More Arts at Dartington...
Summer School Courses - Week 5
21 August – 28 August
Now’s the time to say goodbye… to Gavin Henderson, after 26 Summer Schools and to Diego Masson after 27 Summer Schools. Graeme Jenkins came to Gavin’s first Summer School in 1985 and here conducts the Verdi Requiem by way of farewell. Lots of trumpets, of course, not only in the Verdi but also with Graham Ashton’s New York Chamber Brass. Diego Masson conducts the last of three semistaged performances of The Marriage of Figaro – directed by Alexander Oliver culminating the Advanced Conducting and Advanced Opera courses.
We say farewell to Herbie Flowers, in absentia, with the Light Orchestra programme and resonance of RockShop in Carol Pemberton’s Gospel Choir. The Viennese theme continues with Linda Hirst’s masterclass in Schoenberg’s seminal Pierrot Lunaire – a vocal and instrumental construct that has permeated some sixty years of Summer School. Parties galore and a salsa band to boot! This is a very significant turning point but Summer School goes on!
Courses marked with a plus+ are suitable for those with little or no musical experience. Those marked with one asterisk* are for advanced participants only. Those classes marked with two asterisks** are for advanced participants only and are subject to an application process. See Advanced Courses for details.Director Graeme Jenkins
Verdi Requiem (Ricordi, sung in Latin)
Soloist Ann Liebeck
Coordinator Barbara Sue White with the Stanford Quartet
See pages Week 4 for course description.
Linda Hirst Voice
Adrian Thompson Voice
Rolf Hind Piano*
Andrew Zolinsky Piano
Jack Liebeck Violin
Adam Walters Horn
Paul Archibald & Tom Rainer Trumpet
Aidan Chamberlain Trombone
Nick Etheridge Tuba
Directors Chaconia Brass
(Ensemble-in-Residence, University of Trinidad and Tobago)
This course will be open to both pre-existing quintets and individual players of an advanced or diploma standard. Individual players will be accepted on a first come, first served basis and ensembles will be arranged as far as possible in advance. The course will cover a range of repertoire, and there may also be performance opportunities in the evening concerts.
Director Peter Copley
This is a practical course for those interested in composing music of any genre concentrating upon the skills common to all composition, such as melody, construction, harmonic progression and instrumentation. Beginners and interested listeners are welcome and no previous composing experience is necessary, although basic music literacy is an advantage. Please bring any instrument you play (at whatever level) and manuscript paper. At the end of the course, there will be an informal concert of music composed during the week.
Director Peter Copley
A practical course for those with some previous experience in composition for any genre, who wish to extend their skills and knowledge. Topics for discussion and practice will include techniques of developing basic material, writing for specific instruments, voice, evolving structure and creating textural variety within a composition. Please bring any instrument you play (at whatever level) and manuscript paper. Basic musical literacy is a necessity for this course, although problems with notation will be covered. If time allows, previously composed pieces by participants mayalso be played and discussed in the class. At the end of the course, there will be an informal concert of music composed during the week.
Directors Linda Hirst and the Mercury Quartet with Hannah Grayson (flute)
Linda Hirst and the Mercury Quartet with Hannah Grayson will offer intensive coaching on Schoenberg’s expressionist masterpiece. There will be places on the course for several singers (male and female), and one player per instrumental part (flute, clarinet, violin/viola, cello, piano). Participants must be at least of diploma level. The course will culminate in an end-of-week performance.
Directors Alan Gout, Andy Baker and Peter Poole
Back by popular demand, the orchestra embarks on its second decade this summer. Each day there will be two sessions – early morning and late afternoon. Explore the melodic grace and style of the days of the seaside pier and ballroom orchestras, the rhythm and elegance of the ‘wireless’ and luxury hotel dance bands, and orchestral ‘lollipops’ from Music While You Work and Friday Night Is Music Night. We rehearse music by masters such as Eric Coates and Leroy Anderson, operetta favourites and overtures, and music by the great composers showing their lighter side, not forgetting the classic songs of the great 20th century popular tunesmiths George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rodgers, Leonard Bernstein and many more.
From these we make a selection for our three events: the Tea-Dance on the lawn (weather permitting) including the jive competition and overwhelmingly popular Gay Gordons; the Dartington Festival Light Orchestra concert; and Friday’s closing event of the entire Summer School, the Grand Viennese Ball. There are usually enough players to allow you to drop out and try the waltz or polka for yourselves. There will almost certainly be an opportunity for you to form your own ensembles – so bring some music too. This course is an opportunity to play a lot of different styles of music alongside the most unintimidating team of professionals you are ever likely to meet. Have no fear: this orchestra accommodates all ages and abilities (and nearly all instruments!).
Director Bosco de Oliveira
The Salsa Band is open to all instrumentalists of grade 5 standard and above, with some spaces for singers. The course will take a riotous tour through many of the major salsa styles from all over Latin America. We’ll learn a host of Salsa standards, and will be putting our new found skills to use at the end of the week when we play for the Salsa Ball.
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 cappella group Black Voices. The workshops will cover a range of black music traditions that influence and shape what today we call black Gospel. Daily sessions will culminate in a concert including some of the best-loved Gospel music.
FULL TIME
Director Julian Anderson
The second week of a two-week course. Please note that entry to this course is subject to a process of application. See Advanced Courses for details.
Closing date for applications 12th March.
FULL TIME
Director Alexander Oliver
The second week of a two-week course. Please note that entry to this course is subject to a process of application and audition.
See Advanced Courses for details.
Please note that this course will finish on Monday 30th August as there will be a performance on Sunday 29th.
Closing date for applications 12th March.
FULL TIME
Director Diego Masson
The third week of a three-week course. Please note that entry to this course is subject to a process of application and audition.
See Advanced Courses for details.
Please note that this course will finish on Monday 30th August as there will be a performance on Sunday 29th.
Closing date for applications 12th March.
Matthew Barley (cello), Viktoria Mullova (violin), Julian Joseph (piano), Paul Clarvis (percussion) and Sam Walton (percussion) will be developing a programme of new work, which they will perform at the end of the week. Additionally, the group will also run some improvisation workshops and advanced string sessions, and Viktoria will give an advanced violin masterclass. These activities will not be scheduled until the start of the week, when a sign-up sheet will be made available for interested participants.
[what's this?]
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