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Music from Italian conventsItalian sacred music of the 16th- century for women’s voicesSunday May 30th – Sunday June 6th 2010 For experienced female choral singers and players of bassline instruments With options for walking, and excursions to visit the high alpine flower meadows. Directed by Deborah Roberts Course fee £220 (£100 students) See below for accommodation costs The full extent of convent music making in the 16 th and 17 th centuries has only come to light in recent decades. Now we are realising that not only did nuns compose and publish music, but the choirs were arranging polyphonic music for their excellent choirs throughout the 16 th century and probably even earlier. Convent choirs ranged from very high sopranos right through to low tenor voices they called ‘bassi’. They could also adapt the standard SATB repertoire by using organ and other instruments to carry the basslines. This course will explore some of the ways the choirs could have performed music from Josquin des Pres to Palestrina, in a variety of different scorings. Singers will be encouraged to explore the full range and potential of their voices under expert guidance. Unfortunately there is no organ available in Triora, but players (either gender!) of bass instruments such as viols, sackbutts or even recorders are also welcome. There will also be sessions on singing Gregorian chant, as well as some of the music of the earlier nun Hildegard of Bingen. Deborah Roberts is one of the country’s most experienced professional consort singers, singing teachers and directors. She sang for many years with the Tallis Scholars (with whom she gave over 1200 concerts in many parts of the globe). She also co-directs Musica Secreta and Celestial Sirens two ensembles who specialise in music performed by women in the 16 th and 17 th centuries. They have released a number of award winning recordings of convent music. She also regularly conducts a number of specialist choirs and is co Artistic Director of Brighton Early Music Festival She has directed several courses for Laycock Courses and is a regular tutor at the Tallis Scholars Summer Schools in Oakham, Seattle and Sydney. This course runs over the summer half term/bank holiday week and will start with dinner on the 30 th May, work towards a final concert on Saturday June 5 th and end after breakfast on the Sunday morning, when the bus arrives for the transfer to Nice Airport. . There will be a long lunch break each day to allow time for sight seeing and relaxing in the lovely mountain air. We generally arrange at least one trip by 4 – wheel drive into the higher mountains. This will, as ever, work around the weather forecast! Music Travel We would advise you to book your flights as soon as possible to get the lowest prices. This is the half term week so there is more demand. There is more general information on our website. Please contact us if you need further advice. Accommodation The menu features much delicious, local cuisine*. Photos of the hotel, the town and surroundings NB rooms will be booked via Triora Musica. Please indicate room type using the booking form. More basic accommodation (without meals) may be available within the town, and there are often self catering houses or flats available for renting. *Vegetarian meals can be requested. Please advise on application The townTriora is one of a collection of ancient hill towns that grace the lovely Argentine valley in the region of Liguria, close to the French border. It is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery with facilities for walking, rock climbing etc. Much of the architecture dates back to the 12 th century, but its period of greatest fame was during the 16th century when a number of witch trials were conducted by the Inquisition. |