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2015 course information

Medieval and Renaissance Music, Improvisation, Jigs, Poetry – and Ecology

Baroque Orchestra, Baroque Opera, Folk Music and Creative Writing

Conducting, Orchestral and Chamber Music, Opera, Music Theatre and Brazilian Music

Composing, working with Film and Multimedia, Opera and Jazz

Medieval and Renaissance Music, Improvisation, Jigs, Poetry – and Ecology

Week 1 combines the energy and brilliance of the Middle Ages, the Venetian grandeur of Gabrieli, and the incredible ‘wall of sound’ created by Thomas Tallis’s massive 40-part motet, Spem in Alium, guided by conductor Jeffrey Skidmore and Ex Cathedra. Medieval and Renaissance players, singers and ensembles (and modern players and singers too) can receive expert tuition and guidance from The City Musick, Fretwork, Carolyn Sampson, Nicholas Clapton, Stevie Wishart and Carole Cerasi, then explore improvisational courses in the afternoon. Whether springboarding from Chaucer’s poetry with Alice Oswald, enacting the stage jigs and bawdy songs of 16th century theatre with Lucie Skeaping, or discovering fairy tales, medieval miracles and talking animals in Marina Warner’s lecture, this week will be colourful, action-packed and exciting. There’s a theme of greenery and ecology too, running through the programming: from sustainable instruments created by Junk Music, pastoral madrigals and nature poetry in the ancient gardens of Dartington, to Alec Roth’s stunning choral work Earthrise.

The concerts, too, encompass the pioneering early world, presenting European and South American motets performed by Ex Cathedra, Fretwork charting Sir Francis Drake’s 1577-80 journey on The Golden Hinde, Bach’s alpha-omega Goldberg Variations and Carolyn Sampson’s The History of the World in Seventeen and a Half Songs. And we literally encircle the Great Hall in our climactic Friday night concert, with Tallis, Gabrieli, Monteverdi, and choral poetry performed in the round, soaring to the rafters.

The Big Choir

JEFFREY SKIDMORE

The popular and internationally-acclaimed conductor of Ex Cathedra, Jeffrey Skidmore, returns to Dartington to work on Thomas Tallis’s celebrated 40-part motet Spem in Alium, which The Big Choir will perform twice, in the round: in Latin, and in English, as Sing and Glorify Heaven’s High Majesty. Alec Roth’s beautiful and powerful choral work Earthrise, directly linked to the Tallis, brings drama to the concert in the medieval Great Hall, alongside The City Musick’s Advanced Renaissance Wind Band.

SESSION 1

Vocal Ensembles

EX CATHEDRA
Ex Cathedra coach singers of all ages and abilities in smaller ensembles, focussing on early madrigals and motets.

SESSION 2

Vocal Masterclass

CAROLYN SAMPSON
The operatic soprano Carolyn Sampson, fêted all over the world for her performances of Monteverdi, Purcell, Bach and Mozart, directs this week’s masterclass for advanced singers.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 2

Improve Your Sight-singing

RHIANNON EVANS
Do you struggle with the demanding multitasking activity that is sight-singing? Is recognising rhythms, pitching intervals and reading the text all at once a daunting challenge? This course is open to all, especially singers who are not fluent readers, and anyone wishing to brush up on their sight-singing skills.

SESSION 2

Vocal Workshop

NICHOLAS CLAPTON
‘Ever since coming to Dartington for the first time in 1995, I’ve always encouraged participants in my class to perform a wide and varied repertoire of their choice, on which we can work both technically and interpretatively. Aged from 16 to 80+, they have responded with everything from Machaut to Maxwell Davies – fabulous!’

SESSION 3

Chamber Choir

JEFFREY SKIDMORE
Jeffrey Skidmore directs two Giovanni Gabrieli masterpieces – the 16-voice Omnes Gentes, and his most famous composition, In Ecclesiis – for a performance in the Friday night choral concert.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 4

The Big Choir Plus

GAVIN ROBERTS
Some extra rehearsal opportunities for The Big Choir repertoire.

SESSION 4

Advanced Renaissance Wind Band

THE CITY MUSICK
William Lyons and the ever-popular City Musick members return to direct canzonas, toccatas and sonatas from 17th century Venice; Gabrieli’s grand Canzona a22 will be performed antiphonally in the Great Hall. For cornetts, sackbuts, reeds and strings.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 1

Viol Consorts

FRETWORK
The brilliant and ground-breaking viol consort Fretwork supervise and lead tuition at all levels. Repertoire will include English, French, Italian and German music of the 16th and 17th centuries.

SESSIONS 1, 2 AND 3

Renaissance Reeds, Recorders, Brass and Strings

WILLIAM LYONS, NICHOLAS PERRY AND GAWAIN GLENTON
Group and individual tuition with members of The City Musick, on shawms, crumhorns, dulcian, rackett, recorders, early violin, cornetts, sackbuts, bagpipes and renaissance percussion.

SESSION 2

The Natural Trumpet

RICHARD THOMAS
This is a rare and fantastic opportunity to play, in ensemble, the trumpet without any modern adaptations or compromises. The course is suitable for modern players wishing to try their hand at the natural instrument as well as much more accomplished players, hoping to experiment, challenge and refine their skills.

SESSION 2

Hurdy Gurdy

STEVIE WISHART
Hurdy gurdy player, improviser, composer, and Hildegarde of Bingen scholar – the multifaceted Stevie Wishart leads a class in this extraordinary medieval instrument, as well as improvisational techniques.

SESSION 2

Clavichord and Harpsichord

CAROLE CERASI
One of the world’s foremost early keyboard players focuses on the music of Bach and Handel, Scarlatti, and the early French school. Carole Cerasi is a keyboards professor at the Yehudi Menuhin School and the Royal Academy of Music.

SESSIONS 2 AND 3

Chamber Music

QUENTIN POOLE, RHIANNON EVANS, CLAIRE WILLIAMS, RICHARD TUNNICLIFFE
The chamber music programme is open to all singers and instrumentalists; there are large ensemble opportunities, and daily coaching is available.

SESSIONS 1, 2 AND 4

Junk Music

MICHAEL FREEMAN
This course, open to musicians and non-musicians alike, will draw on the ancient human tradition of finding objects to make music. Whereas our ancestors used organic wood, dried fruits and animal skin, we’ll be exploring the resonant qualities of modern materials like plastics, metals and cardboard. There’s great scope for combining junk instruments with singers and conventional instrumentalists too – all are welcome.

SESSIONS 2 AND 3

The Elizabethan Stage Jig

LUCIE SKEAPING AND JON BANKS
Nowadays the word ‘jig’ has come to mean simply a dance or instrumental piece – but in the late 16th century the term also referred to a short musical play. Comical, bawdy and sometimes libellous, the Stage Jig was sung to popular tunes of the day and featured elements of dance, slapstick and disguise, with a cast of whores, lechers, housewives, ruffians and bumpkins. This course is suitable for solo singers of all levels, singer-actors and instrumentalists (particularly pluckers, strummers, blowers, bass viol and fiddlers), with an interest in folk, popular styles and improvisation. We’ll examine some of the nine existing jig scripts, recently reunited with their music for the first time in 400 years, and aim to rehearse one (or possibly two) complete jigs for an informal performance at the end of the week.

SESSION 3

Chaucer and Jazz

ALICE OSWALD
A course open to anyone interested in writing, poetry, and performance with words. The wonderful poet and charismatic performer Alice Oswald will be looking at the nature poetry of the medieval writer Geoffrey Chaucer, and creating new work built around his themes.

SESSION 3

Mr Dowland’s Midnight

HUW WARREN AND JOANNA MACGREGOR

Welsh pianist and composer Huw Warren, one of the most original and lyrical musicians around, adds class and energy to this loose, easy-going improvisation class with Artistic Director Joanna MacGregor around the bluesy works of Elizabethan composer John Dowland. His compositions move between quirky rhythmic grooves and a simple yet profound melodic beauty; even at his most experimental his music is always fun and approachable.

SESSIONS 3 AND 4

Lecture: Runaway Girls and Singing Bones – From Medieval Romancing to Modern Fairy Tales

MARINA WARNER
The scholarly writer and cultural historian Marina Warner explores the deep connections of Cinderella and other stories to medieval saints and miracles, magical things, and wise, speaking animals.

AUGUST 3RD 5.15PM

Yoga

JUSTIN DALTON
This course, based on the gentle, fluid Scaravelli approach to yoga, is suitable for participants of all ages and abilities, and can be practised wearing loose clothing. (Yoga mats will be available, or bring your own.) Yoga has been practised by many musicians – most famously Yehudi Menuhin – and it’s a great chance to loosen up the body before a day’s music-making.

7.45AM – 8.30AM

Baroque Orchestra, Baroque Opera, Folk Music and Poetry

Week 2 is dramatic: it brings operatic virtuosity and brilliance to Dartington, alongside poetry, literature, Scottish ballads and storytelling. Laurence Cummings leads The Big Choir and Baroque Orchestra in dazzling, quasi-operatic choral works by Handel, Rameau and Charpentier. This week is about the art of singing: the expressive soprano Ruby Hughes, Violinist Adrian Chandler, and players from La Serenissima coach the Advanced Vivaldi Opera, while Emma Kirkby imparts her elegant wisdom to singers. There’s a team of Baroque tutors giving masterclasses in strings, winds, lutes and keyboards, and a Bach theme too, with Richard Tunnicliffe focussing on the Cello Suites, Maggie Cole on the Six Partitas and Artistic Director Joanna MacGregor running a Bach on the Piano course.

Folk, poetry and literature are an important part of the programme: Northumbrian pipes-player and fiddler Kathryn Tickell runs a folk course with Scottish theatre director Marilyn Imrie, and Sally Davies directs a Folk Choir. The writer James Runcie leads a creative writing course. Concerts burn with a poetic intensity, from John Dowland’s Lute Songs, Robbie Burns and Hugh MacDiarmid settings to Kathryn Tickell’s new ensemble, The Side, bringing together folk and classical worlds. A feast of folk music, poetry, Baroque brilliance and operatic fireworks.

The Big Choir

LAURENCE CUMMINGS

The ebullient Glyndebourne and ENO conductor, Laurence Cummings, directs The Big Choir in a fizzing combination of two great opera composers, Handel’s lively Alceste and a choral suite from Rameau’s glittering Les Boréades. Laurence is one of the most exciting exponents of historical music, both as a harpsichord player and conductor; his music-making has been described as ‘both witty and compassionate,’ and he will bring a laser-like focus to the choir.

SESSION 1

Vocal Masterclass

EMMA KIRKBY

‘I feel lucky that my career was characterised from the start by ensemble singing, especially with my first love, the lute; so we’ll have a joint session with David Miller’s class of accomplished lute and theorbo players early on, as well as collaborate with Maggie Cole’s harpsichord and fortepiano students. I’m happy to coach students in their choice of repertoire; there will also be a student concert later in the week, and I’ll send beforehand a choice of ensemble pieces.’

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 2

Vocal Workshop

ANDREW WATTS
Open to singers of all ages and abilities, the superb countertenor Andrew Watts – acclaimed performer and Voice Teacher at the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House – will improve your vocal technique and performance skills in a relaxed, supportive and informative atmosphere.

SESSION 3

Concerts featuring Andrew Watts

Improve Your Sight-singing

RHIANNON EVANS

Do you struggle with the demanding multitasking activity that is sight-singing? Is recognising rhythms, pitching intervals and reading the text all at once a daunting challenge? This course is open to all, especially singers who are not fluent readers, and anyone wishing to brush up on their sight-singing skills.

SESSION 2

Advanced Opera Course Vivaldi’s Catone in Utica

RUBY HUGHES, ADRIAN CHANDLER AND RICHARD WILLIAMS

This exciting course will rehearse one of Vivaldi’s greatest operas, Catone in Utica for a concert performance in the Great Hall with the Baroque Orchestra, later in the week. Premièred to huge success in Verona in 1737, its gloriously rich music depicts Roman history, passion and political intrigue.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSIONS 1, 2 & 3.

Chamber Choir

LAURENCE CUMMINGS

Laurence Cummings directs two masterpieces, Charpentier’s Le Reniement de St Pierre and Bach’s Singet dem Herr’n, for a performance in the Friday night choral concert.

Students are selected in advance: Please send a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 4

The Big Choir Plus

GAVIN ROBERTS

Some extra rehearsal opportunities for The Big Choir repertoire.

SESSION 4

Folk Choir

SALLY DAVIES

Sally Davies is an extremely experienced singer, composer and choir leader, and directs the Cecil Sharp House Choir with her distinctive and original arrangements of folk songs. The Folk Choir course will provide an intense and rewarding learning experience; you’ll be rehearsing folk songs from England and Eastern Europe, in spine-tingling a cappella harmony, for a concert later in the week.

SESSION 2

As I Walked Out One Morning

KATHRYN TICKELL AND MARILYN IMRIE

The wonderful virtuoso Northumbrian pipesplayer, fiddler and singer Kathryn Tickell joins forces with the prolific Scottish theatre director and radio producer Marilyn Imrie, to lead this exciting folk course. Devoted to storytelling, song writing and instrumental tuition, the class offers the chance for poets, songwriters and players to study and rehearse traditional music and poetry, as well as collaborate and create new work. There’s a concert later in the week, shared with the Folk Choir.

SESSIONS 3 AND 4

Arranging Folk Music

SALLY DAVIES

‘When you arrange a song, you are a composer. Having sung the polyphonic songs of the Caucasus and The Balkans, I felt there was a crying need for British folk songs to have something of the bite and power of these Eastern European arrangements. It’s my intention to infuse English folk songs with some of these harmonic elements!’ Sally Davies’ course is for musicians with some experience of arranging, and you’ll be looking at creating open harmonies for different-sized ensembles.

SESSION 4

Baroque Orchestra

ROBERT HOWARTH

Robert Howarth has amassed a huge amount of experience as a conductor and continuo player with the world’s leading early music ensembles, orchestras and opera houses, most recently with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Hamburg State Opera. He rehearses the Baroque Orchestra for two major concerts in the Great Hall: Vivaldi’s highly virtuosic Catone in Utica on Thursday, and works by Handel, Rameau, Charpentier and Bach – conducted by Laurence Cummings – on Friday. A very busy schedule, but thrilling!

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSIONS 1, 2 & 3 (SESSION 3 FOR MASTERCLASSES OR SECTIONALS)

Lute and Lute Ensembles

DAVID MILLER

David Miller’s course provides a unique opportunity for players of early plucked instruments to develop their accompanying and continuo skills, whilst recreating the lush and sumptuous qualities of a large 17th century continuo group, with lutes, archlutes, chitaroni and guitars. There will be opportunities to collaborate with singers from Emma Kirkby and Andrew Watts’ vocal classes.

SESSION 2

Concerts featuring David Miller

Introduction to Fortepiano

MAGGIE COLE

This class is open to all keyboard players who are curious about the fortepiano, and want to gain new insights into Classical repertoire. Diverse repertoire is very welcome; composers ranging from CPE Bach, JC Bach, Scarlatti and Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven were all being seduced by the new instrument, and we’ll be examining this fertile period of change. As well as solo pieces, we’ll aim to work on songs with participants in the vocal classes.

SESSION 2

Recorder and Recorder Ensembles

JILL KEMP

Open to all recorder players this class covers breathing, coordination, extended techniques, ornamentation and any other areas, or repertoire, that students would like to cover. Please bring a treble at A440 and any other recorders you may have. There will be ensemble work as well as individual coaching.

SESSIONS 2 AND 3

Baroque Violin Masterclass

ADRIAN CHANDLER

The brilliant Baroque violinist Adrian Chandler founder of La Serenissima to explore the work of Vivaldi gives a masterclass focussing on all technical and stylistic aspects of solo Baroque violin-playing, in a relaxed environment.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 3

Baroque Cello Masterclass

RICHARD TUNNICLIFFE

Since Pablo Casals’ ground-breaking recording in the 1930s, Bach’s six Cello Suites have been at the centre of cello literature. Richard Tunnicliffe has studied and performed these seminal works for over thirty years, and his experience of more than five centuries of music (as both cellist and gamba-player) enables him to set these evergreen works within the traditions of 17th century music – and relate them to many later works. Richard will be giving a complete performance of the Cello Suites in two late-night concerts.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 3

Baroque Flute Workshop

KATY BIRCHER

Katy Bircher is a leading performer on early flutes, appearing worldwide performing concertos with the European Brandenburg Ensemble, La Serenissima, and Concerto Copenhagen. As principal flute of the Gabrieli Consort, she’s contributed to many awardwinning recordings on Deutsche Grammophon. She is professor of the Baroque flute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Centre of Early Music Performance and Research at Birmingham University.

SESSION 3

Baroque Oboe Workshop

LARS HENRIKSSON

‘I grew up in a very musical family; I played various instruments, but at 16 I finally saw the light. My dad had some recordings of Bach cantatas that I loved – the oboe playing was wonderful and I was hit by lightening. Subsequently I was accepted as an oboist at Gothenburg conservatoire. It didn’t go very well there, so I fled into the world of Baroque music, where I saw the light for the second time. The Baroque oboe has taken me to most of the “civilized” corners in the world. It has truly been an amazing journey!’

SESSION 3

Harpsichord Workshop

MAGGIE COLE

The popular early keyboard performer and pedagogue Maggie Cole returns to Dartington, to lead an open class for players with some experience of the harpsichord. A portion of each lesson will be devoted to the Six Partitas of Bach- don’t be shy of bringing a movement or two. There’ll also be time to look at whatever other repertoire participants bring.

SESSION 3

Bach on the Piano

JOANNA MACGREGOR

An open course led by Artistic Director and Head of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music Joanna MacGregor, examining the multiple approaches to performing Bach on the piano. Students are invited to bring any solo Bach piece to perform (including keyboard concertos), and we’ll also discuss why Bach performances are so radically different, touching on the interpretations of Edwin Fisher, Maria Yudina, Roslyn Tureck and Glenn Gould. Joanna will be giving a complete performance of the French Suites in two late-night concerts.

SESSION 3

Chamber Music

QUENTIN POOLE, RHIANNON EVANS, CLAIRE WILLIAMS, RICHARD TUNNICLIFFE, KATY BIRCHER, LARS HENRIKSSON

The chamber music programme is open to all singers and instrumentalists; there are large ensemble opportunities, and daily coaching is available.

SESSIONS 1, 2 AND 4

Lecture: Poetry and Silence

JAMES RUNCIE

What happens between the words? Silence matters in literature as much as it does in music. In his illustrated lecture, James Runcie probes the balance between speech and silence – the art of using words musically.

10TH AUGUST 5.15PM

Creative Writing Course

JAMES RUNCIE

Writer and Head of Literature at the Southbank, James Runcie, runs a creative writing course on stories with music at their heart. Each day we’ll discuss a short story, then allow it to lead to some creative writing. We’ll include Alice Munro’s Dance of the Happy Shades, Chekhov’s The Black Monk (structured like a sonata, and much admired by Shostakovich), Crooner by Kazuo Ishiguro and Every Good Boy by David Nicholls.

SESSION 4

Tai Chi Qigong

MATTHEW ROCHFORD

Matthew Rochford, director of Tai Chi Nation, offers an early morning class, designed to relax the body and focus the mind. A dynamic form of moving meditation, Tai Chi Qigong is accessible to people of all ages and ideal for musicians, bringing great benefits for good practice and performance in the day ahead.

8.00AM-8.30AM

www.taichination.com

Conducting and Orchestral Music, Opera, Music Theatre and Brazilian Music

Week 3 is a treat for pianists – with three superb lectures by the legendary Alfred Brendel, and Steven Osborne, Florian Mitrea, and Artistic Director Joanna MacGregor all giving classes – and string lovers, with the wonderful Heath Quartet, cellist Adrian Brendel, violinist Madeleine Mitchell, and Dartington Festival String Orchestra. Sian Edwards opens the two-week Advanced Conducting Course rehearsing Elgar, Piazzolla and Bartók; Mozart’s music runs throughout the week with a Mozart Piano Concerto class, the Requiem and the tender A major concerto, K488, as does Schubert. The Advanced Opera Course begins, with the popular operatic mezzo Della Jones coaching Tchaikovsky’s dramatic Eugene Onegin.

Music Theatre courses offer performance opportunities for actors and singers, exploring the world of musicals, Brecht and Kurt Weill, and political dissidents; and the charismatic master percussionist Adriano Adewale sets us on fire with his Brazilian Music class, teaming up with salsa dance workshops for a glorious end-of-week party. Don’t forget your dancing shoes…

The Big Choir

NIGEL PERRIN

Original King’s Singer and seasoned choirmaster Nigel Perrin conducts one of the most loved of all choral masterpieces – Mozart’s Requiem – for the Friday night concert. ‘You may have sung Mozart’s Requiem many times,’ Nigel says, ‘but I like to analyse all the vocal techniques in it – it’s a workout for choirs, and I never fail to find it enthralling!’ Nigel will also direct Bob Chilcott’s Aesop’s Fables, witty little pieces that will be performed – in surprising places – throughout the week.

SESSION 1

Vocal Masterclass

DELLA JONES

Admired as one of the foremost bel canto mezzos of her generation, Della Jones’s repertoire extends from Monteverdi to Mussorgsky, Gilbert and Sullivan to contemporary opera. She puts Summer School singers through their paces in a warm, supportive setting.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 2

BBC Music profile: Della Jones

Advanced Opera Course: Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin

SIAN EDWARDS AND DELLA JONES

Sian Edwards and Della Jones direct the first week of this two-week Advanced course. Eugene Onegin is a masterpiece of Russian romanticism, and receives a full concert performance in the Great Hall on August 28th.

The closing date for applications to this course is Monday 5th January 2015, after which a shortlist of singers will be auditioned in London on Sunday 18th January 2015. Please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSIONS 2 & 3

Vocal Workshop

SARAH GABRIEL

As at home in Mozart or Britten opera as she is in music theatre – Sarah Gabriel made her European debut as Eliza in My Fair Lady at the Théâtre du Châtelet, opposite Alex Jennings. Her vocal class is open to all singers; Sarah is particularly interested in being authentically yourself onstage, and in how to express your individuality. You can see her in action in Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, Britten’s Les Illuminations and Kurt Weill songs this week.

SESSION 3

Chamber Choir

NIGEL PERRIN

Nigel Perrin directs popular Eric Whitacre works and James MacMillan, for performance in the Friday night choral concert.

Students are selected in advance for this course, please send a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 4

The Big Choir Plus

CHRISTOPHER WRAY

Some extra rehearsal opportunities for The Big Choir repertoire.

SESSION 4

Advanced Conducting Course

SIAN EDWARDS

Two weeks of intense study with Sian Edwards, Head of Conducting, Royal Academy of Music, for six conductors. Two programmes will be prepared and performed with the Dartington Festival Orchestra: the first – Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, Britten’s Les Illuminations, Mozart’s Divertimento K 136 and Piazzolla’s Seasons; the second – Stravinsky’s Octet, Varese’s Octandre, Milhaud’s Création du Monde. The major work running through both weeks will be Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin; the performance in the Great Hall will be conducted by Sian Edwards, but students will be involved in all stages of the musical preparation with singers from the Advanced Opera Course.

The closing date for applications is 5 January 2015, after which auditions will be held in London on Sunday 11 January. Alternative arrangements will be made for those unable to attend. Please send a video file or link and a CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSIONS 1, 2 & 3

Advanced Brecht and Weill

RICHARD WILLIAMS, QUENTIN POOLE AND SARAH GABRIEL

Richard Williams, Quentin Poole and Sarah Gabriel Richard Williams directs ‘Mr Brecht, are you now or have you ever been…?’, charting Brecht’s dramatic and humorous interview with the House UnAmerican Activities Committee in 1949. With a performance later in the week, actors and singers will work on songs by Hans Eisler and Kurt Weill – including Mack the Knife, Bilbao Song, Surabaya Johnny, Pirate Jenny, September Song.

Students are selected in advance: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSIONS 1, 2 & 3

Songs from the Musicals

ROBERT PURVIS

A boisterous journey through the world of musical theatre, open to all singers of all abilities and ages. The course will focus on several musicals, looking at chorus and solo numbers; one-to-one coaching is available outside of ensemble sessions. There will be a performance later in the week.

SESSION 2

Concerts featuring Robert Purvis

Brazilian Music: In the Heart of Rhythm

ADRIANO ADEWALE

Adriano Adewale is a master percussionist from Brazil, fêted all over the world for his Africa-inflected jazz and sensational virtuosity. In the Heart of Rhythm is open to everybody – percussionists, instrumentalists, singers, and those who don’t play an instrument – and will be based on Afro-Brazilian rhythms such as samba, ijexa and forro. Playing on conventional and non-conventional instruments, exploring rhythmic games, vocal and body percussion, it’ll be a fun and challenging way of making music. Towards the end of the week we’ll be combining with the salsa dance course (Session 4), for a party night on the final Friday.

SESSIONS 3 AND 4

Open String Orchestra

ADRIAN BRENDEL

The cellist Adrian Brendel leads the all-comers String Orchestra. Repertoire will include staples of the orchestral string repertoire – the Tchaikovsky and Elgar Serenades – as well as short and spicy 20th century pieces.

SESSION 1

Violin Masterclass

MADELEINE MITCHELL

Madeleine Mitchell has a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician, and is a professor at the Royal College of Music. She will coach violinists in core solo repertoire, concertos and contemporary music. Madeleine will be performing movements of Piazzolla’s wonderful tango-inflected concerto Seasons during the week.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 2

Cello Masterclass

ADRIAN BRENDEL

One of the most versatile and original cellists of his generation, Adrian Brendel has travelled the word as soloist, collaborator and teacher. A fine classical and romantic player, his discovery of contemporary music as a teenager opened a new and vital avenue he continues to explore, alongside his passion for jazz and world music. Adrian will coach advanced students in all areas of cello repertoire, including concertos.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 2

Piano Masterclass

STEVEN OSBORNE

Steven Osborne’s standing as one of today’s finest young pianists was publicly affirmed in 2013 with The Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year and his second Gramophone Award, for Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and works by Prokofiev. An exemplary classicist, with a taste for contemporary music, his masterclasses will be fascinating and rewarding.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 2

Piano Workshop

FLORIAN MITREA

The young Rumanian pianist Florian Mitrea is a winner of many international competitions, and a Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music. Florian will guide pianists of all abilities in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. He will coach anything from Bach to Bartók, but particularly likes the Viennese school of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Florian performs Mozart’s popular Concerto in A major K488 in the Friday night concert.

SESSION 2

Mozart Piano Concertos

JOANNA MACGREGOR

Mozart’s Piano Concertos demand a supple technique, chamber music skills, a singing tone – and the ability to improvise cadenzas! Pianists are invited to bring all or part of a Mozart concerto, which we’ll work on with two pianos, discussing style, ornamentation, colour, touch and tempo – and conducting from the keyboard (teaming up with Sian Edwards’ conducting course for a session). We’ll also consider the contrasting interpretations of Wilhelm Kempf, Clara Haskil and Daniel Barenboim.

SESSION 3

Violin, Viola and Cello Workshops

HEATH QUARTET

Oliver Heath and Cerys Jones (violin), Gary Pomeroy (viola) and Christopher Murray (cello), of the award-winning Heath Quartet, offer string players of all abilities a friendly and supportive workshop environment, in separate instrumental classes. The Heath Quartet will open Week 3 with a recital of Haydn, Bartók and Tchaikovsky on Saturday night.

SESSION 3

Clarinet Workshop

JEAN JOHNSON

The young American clarinettist Jean Johnson has been a guest principal with the Bergen Philharmonic, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and has just recorded Brahms’s clarinet sonatas. Her friendly and informal workshop is aimed at clarinetists of all ages and abilities.

SESSION 3

Chamber Music

QUENTIN POOLE, HEATH QUARTET, BARBARA SUE WHITE, JEAN JOHNSON, FLORIAN MITREA

The chamber music programme is open to all singers and instrumentalists; there are large ensemble opportunities, and daily coaching is available.

SESSIONS 1, 2 AND 4

Lectures

ALFRED BRENDEL

We’re thrilled that Alfred Brendel, one of the greatest pianists of all time, is visiting the Summer School to give three 70-minute lectures, which will be as warm and witty as they will be enlightening. Illustrated with recorded excerpts, he illuminates composers close to his heart, as well as taking a humorous look at central musicological and performance issues in A Pianist’s Alphabet.

18TH AUGUST 5.15PM: Schubert’s Last Sonatas
19TH AUGUST 5.15PM: Liszt – From Exuberance to Asceticism
20TH AUGUST 5.15PM: A Pianist’s Alphabet

Tai Chi Qigong

MATTHEW ROCHFORD

8.00AM-8.30AM

www.taichination.com

Dance Workshop: Salsa

KEVAN KENNEDY

Dance tutor Kevan Kennedy gets us ready for the Brazilian party on Friday night, teaching participants – at any level – the scorching moves of salsa.

SESSION 4

Russian Opera, Composing, Film and Multimedia, Gospel and Jazz

Week 4 definitely has a Russian theme, with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin as the climax of our Advanced Opera Course, and a choral concert of Russian Orthodox music and the Prologue to Mussorsgsky’s amazing Boris Godunov. But most of all we celebrate musical creativity in all its forms: from multimedia courses led by Mira Calix and artist Kathy Hinde, to music created and improvised in Neil Brand’s Improvising and Working with Silent Film Course; from Hugh Wood’s Advanced Composition Course, coaxing new chamber works into life, to the roaring return of the Jazz Course, led by the titanic saxophonist Andy Sheppard.

Singers can go from Orthodox liturgy to Gospel music, then into operatic choruses; instrumentalists can perform in masterclasses in the morning, then improvise in different styles, all afternoon. Wind and brass players can play in Renaissance ensembles and wind bands, then let their hair down in the Big Band. However you choose to spend your time, there’s an enormous amount of stimulation, fun, partying and dancing in store for you, in this final week of the 2015 Summer School.

The Big Choir

JONATHAN BERMAN

The Big Choir work towards two concerts, both steeped in Russian music. A Thursday late night exploring the Orthodox liturgy of part of Rachmaninov’s Vespers, followed by the prologue of Mussorgsky’s mighty opera Boris Godunov, an absolute tour-de-force for chorus and bass baritone, and the choruses for Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, performed as the exciting culmination of the Advanced Opera Course on Friday night.

SESSION 1

Gospel Choir

CAROL PEMBERTON AND CELIA WICKHAM-ANDERSON

Uplifting, harmonious, soul-stirring, challenging and fun all describe the power and appeal of the Gospel Choir sessions, led by Carol Pemberton, Music Director of the 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. Black Voices will perform on Wednesday night.

SESSION 2

Advanced Opera Course: Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin

SIAN EDWARDS

The second week of this two week course directed by Sian Edwards with repetiteur Richard Shaw, leading to a complete concert performance of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin on Friday night.

SESSIONS 2 & 3

Vocal Workshop

JESSICA CASH

Jessica Cash’s students have included Emma Kirkby, Evelyn Tubb and Lesley Garrett. Her expert tuition addresses any energy blocks, tensions or stresses, freeing the body to sing beautifully. Students are asked to bring an aria from an opera or oratorio to sing from memory, and another piece of their choice.

SESSION 3

Chamber Choir

STEPHEN PRATT

Choir master and composer Stephen Pratt works on John Tavener’s Svyati and other pieces, for performance in the Thursday night choral concert.

Students are selected in advance, please send a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 4

The Big Choir Plus

WILLIAM VANN

Some extra rehearsal opportunities for The Big Choir repertoire.

SESSION 4

williamvann.com

Advanced Conducting Course

SIAN EDWARDS

The second week of the Advanced Conducting course.

SESSIONS 1, 2 AND 3

Open Conducting Course

JONATHAN BERMAN

An open conducting course for those with some conducting experience, led by Jonathan Berman, whose recent performances have been at the Royal Opera House and Tanglewood. We will be working on Haydn and Mozart symphonies, general conducting technique, and selected repertoire from Eugene Onegin.

SESSIONS 2 AND 3

Advanced Composition

HUGH WOOD AND STEPHEN PRATT

This immersive course will focus on creating new music for piano trios (with the brilliant Fournier Trio) and solo piano (with outstanding pianist Christina McMaster) for performance at the end of the week. Hugh Wood is a hugely celebrated figure in British musical life, and a consummate composer of chamber and symphonic work; he is assisted by one of his former students, the composer and teacher Stephen Pratt.

Students are selected in advance: please send two scores and – if available – two recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSIONS 1, 2 AND 3

Open Composition

JOHN ASHTON THOMAS

This class is accessible for people who like composing classically, as well as those who enjoy arranging and song-writing – expert guidance is at hand, in a friendly and collaborative atmosphere. Students will showcase their work in an informal concert at the end of the week.

SESSION 2

www.johnashtonthomas.com

Multimedia, Art and Sound Design

MIRA CALIX, KATHY HINDE AND MATTHEW FAIRCLOUGH

Mira Calix works in multimedia and visual art, and incorporates classical orchestration into her work for installation pieces, film soundtracks, theatre and opera. Here she combines with Kathy Hinde, the imaginative visual artist and composer, and Matthew Fairclough, composer and sound artist, to provide a collaborative space in which to create innovative new work. This course is for musicians of all backgrounds interested in electronica, composition and art installation. We will aim to create short new works to exhibit and perform by the end of the week.

SESSIONS 1 AND 2

Improvising and Working with Silent Film

NEIL BRAND

A rare chance to work with one of the world’s foremost exponents of live film music, and the presenter of BBC4’s series The Sound of Cinema. This course offers composers and pianists (and other instrumentalists) the opportunity to study selected silent classic films, discussing the art of improvisation and ‘reading’ a film. We will aim to create new music around excerpts of film, for performance at the end of the week.

SESSIONS 3 AND 4

Jazz Ensembles

ANDY SHEPPARD, STEVE LODDER AND MARTIN FRANCE

The fabulously cool, creative saxophonist Andy Sheppard revives Dartington’s famous and long-running Jazz Course, together with keyboard guru Steve Lodder and virtuoso drummer Martin France, focussing on jazz improvisation and ensemble playing. The week’s jazz courses also feed into the Big Band, for a final stonking performance on Friday night.

SESSION 2

Saxophones Workshop

ANDY SHEPPARD

The ECM recording artist, world-renowned bandleader and composer Andy Sheppard offers one-to-one and ensemble tuition to all saxophonists. Andy is one of jazz’s greatest collaborators, and his characteristic sense of lyricism, alongside very personal use of rhythms from Asia, Africa and South America, will be inspiring for young and older saxophonists alike.

SESSION 3

Jazz Piano and Keyboards Workshop

STEVE LODDER

Having started as an organ scholar at Cambridge, Steve Lodder is a leading jazz pianist, synth player and teacher, working with some of the coolest names in jazz: Carla Bley, Django Bates, George Russell, Naná Vasconcelos, and many more. His course is open to all pianists and keyboard players who wish to develop their improvisation skills and that includes classical pianists!

SESSION 3

Jazz Drumming and Percussion Workshop

MARTIN FRANCE

Professor of jazz drumming at the Royal Academy of Music, Martin France has worked with the finest and most creative musicians in the world – including Elvis Costello, Evan Parker, Dave Holland and Nils-Petter Molvaer – as well as many classical orchestras. His class is open to all drummers and percussionists who’d like to hone their jazz skills.

SESSION 3

Open Big Band

STEVE DUMMER

Steve Dummer will be mixing standard arrangements with some Andy Sheppard numbers, with Andy himself soloing, in the final Friday night bash. Absolutely unmissable fun, and open to all alto, tenor and baritone saxes, trumpets and trombones, and piano, bass and drums.

SESSIONS 4

Concerts featuring Steve Dummer

Open Wind Band

STEVE DUMMER

A great opportunity to dust off an instrument that hasn’t been played for a few years, improve ensemble playing, and play some great music. Grade 5 standard or above is ideal. This year we’ll be looking at Milhaud’s Suite Française and Joseph Horowitz’s Fête Galante, amongst other pieces.

SESSION 1

Concerts featuring Steve Dummer

The Contemporary Piano

JOANNA MACGREGOR

An open class for anyone interested in modern piano music – of all styles – with Joanna MacGregor, Head of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music. Pianists are invited to bring early 20th century music onwards, for performance and coaching. We’ll also look at extended techniques in Crumb and Cage, and the best ways to study and prepare brand new music. Composers are also welcome to this class.

SESSION 2

Violin Masterclass

THOMAS GOULD

Described as ‘staggeringly virtuosic’ by The Guardian and ‘a soloist of rare refinement’ by The Sunday Times, Thomas Gould is one of the brightest young violinists around. His masterclass will cover core repertoire, contemporary work, and violin music in jazz and world traditions too.

Students are selected in advance for this course: please send two contrasting recordings, and a short CV to summerschool@dartington.org.

SESSION 2

Piano, Violin and Cello Workshops

THE FOURNIER TRIO

Chiao Ying-Chang (piano), Sulki Yu (violin) and Pei-Jee Ng (cello), members of the outstanding Fournier Trio and all brilliant performers in their own right, lead individual instrumental classes with a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.

SESSION 3

Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon and Horn Workshops

BERKELEY ENSEMBLE

Sarah Bennington (flute), John Slack (clarinet), James Turnbull (oboe), Andrew Watson (bassoon) and Paul Cott (horn) offer wind players of all abilities a relaxed and supportive workshop environment, in individual instrumental classes. Improve your technique, hone your performance skills, and discover new repertoire!

SESSION 3

Brass Workshop

PAUL ARCHIBALD

A chance to work on the great brass repertoire for trumpets, horns and trombones, ranging from antiphonal music by Gabrieli and the Italian Renaissance school to the brass music of Paul Patterson. There’ll be opportunities for performances in the beautiful outdoor spaces of Dartington too!

SESSION 3

www.paularchibald.co.uk

Chamber Music

QUENTIN POOLE, BARBARA SUE WHITE, JØRGENSON TRIO, FOURNIER TRIO, BERKELEY ENSEMBLE, THOMAS GOULD, VERONIKA SHOOT AND FLORIAN MITREA

The chamber music programme is open to all singers and instrumentalists; there are large ensemble opportunities, and daily coaching is available.

SESSIONS 1, 2 AND 4

The Silent Pianist Speaks

NEIL BRAND

Neil Brand gives an illustrated lecture on his extraordinary life and art as a pianist and composer, using clips from his favourite Silent Era films.

24TH AUGUST 5.15PM

The Art of the Graphic Score

TOM PHILLIPS

A seminal visual artist, musician and composer since the 1960s, Tom Phillips has produced a number of important Graphic scores. This illustrated lecture reveals their mystery and beauty, with live performances.

25TH AUGUST 5.15PM

Tai Chi Qigong

MATTHEW ROCHFORD

8.00AM-8.30AM

www.taichination.com

Lindy Hop and Swing Dancing

JANE AND DEREK NARRAMORE

Everyone is invited to get ready for the final Big Band party on Friday night by learning the cool jazz and charleston moves of Swing and Lindy Hop.

SESSION 4