More Arts at Dartington...
Summer School Courses - Week 3
09 August to 16 August
Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius has special resonance for Dartington – Cardinal Newman was closely associated with The Postern on the estate. The Festival Orchestra will explore period instrument practice for this project. Stephen Montague launches our co-commission, (with Mendelssohn on Mull and Idyllwild in California) of Apparitions – a nocturnal, participatory saga. We welcome Gerald Busby and Craig Lucas, from New York, for adventures in music theatre whilst jive and swing band break new Summer School ground.
ONE WEEK COURSES
Choir
Director Jeffrey Skidmore
Elgar The Dream of Gerontius (Novello)
String Ensemble Workshop
Director Matthew Jones
A string orchestra for all-comers, focusing on English music, notably Elgar’s Serenade for Strings in E minor.
Wind Band
Director Steve Dummer
The wind band is open to all-comers and repertoire
will be confirmed at the start of the week.
Swing Band
Director Steve Dummer
The swing band, for brass, saxophones, bass players
and drums, will explore a variety of big band and swing
numbers, combining with the Modern Jive course
at the end of the week for a lively Swing Ball.
Chamber Choir
Director John Hancorn
We will explore the part-songs of Elgar and his English
contemporaries, including:
Elgar As Torrents in Summer
Elgar Ave verum
Ireland Greater Love hath no Man
Vaughan Williams O Clap your Hands
Pearsall Lay a Garland
Parry Music , when soft voices die
The course is aimed at experienced choral singers
with good sight-reading and musicianship skills,
in order to form a small, well balanced group.
Chamber Music
Coordinator Barbara Sue White
Duke quartet
See page 15 for course description.
Elementary Wind Chamber Music for Woodwind and Horn Players
Directors Steve Dummer & Laurence Perkins
Discover the joys of wind chamber music and learn techniques
to get more out of your ensemble and orchestral playing, with
musical exercises and tips to help you develop these skills.
Wind & Strings Chamber Music for diploma standard players
Directors David Kenedy & Laurence Perkins
This popular course, working in depth on some of the great
chamber works for combined strings and winds, will focus
on the Nonet by Josef Rheinberger (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn,
bassoon, violin, viola, cello, bass) as our set work for this week.
Daily rehearsals tutored by David Kenedy and Laurence
Perkins will lead to an informal performance at the end of the
week. Parts will be sent out in advance for personal practice,
and players must commit to the daily rehearsal session.
Instrumental & Vocal Classes
This week, there will be opportunities to discover 19th century
instruments and techniques in instrumental classes,
alongside the modern. This will culminate in the performance
of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius on Friday with the Dartington
Festival Orchestra playing on the instruments of Elgar’s day.
Adrian Thompson Voice*
Pippa Longworth Voice
Rolf Hind Piano*
Helen Yorke Piano & Piano Accompaniment
David Titterington Organ*
Ian Watson Accordion
Jack Liebeck Violin
Matthew Jones Viola
David Kenedy Cello
Peter Buckoke Double Bass
Deborah Davis Flute
Sarah Francis Oboe
Alan Hacker Clarinet*
Gerard McChrystal Sax
Laurence Perkins Bassoon
Paul Archibald Trumpet
Julian Baker & Sue Dent Horn
John Kenny Trombone
- These classes are for advanced participants only
Organ Masterclasses
Director David Titterington
The repertoire for this course is open, but please inform
the Summer School of your chosen pieces by 1 May 2008
or as soon as possible.
Accordion Workshop
Director Ian Watson
The accordion course will focus on ensemble as well as solo
performance. There is no set repertoire and participants are
encouraged to prepare pieces of varying genres for presenting
in workshop sessions. A partial focus will be performance
presentation and programme planning. Participants should
be able to read music and have prepared at least one solo
piece to work on in classes.
Would you like to play Double Bass?
Directors Peter Buckoke & David Kenedy
There will be a number of ‘taster’ sessions during the week,
particularly aimed at cellists, with a view to taking up the
double bass – a particularly satisfying instrument that is
played by far too few musicians. The sessions will include
a performance lecture, a ‘try out’ session and a practical
workshop. Instruments will be provided and all are welcome.
Modern Jive Dance
Director Alina Hancorn
Modern Jive is one of the most popular and fastest growing
partner dance styles, with over 400,000 dancers in the UK
alone. With no complicated footwork this fantastic blend of
dance moves is extremely easy to learn and can be danced
to a variety of music styles, from swing and rock-n-roll to
Latin and modern charts.
The course is designed for complete beginners, and will take
you through the most popular moves, stylish combinations
and seductive turns, which you’ll be able to “freestyle” by the
end of the course. The course will culminate in a Ball where
you’ll be able to dance the night away to a blistering set
of tunes from the Dartington Swing Band.
Creating Music Theatre (FULL TIME)
Directors Paul Barker & Richard Williams,
with Gerald Busby and Craig Lucas
Directed by distinguished professionals in the field of music and the theatre, this course is aimed at writers, composers, singers and instrumentalists. Writers and composers will collaborate in creating book, lyrics and music during the week, developing ideas in conjunction with performers, culminating in a live performance of their work at the end of the week. We are also looking for an ensemble of singers and instrumentalists willing and able to engage quickly with new material. All instruments, voices and styles of music/theatre will be considered. Abilities in more than one discipline are particularly welcomed. This will be an intense and rewarding experience for those taking part, and past experience leads us to believe that the opportunities created on the course will extend far beyond it. Those wishing to take part in the ensemble should be advanced or diploma level and must submit a CV and recording with their application.
We are also looking for a cabaret ensemble consisting of the following: soprano-pianist, mezzo, tenor, baritone, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano and bassoon.
This ensemble will perform a work of musical theatre by Gerald Busby and Craig Lucas, and directed by Richard Williams. Again, those wishing to take part in the ensemble should be advanced or diploma level standard and must submit a CV and recording with their application.
Apparitions Chorus: A new work by Stephen Montague
Director Stephen Montague
Chorus Master John Hancorn
This is an opportunity to perform in a new work by the
composer, Stephen Montague. Apparitions, co-commissioned
by the Summer School, will explore the legends of ghosts and
nocturnal myths that surround Dartington Hall. It will be
performed late at night, in mask & costume, taking audiences
and performers on an eerie journey around the mediaeval
courtyard, involving art, music and video installations. In
addition to this dedicated chorus, the work will involve the
collaboration of number of instrumental soloists and groups.
THREE WEEK COURSE
Advanced Conducting (FULL TIME)
Director Diego Masson
This is the first week of three and offers a rare opportunity
for conductors to work intensively under the direction
of internationally renowned conductor, Diego Masson.
Six conductors will be chosen to participate in this course,
and observers are welcome. Applicants must be available
for all three weeks.
Please note: this course will finish on Monday 1 September
2008.
Applications for this course must be made by 21 March 2008.
Please send an application form, your CV, a reference and
a covering letter. Auditions will be held in the Spring.
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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