James Chaudoir: "Ut Re Mi: Solfège in Renaissance Music" Intermediate, SATB
Remember singing "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music? This is a clever song about "solfège" or "solfeggio", the system of using syllables to learn the placement of notes in scales.
In early music, the first note of the scale was called "ut", not "do". Many Renaissance compositions were based on solfège, either cleverly disguised in polyphonic texts and musical lines, or standing out clearly as a cantus firmus. This class will take you on a musical adventure to learn where solfège came from and experience how Renaissance composers creatively wove it into their music.
Music by: Lassus, Ferrabosco I, Tiburtino, Martini, Ravenscroft, Daman, Isaac, and Josquin. Selected works include instrumental pieces and vocal transcriptions.
Mark Davenport: "Dances and Aires: English Music from the Courts of Queen Elizabeth to Charles I." (upper intermediate to advanced): This class will look at secular dances by some of the leading composers working in the English courts between 1550 and 1650 (William Byrd, John Dowland, Giovanni Coprario and William Lawes). Drawing on Davenport's doctoral work the group will play through some of Lawes's most astonishing and inventive compositions with newly transcribed arrangements for recorders.
Clea Galhano: "Madrigal, Chaconne and Concerti : from Renaissance to Piazzola" Upper Intermediate to Advanced
This class will feature madrigal composers from Renaissance such as Tomas Luis de Vitoria; Baroque, Purcell and Telemann and Tangos quartets by Astor Piazzolla. All instruments are welcome. Pitch: A=440
David Echelard: "The Contenance Angloise" For voices and all instruments.
Late medieval English polyphonic music from the Old Hall manuscript, Worcester Fragments, John Dunstable, Leonel Power and Walter Frye.
We will musically explore the distinctive sounds of the English Manner of late medieval sacred English polyphony. Investigate the vocal and instrumental intricacies of the works to play and think instrumentally like a singer sings. Singers of all voices and any and all instruments are welcome.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcUNXyYi2Gl--VptJbtckCHjp7QGkxjir
Shelley Gruskin: Late baroque concertos for multiple recorders and bass. (Advanced) Expect to play lots and lots and lots of notes. Practice up on your scales and arpeggios for maximum razzle-dazzle in the allegros against the pathos of the adagios.
Lisette Kielson: "JS Bach's Art of Fugue" (advanced)
In this class we will explore Bach's masterful late-in-life BWV 1080 as arranged for SATB by Eric Haas. This opus will serve as our focal point for a true chamber music experience, with an opportunity to collaborate and discuss choices for breathing and articulation, and to alternate parts and leadership positions. With some contrapuncti quite elaborate, we will draw on all our recorder-playing skills to master them! Geared for advanced players.
Class music:
Bach, JS: Art of Fugue: The Four-Part Contrapuncti arranged for recorders by Eric Haas
Mona Mann: "Advanced Beginner Consort"
The Advanced Beginner group will provide a supportive environment for participants to focus on basics such as rhythms, time signatures, key signatures, and fingerings for C and F recorders. We will explore pleasing duets and trios of dances, working to improve our music reading and recorder playing skills at a manageable pace. We will also discuss techniques and strategies for practicing effectively.
Laura Kuhlman: "Songs of Solomon, Music of Salamone Rossi" We are lucky enough that Salamone Rossi lived in the progressive town of Mantua, Italy during the reign of the Gonzaga family. A talented violinist, Rossi worked alongside such illuminaries as Montiverdi, Gastoldi and Wert at the ducal court. Rossi was so highly regarded for his music talents that he was excused from wearing the badge that all Jews of Mantua were required to wear. Although his vast library consists of music written for the Catholic Church, he is also known for his remarkable psalm settings intended for Hebrew services. Recorders, voices, strings are welcome to join in as we discover the beauty and elegeance of Salamone Rossi.
Gayle Neuman: "The Music of William Byrd, (c. 1540 - 4 July 1623)" Advanced Mixed Consort
William Byrd died 400 years ago this year. We will play some of the finest fantasias ever written, songs from "Psalms, songs and sonnets...1611", and part of his famous "Mass for 3 voices", c. 1593.
Phil Neuman: "Music for Early Reeds and Brass" (Intermediate/Advanced)
"As melodious a noise as ever was heard" Inspired by a quotation from Cardinal Wolsey about shawms and sackbutts accompanying a choir in 1520, we'll play a wide variety of part music suitable for shawms, sackbutts, dulcians, crumhorns,
cornamusen, racketts, sordunes and more. Composers will include Lasso, Forster, Praetorius, Senfl, Menta, Attaingnant, Henry VIII and more.
Patrick O'Malley: "Take a Chanson Me" (Intermediate)
Claudin de Sermisy was one of the most important composers of Renaissance chansons lovely song with French texts. On recorders, these work well with alto (reading up an octave), two tenors, and bass. The parts are accessible, allowing us to focus on creating lyrical phrases. We will use London Pro Musica LPM PC4, Claudin de Sermisy, 15 Chansons.
Karen Snowberg: "The Many Moods of Madrigals" Intermidiate
Let your recorder sing. The voice is the ultimate instrument and wind instrumentalists need to strive to closely imitate the sound and phrasing of vocal style. Our focus will be on English madrigals in 2, 3, and 4 parts. In this class we will not simply play the notes. We will use the words of the madrigals to instruct us to phase properly and breath in the right places. Recorder technique issues relevant to producing a vocal style will be explored.
Katherine Shuldiner: "Love's Lament" What's love without a little sorrow? In this class we'll explore the themes of love and some of the inevitable feelings that accompany it. We will lament with Morley, have lots of regrets with the likes of Josquin, and shed a few tears with Dowland; all in the name of love!
Anne Timberlake: "King Hal: Henry VIII had six wives- and 49 recorders!"(Lower Intermediate) If that isn't a sign of which category he valued more, it's at least a testament to his love for, and support of, music. We'll explore musical gems from Henry's era, including a few penned by the monarch himself.
Pam Wiese: "Beginning Ensemble" (Beginner Recorder)
Depending on student level, we will work through some of the duets in the Recorder Guide or I will provide you with some simple SA and SAT ensemble pieces. We will work on facility of reading, confidence in playing and listening to the other parts.
