Baroque Orchestra

This course offers the opportunity to deep dive into the world of the Baroque orchestra, exploring interesting and varied repertoire, and provides expert guidance from tutors Theresa (violin), Mark (cello) and Claire (harpsichord). A popular course in the Benslow Music calendar, this course will see you playing orchestral suites and concerti grossi alongside other like-minded musicians.

Much of the repertoire list is likely to be new to you, allowing you to increase your knowledge of Baroque music. You’ll address stylistic matters such as articulation and phrasing, intonation systems, ornamentation and continuous realisation. You’ll deepen your ability to assess the general character of music, and how to choose appropriate tempi. Your tutors will help you deepen your knowledge of how to perform communicatively and expressively through extensive Baroque performance practice. These techniques will combine to help you improve your sound quality, and be an effective ensemble player.

By the end of this course, you will have discovered new repertoire and gained skills in playing more communicatively and expressively thanks to your growing assimilation of baroque performance practice.

You will mainly work in tutti rehearsals on this course, with each tutor leading as appropriate. To work on technical areas, one or two sessions may be split into smaller groups, led by individual tutors. Your tutors will make sure that the repertoire fits the group size, so you can play in every session.

This course is taught at A415. 

This course is designed for players at the Confident and Skilful levels. Please see our Ability Levels Explained for further details. 

The course is open to participants on period instruments (though we can also accept modern set-up stringed instruments with gut strings - E, A and D for violins and A and D for violas and cellos - and baroque bows). You must be a confident sight-reader, and willing to rehearse in detail in a group setting.

String players, it’s helpful if you have some experience playing baroque music on period instruments, but it’s not essential. There may also be solo opportunities for string players. If you’d like to be considered as a soloist, please indicate this when you apply for the course.

Oboists should be working at a particularly skilful technical standard, as you’ll be tackling some demanding and exposed parts. 

Harpsichordists and theorbo players should be confident reading from figured bass. 

Technically demanding music will be provided in advance of the course, applying particularly to any solo or continuo parts. Familiarisation of the music before the course is highly encouraged but not compulsory.

In addition to your instrument, please bring spare strings or reeds and and notebook for recordings any insights if you wish.