Baroque Oratorio Project: Odes to St Cecilia

The Baroque Oratorio/Opera Project is an annual tradition at Benslow Music. Each April, the massed forces of chorus, orchestra and soloists come together and, over the course of 5 days, piece together treasured works from this much-loved and often surprising repertoire. Starting from scratch, the course culminates in a public performance on the final evening. 

In 2027, we explore late 17th-century English music written to mark St Cecilia’s Day (22 November) as patron saint of music. A number of celebrated English composers were invited to write odes to be performed at large concerts at Stationers’ Hall in London. You'll step into the world of Henry Purcell and John Blow with a mixture of grand and intimitate works, including Blow's 1691 ode, The Glorious Day is Come. 

Led by returning music director, Fernando Miguel Jalôto, and a team of baroque specialist tutors, you’ll have the opportunity to deeply explore these works. You’ll gain insight into their history, harmonic language, stylistic interpretation and ornamentation suitable to the works’ context, all while working together as a performing ensemble. 

The performance will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday 10 April. 

By the end of the course, you will: 

• Present a confident public performance of historically informed works
• Play or sing this repertoire with stylistic understanding and sensitivity
• Have a greater understanding of historically informed techniques and performance practices
• Bring knowledge of key performance issues to your interpretation and approach of baroque repertoire

The Baroque Oratorio Project is an immersive course that takes you from first run-through rehearsal to public performance over several days. 

The course is taught at A415. 

The programme varies from day to day, responding to what is needed to prepare the works for performance. Full details of sessions will be provided during the week. Instrumentalists should expect a mix of orchestral rehearsals, sectionals, rehearsals with the singers and run throughs. Singers should expect a mix of chorus rehearsals, rehearsals with the orchestra, one-to-one coaching (soloists only) and run throughs. 

The course is for baroque instrumentalists and singers at Confident and Skilful levels. Please see our Ability Levels Explained for further details. 

You are not expected to be note-perfect at the beginning of the course but should have appropriate sightreading skills and the ability to get up speed so that the group can focus on stylistic interpretation. 

Instrumentalists 

Instrumentalists should be confident baroque players able to read and play as part of an orchestra. 

Flute/recorder (including bass), oboe, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, bass, organ/harpsichord, theorbo on baroque instruments. 

One organ/harpsichordist place is for a continuo player with advanced existing stylistic knowledge and understanding of baroque repertoire and performance. 

For other continuo players, ability to read figured bass is preferred (where applicable). 

Trumpet players – please book onto the Natural Trumpet course which runs alongside, participants will play in this orchestra. 

Singers 

Soloists: 2 sopranos, 2 alto/countertenor, 1 tenor, 1 baritone/bass. 
Soloist roles are auditioned. Full details about the audition process and requirement will be published in September 2026. Soloists will also join the chorus numbers.  

Chorus: soprano, alto, tenor, bass.

The repertoire for the course includes: 
John Blow Ode for St Cecilia's Day 'The Glorious Day is Come'
Henry Purcell Te Deum and Jubilate, Z 232
Other repertoire will be confirmed in advance, nearer the time. 

Music will be provided digitally in advance for participants to review. Please bring hard copies or a tablet (with the music downloaded) with you. 

Soloists and organ/harpsichord are expected to have prepared their parts prior to the start of the course. 

Please also bring plain black clothes and shoes suitable for the concert performance with you.