world
continue to explore its rich soundworld. The instruments of
the gamelan vary widely in terms of the level or musicianship
required to play them and therefore anybody, regardless of
age or previous musical experience, is welcome to take part
in this week of Balinese gamelan, culminating in a short
informal performance.
Taiko Drumming
Director Jonathan Kirby, Kagemusha Taiko
Taiko Drumming originated in Japan, but is based on
principles that make it accessible and rewarding for people
all over the world. This course will give participants an
introduction to taiko, covering the principles of attitude,
kata (choreography), musical technique, and ki (energy).
They will play a range of taiko drums, in different styles,
and will work as a group to learn and perform a simple
taiko composition.
Participants must be strong, physically fit and reasonably
mobile, and must be prepared to commit to the course
for the week. The course is not suitable for young children.
TWO WEEK COURSES
Early brass: Cornetts, Sackbuts & Natural Trumpets (FULL TIME)
Directors David Staff & Sue Addison
This week’s course is principally for cornett, sackbut
and natural trumpet players, working on sixteenth and
seventeenth century repertoire. Performance opportunities
will be found in the Summer School’s evening concerts and
some players will be required for the performance of the
Schütz Vespers on the Friday night. It is possible to attend
one or both weeks of this course.
Film Music Composition (FULL TIME)
Director Miguel Mera
The first week of a two-week course. This course will offer
an exciting exploration of the aesthetic, creative and technical
possibilities of film music composition. Some time will
be spent analysing existing film works but the focus will
be on the creation of new pieces. Compositional fluency
is a pre-requisite but applicants need not have written
‘film music’ previously.
Please note: the deadline for both bursary and non-bursary
students applying for this course is 28 March 2008.
Applicants must send an application form, covering letter,
CV, two scores and a recording if available, a written reference
and a large stamped addressed envelope if you would like
your scores / recording returned.
Jazz and Improvised Music (FULL TIME)
Directors Keith Tippett & Lewis Riley
with
Julie Tippetts Improvised Voice
Ben Waghorn Saxophone
Ben Clark Drums
John Richards Double Bass
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 lead by Lewis Riley (standard
and Latin jazz), Julie Tippetts (voice improvisation) and Keith
Tippett (contemporary improvisation) as well as individual
help from the course tutors. All are welcome regardless of
age or standard; all you need is an instrument and to be
serious about the music. The first week of a two-week course.
It is possible to attend one or both weeks of this course.
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Dartington International Summer School is a department of the Dartington Hall Trust, registered in England as a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Charity No. 279756 Company No.1485560 VAT No. 402196875 Registered Office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EL