Church Music in Reformation England

The turbulent decades following Henry VIII’s rupture with Rome, and the subsequent changes under Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, prompted dramatic changes in the musical landscape of the 16^th century. Through listening to excerpts from the sacred music of Taverner, Tallis and Byrd, among others, discover how Tudor composers adapted their works and literally ‘changed their tunes’ to suit the rapidly moving political and religious climate.

A Selected Discography

The Lily and the Lamb/Anonymous 4

Taverner: Missa Mater Christi Sanctissima/The Sixteen

Tallis: Spem in Alium /The Tallis Scholars · Phillips

Byrd: Mass for Five Voices/Christ Church Cathedral Choir

Renaissance – Music For Inner Peace/The Sixteen

Music of the Sistine Chapel: Allegri, Palestrina, Morales, Desprez

English Madrigals/The Tallis Scholars

The Operas of Benjamin Britten

2013 commemorates the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth. After the success of Peter Grimes in 1945, Britten became the most influential opera composer in post-war England. Discover the great stage works of this Suffolk-born composer by focusing on some of the best operatic works in the English language.

A Selected Bibliography:
The Operas of Benjamin Britten. Edited by David Herbert

The Faber Pocket Guide to Britten; by John Bridcut

A Selected Discography:
Britten: Peter Grimes

Britten: The Rape of Lucretia

Britten: Albert Herring (Bedford, Northern Sinfonia, Gillett, Palmer)

Britten: Billy Budd

Britten: Gloriana – Box Set

Britten: The Turn of the Screw

Britten: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Songs of Liszt & Mahler

In this day-course we focus on the art songs of both composers: from the cosmopolitan outlook of Liszt’s German, French & Italian songs, to Mahler’s song cycles and his re-working of German folk melodies.

The Baroque Recorder and its repertoire

In this course we explore the versatility and beauty of the Baroque Recorder, from early 17^th-century consort pieces, to the sonatas and concerti written by the great Baroque composers: J S Bach, Handel & Vivaldi. We also discover the extended modern repertoire written for the instrument.

A Selected Discography

17th-Century Italian Recorder Music – La Fontegara Amsterdam

Venezia 1625 – Maurice Steger and Ensemble

Armonia di Flauti – Flanders Recorder Quartet

Recorder and Lute – Clas Pehrsson & Jakob Lindberg

Baroque Recorder Music – Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet

Telemann: Recorder Duets, Vol.1. Clas Pehrsson & Dan Laurin

Handel: The Complete Recorder Sonatas – Clas Pehrsson

GB & G Sammartini: Concerti & Sinfoniae – Ensemble 415

The Songs of Debussy

Debussy was not only one of the most influential composers of French mélodie, but he also heralded the advent of modernity in Western music. 2012 marked the 150^th anniversary of Debussy’s birth. In this day-course we explore his influence in the music of the turn of the 20^th century by focusing on his art songs.

A Selected Bibliography:

‘A French Song Companion’ by Graham Johnson & Richard Stokes

‘The Interpretation of French Song’ by Pierre Bernac

‘A History of Song’ edited by Denis Stevens

‘The Lives Of The Great Composers’ by Harold Schonberg

A Selected Discography:

Véronique Gens ~ Nuits d’étoiles (Mélodie françaises)

Gerard Sousay, baritone. Lieder and Melodies

Hugues Cuénod, Vol.3: Faure, Debussy, Schubert

Frederica von Stade, mezzo. Berlioz, Debussy, Ravel