Inspiring Audiences and Artists for Fifty-Six Years.
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Presented by Road Scholar
Road Scholar National Recorder / Early Music Workshop
Explore the Music of Italy, England, and Spain from the 13th - 18th centuries, with some modern composers as well!
Enhance your technique and ensemble playing during an intensive workshop with director Letitia Berlin and other stellar faculty. Two fabulous weeks - choose either week or both!
Week 1: October 28 - November 3, 2018
Recorder- Letitia Berlin, Frances Blaker, and Miyo Aoki
Viola da gamba- David Morris
Rhythm/Percussion and Medieval Repertoire (all instruments) - Peter Maund
Recorder and viol technique classes geared toward application of technique practice to the repertoire - making music out of notes! Master class and consort classes
All-Workshop Orchestra, conducted by Frances Blaker
Location
The workshop takes place at the Hidden Valley Music Seminars, An Institute of the Arts in Carmel Valley, California, nestled amongst oak and buckeye trees below majestic hillsides. Along with our rich opportunities for music making, bird watching and walking can be enjoyed nearby.
Schedule
The workshop includes four daily classes, morning exercise/dance, and impromptu group playing. Wednesday includes a free afternoon to explore the beautiful Carmel Valley area, play music, or just relax.
A. First Period Classes
A1. Technique/Consort for Recorders (Tish Berlin, Frances Blaker, Miyo Aoki)
Work on technical exercises and apply them to music. Our goal will be to improve your facility and expressive skills so that your musical soul finds its voice. These classes will be divided into three groups by level.
A2. Viol Consort/Technique (David Morris)
Technique exercises to make you a better player, consort playing to make you a better musician. Classic consorts from the Elizabethan era through the Commonwealth. Music in 4-6 parts by Byrd, Lupo, Jenkins, Coperario, etc.
A3. I Got Rhythm: Challenging and Unusual Rhythms and Meters (Peter Maund)
We'll start with cross-rhythms, odd meters, challenging subdivisions, and tempo variations. Participants can use their instrument(s), their voice, or try their hand at percussion (no experience necessary). By the end of the week you'll be able to walk, chew gum, and tap three against five all at the same time.
Advanced players
B. Second Period Classes
B1. Master Class for Soloists and Ensembles (Frances Blaker)
Here's your opportunity to go deeper into the musicality of a solo piece. Any period of music is welcome. For advanced instrumentalists who have prepared a piece for Master Class. Class size limited. Please indicate the piece you will play on your class choice form. Harpsichord continuo will be available. Viol players who wish to play solo or as continuo are welcome. Please indicate if you want only to play continuo.
B2. Muffat's Five-Part Suites (David Morris)
Georg Muffat (1653-1704) was the living definition of a cosmopolitan composer, and his suites are shining examples of a hybrid French/Italian/Germanic style: tuneful, dramatic, playful, melancholy and always charming. For mixed big-band (recorders and viols) and continuo.
Upper intermediate to advanced players
B3. Musica Transalpina (Miyo Aoki)
Explore vocal and instrumental music by 16th- and 17th-century English composers alongside the Italian madrigals that inspired them.We will look at how the English were influenced by the pieces that came over the Alps and how they transformed this genre into one of their own.
Upper intermediate to advanced recorders and low viols
B4. Spanish Sacred Music of the Renaissance (Tish Berlin)
Sacred music by Francisco Guerrero, Cristobal Morales, Juan Cornago, and Tomas Luis de Victoria. Experience some of the most gorgeous and profound polyphonic music ever written.
Intermediate to upper intermediate recorders and viols
B5. Medieval Music of England and Italy (Peter Maund)
This class will feature instrumental dance music and lively secular songs from the 14th century. We will "flesh out" pieces from facsimiles of the original manuscript as well as from modern editions. Participants will also be welcome to try their hand at percussion as we create accompaniments.
Intermediate to upper intermediate instruments, and all levels of percussionists
C. Third Period Classes
C1. Broken Consort (David Morris)
A standard— if somewhat oddball!— combination of instruments proved particularly inspiring to English composers from the early 17th century. By mixing together winds, bowed and plucked strings and a solo lute, composers of the day found a perfect medium for their dances and song arrangements. We will take some liberties with the scoring to achieve the same end- AND we will have a real live lutenist to complete the effect! Music by Holmes and Morley.
Upper intermediate to advanced recorders, viols, harpsichord
C2. Languisce al fin: The Italian 16th-Century Madrigal (Tish Berlin)
Explore the lush harmonies and dangerous chromaticism of the late 16th-century Italian madrigal. Ground-breaking and earth-shaking works by composers such as Gesualdo, Monteverdi, and Marenzio, and Giaches de Wert, one of their northern European colleagues.
Upper intermediate to advanced viols and recorders
C3. Household hits of the (15)80's and 90s (Miyo Aoki)
With the rise of the Elizabethan middle class, more people were able to purchase printed music to play and sing in their homes. We will explore charming settings of songs by Byrd, Dowland and Morley with contagious melodies and dance-y rhythms.
Intermediate to upper intermediate recorders
C4. Medieval and Traditional Music from Spain and the Mediterranean (Peter Maund)
We'll play sacred and secular songs and instrumental music dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. Most of the music will be monophonic (single-line melody), allowing for ornamentation and embellishments. All of the music will be percussion friendly!
Open to upper intermediate and advanced melody players and all levels of percussionists.
D. Fourth Period Class: Orchestra for All with Frances Blaker
The orchestra will bring to vivid life works for large group by Frances Blaker, Luis de Milan and Albinoni.
And there's more!
- Sunday and Monday evening tutti playing sessions – all welcome (in addition to recorders and viols, bring your krummhorns and other reed instruments if you have them)
- Evening playing sessions, led by YOU! Bring your favorite pieces and be a conductor for an evening! Tuesday-Thursday
- Faculty Concert on Tuesday
- Student Concert on Friday before dinner
- Open Mic on Friday after dinner
- BYOB Happy Hour every day
Information/Registration
The Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) Recorder/Early Music Workshop is open to adult recorder and viol players of all ages who play at intermediate to advanced levels. Week two includes a renaissance reeds track. Harpsichordists also welcome. For more information contact Hidden Valley at info@hiddenvalleymusic.org or (831) 659-3115.
To register by telephone, call Road Scholar Registration toll-free at 1-800-454-5768 and ask for program number #6254. To register online Click here.