DORDRECHT ENGLISH WEEKEND
 4 & 5 September 2010
directed by Martin Bussey

ENGLISH WEEKENDS are a series of two-day courses for choral singers. They have been held in Madrid, Doesburg, Stockholm, Bruges, Cologne, Brielle, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Dreischor, Dordrecht and Jimena de la Frontera, and are intended to appeal to experienced singers of all ages and nationalities. They cover many aspects of choral technique, and are led by conductors who combine a specialist knowledge of the chosen repertoire with an ability to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The general aim is to stimulate international contact and broaden enthusiasm for choral music.

The Dordrecht course will be held in the town's famous Grote Kerk (or Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk), familiar to many from old paintings. The programme is a choral evensong, which will be sung in the church at the end of the course. The rehearsal on Sunday morning will be held in the art gallery 'De Compagnie', which is a few minutes' walk from the church at Kuipershaven 21.

Magnificat and Nunc dimittis by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625)
Gloria in excelsis by Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)
Listen sweet dove by Martin Bussey
Preces and Responses by Willam Smith (1603-1645), Psalms and Hymns

MARTIN BUSSEY is a conductor, composer and singer. He read music at King's College, Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar, and went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music. He conducts the Chester Bach Singers and sings in  Manchester Cathedral as a chorister and throughout the UK as a soloist. His music was sung in broadcasts of choral evensong on BBC Radio 3 in April (Children of Light from St Paul-without-the-walls, Rome) and again in May (new Responses, from Manchester Cathedral).

The course will be held from 9.30am to 6.00pm on Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 September 2010. Please arrive at 9.15am on the Saturday to allow time to register. I will send you copies of the music in advance, together with information about local accommodation and details of a rehearsal CD with each voice part picked out, available at an additional fee of € 12.50. The course fee of €100 or £87, which includes the printed music, teas and coffees, should be paid in full on registration. Payments in the Netherlands may be made to my account No 83.52.00.205. The course is run by Andrew van der Beek, Cantax House, Lacock, Chippenham SN15 2JZ, England, telephone 44 (0) 1249 730468, email avdb@lacock.org.

Enquiries in Dutch to Miep Peereboom on 078 6156179 or merwes.oratorium@hetnet.nl.

 Email us for further enquiries about the Dordrecht English Weekend.

Click here for a report of the 2007 event.

FOR A REGISTRATION FORM FOR THE DORDRECHT ENGLISH WEEKEND, CLICK HERE.