MUSIC AT MONTECONERO
a course for choral singers near Ancona led by Jeffrey Skidmore
8 to 14 June 2008
A week of early music with a leading specialist conductor, for competent (see guidelines below) choral singers, in a former Camaldolite abbey on the Adriatic near Ancona. The general aim is to assemble a chamber-scale choir capable of performing demanding music to a high standard in a relaxed and convivial setting.
LASSUS & PALESTRINA The
programme will feature some of the finest works by two of the great figures of the High Renaissance: Lassus and Palestrina. The central work will be Nos XV-XXI of Lassus's late masterpiece, Lagrime di San Pietro. This cycle of
seven-part spiritual madrigals was Lassus's swansong and one of the most remarkable artistic testaments in the history of music; his hallmarks of concision, balance and clarity are here given their definitive statement. The music
by Palestrina will include the two-part motet for six voices Tu es Petrus. Other music will be chosen nearer the time of the course to suit the disposition of voices in the group.
There could hardly be a more enticing spot for a course than Monteconero – a wooded mountaintop in the Conero regional park, with panoramic views of the sea, the Adriatic coast, the hills of the Marche and the distant peaks of the Appenines. The Hotel Monteconero, where the course will be held, began life as a Camaldolite abbey; we rehearse in the Romanesque church of St Peter dating back to 1038, that still stands in the centre of the complex. In 1958 the site, derelict and long since deserted by the monks, was bought by the Melappioni family, who transformed it into a hotel; the current third generation of proprietors have maintained and developed a reputation for gastronomic specialities of the Marche region. There is a swimming pool and a tennis court, and beaches nearby at Sirolo. For those able to extend their stay, places of interest in the area include Loreto, Urbino, Gubbio and Ascoli Piceno.
This is one of the new Lacock courses, with entry restricted to experienced and confident choral singers of all ages. You should be a good
reader and be comfortable singing a line by yourself, 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 in a holiday setting. There will be an average of no more than five voices to a part in the larger-scale pieces. Jeffrey Skidmore is experienced at working with amateur singers and the atmosphere will be relaxed and informal. We all stay at the Hotel Monteconero, which offers very good value for the degree of comfort on offer. The rate for half board per person per day excluding drinks in a double room is The plan is to meet for a late afternoon session on Sunday 8th June 2008. Then from Monday to Friday there will be rehearsal sessions each morning and
another at the end of the afternoon. We have dinner together in the hotel. We will give a final concert in the Romanesque church at the hotel in the evening of Friday 13th June. The course ends after breakfast on Saturday 14th June.
Book travel early. Ancona is the nearest airport. Ryanair fly there from Stansted. We will organise the sharing of taxis from the popular flights. Monteconero is also served by the A14 motorway; the nearest train
station is Ancona. The fee for the course is paid in two parts: a deposit of £160 on registration (this will be returned in full if you have to withdraw before 1st April; after that you may hold it over to another
course) and FOR A REGISTRATION FORM FOR MUSIC AT MONTECONERO,