Part of Cambridge Early Music's Summer Schools programme, this week will be the perfect opportunity to spend time with like-minded musicians, and to develop your skills under the guidance of a world-class team of tutors, led by Clare Wilkinson voices and course director, Giles Underwood voices, Jacob Heringman lutes and John Bryan viols.
STANDARD: ADVANCED
What is the course about?
A store housse of treasure
John Baldwin’s Commonplace Book: a personal collection of exquisite taste
'A store housse of treasure: this booke maye be saiede:
of songes most excelente: and the beste that is made'…
Singer-scribe John Baldwin, renowned for the beauty of his penmanship, was evidently also a man of excellent musical taste. In his personal Commonplace Book, begun around 1580, he collected a wide variety of English music, sacred and secular, from Taverner and Tye to Thomas Morley. He probably knew William Byrd well, and held him in the highest regard.
This collection encompasses numerous European composers also. De Monte, Verdelot and Ferrabosco all appear, but most strikingly, Baldwin was clearly an early fan of Luca Marenzio; even before Musica Transalpina (1588) had arrived on the scene to broaden musical minds, Baldwin selected no fewer than fifteen of his madrigals, including some strikingly chromatic music unfamiliar to an English ear. Marenzio came to be much admired and emulated not only by English madrigal composers such as Morley and famed viol consort composers such as Lupo, but also by John Dowland, renowned for quite a different style, who travelled to Italy to seek out Marenzio. Could Marenzio even have been the source of Dowland’s famous ‘Lachrimae’?
Bursaries available: www.cambridgeearlymusic.org/bursaries
Tutor websites: www.clare-wilkinson.com/www.heringman.com
More information: www.cambridgeearlymusic.org/renaissance-week
What will we cover?
On this residential week of intimate chamber-music for advanced singers and players, we will explore Baldwin’s favourite music, and follow the path it laid to Marenzio, Dowland, Lupo and others. Come and immerse yourself in this wonderful music, work at a high level, and develop your skills together with our expert (but very friendly) team of tutors.
Pitch will be A = 440
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Open to experienced voices, viols and lutes who are confidently able to hold a line alone (much, but not all music will be available in advance). Pre-formed consorts of viols or voices are especially welcome! We will work in small groups, with one voice/instrument per part. Participants will be encouraged to work autonomously as well as under the direction of our tutors. There will be a focus on being a good musical colleague, as well as singing and playing to the best of our ability. We will perform for each other informally over the course of the week, rather than preparing for a concert.
Non-singing/playing observers are also welcome, by arrangement. Contact Cambridge Early Music for details.
Apply now
To apply please visit Cambridge Early Music's Website and fill in the application form below: