BUITRAGO EASTER MUSIC WEEK
 a course for choral singers led by Carlos Fernández Aransay
28 March to 2 April 2010

Choral singers of all ages and nationalities are warmly invited to join this Holy Week course of Renaissance music in the walled town of Buitrago del Lozoya in the mountains north of Madrid. The course will be held in English and Spanish and will include a visit to Segovia to sing in the cathedral. The general aim is to create a memorable musical experience in a relaxed and convivial setting.

The week is centred on one of the great works of late Renaissance music: The Requiem Mass for six voices by Tomás Luis de Victoria. Bruno Turner, who transcribed and edited the Mapa Mundi edition has written, "Its refined and dignified austerity is shot through with passionate conviction; it glows with extraordinary fervour within a musical and spiritual atmosphere of serenity and fitness for its liturgical purpose...it has become revered as well as admired, for it seems to be somehow a Requiem for an age – the end of Spain's golden century, the end of renaissance music, the last work, indeed, of Victoria himself." Other works in the programme will be chosen to suit the balance of the group and will be announced later.

The course is intended for those who are passionate about singing in choirs and welcome the opportunity to rehearse the set programme in depth. You should be a competent sight-reader, have a straight, blending voice with full dynamic range, be used to normal choral discipline and be able to respond quickly to direction – the aim being to combine professional pace of work with amateur enthusiasm. Participants are of all ages and nationalities and come alone, with a friend or partner, or in a group. Carlos Fernández Aransay is experienced at working with amateur musicians and the atmosphere is relaxed and informal.

Buitrago del Lozoya is an attractive small town 75 km north of Madrid in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Its well-preserved mediaeval centre is a testament to a mixed Christian, Moorish and Jewish heritage; the defensive walls date from the twelfth century. There is also, surprisingly, a small Picasso Museum housing 62 pieces given by the artist to his friend and barber Eugenio Arias. We will rehearse in the town's music school and give a concert in the fine Mudéjar – built by Moorish craftsmen – church. We also plan to visit Segovia during the week to sing in the cathedral (to be confirmed).

The surrounding countryside is largely oak and pine forests. Places of interest within reach include Victoria's birthplace of Ávila, Philip II's monastery and mausoleum at El Escorial and Burgos.

The plan is to arrive in Buitrago del Lozoya on Sunday 28 March (Palm Sunday) in time for supper. Madrid is the nearest airport, and on Sundays there are ten buses to Buitrago from Plaza Castilla. The timetable is given on the town's web site. Then from Monday there will be a rehearsal session each morning from 9.30am until 1.00pm and another from 5.00pm until 7.00pm. The course will end with a final concert in the evening of Friday 2 April. We are planning a trip to sing in Segovia Cathedral on Thursday 1 April, though this has yet to be confirmed. The group will eat together in restaurants every evening; these meals are included in the fee.

You are asked to bring a copies of the music; we will tell you how you can order the Victoria Requiem direct from the publisher for the special price of £8 including postage when you register.

You arrange your own accommodation; we will provide a list of all the options in the town when you register. We are holding some rooms that have been offered at a special rate for participants in the course at two hotels: La Beltraneja Hotel Rural and Hotel Los Canchos.

The fee for the course is paid in two parts: a deposit of £195 or €215 on registration (this will be returned in full if you have to withdraw before 1 February; after that you may hold it over to another course) and €250 on arrival. The fee includes the six suppers, but not accommodation. You may pay the deposit by any of these methods:

    a sterling cheque for £195 payable to A van der Beek

    online transfer of £195 to account 00703787, sort code12-11-03, or for international transfers, IBAN GB02 BOFS 1211 0300 7037 87, BIC BOFSGB21238

    in the Netherlands, a transfer of €215 to account 83.52.00.205 (A van der Beek, Lacock)

    elsewhere in the Euro area, transfer of €215 to IBAN NL23 FTSB 0835 2002 05, BIC FTSBNL2R.

Email us for further enquiries about the Buitrago Easter Music Week.

FOR A REGISTRATION FORM FOR BUITRAGO EASTER MUSIC WEEK 2010, CLICK HERE.