SINGING IN ROME
a course for choral singers led by Erik van Nevel, 12 to 16 October 2009
A week of early music with a leading specialist conductor, for competent (see guidelines below) choral singers leading to a public performance in Rome. The course will be held in English. There is free time to explore the city in the afternoon. The general aim is to assemble a choir capable of performing demanding music to a high standard in a relaxed and convivial setting.
MUSIC IN ROME c.1600 ~ PALESTRINA, VICTORIA, ARCADELT, MARENZIO In 1513 Pope Julius II founded the Cappella Giuliana of twelve singers, twelve scholars and two masters of music and grammar: part of a long-mooted plan to train native Italian singers for the papal chapel;
previously they had been recruited from northern Europe. Arcadelt worked there, and in 1551 Palestrina was the first to hold the title maestro di cappella della basilica Vaticana. The prestige of the papacy attracted some of
the finest Renaissance composers to Rome; other musicians who subsequently held positions in the city include Victoria, Marenzio, Benevoli, Allegri, Frescobaldi, Carissimi and both Scarlattis. The musical highpoint came around the
turn of the 16th century, when the music of Palestrina, Victoria, Arcadelt and Marenzio was in the repertoire not only of the papal chapel, but several other churches and religious establishments employing professional musicians.
Our programme will centre on Palestrina's Missa Laudate Dominum, a magnificent double choir Mass in the Dorian mode, based on the composer's own motet. Other works will be chosen to suit the vocal composition of the group and will
be announced later. The week will be based in the church of St Andrew, the home of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Rome. Built in the style of a Florentine palazzo, it is in Via XX Settembre (near the
junction with Via Firenze) on the Quirinale, one of the seven hills of the ancient city. It is within easy walking distance of the main Termini station and the Baths of Dioclesian, now the Museo Nazionale Romano.
Palestrina ~ Missa Laudate Dominum a 8
As a director, singer and instrumentalist, Erik van Nevel
is one of Europe's most distinguished performers of early music. He studied singing and conducting at the Royal Conservatories of Brussels and Antwerp and was choirmaster of Brussels Cathedral from 1983 to 2000, where he founded the Capella Sancti Michaelis. He is founder and director of Currende, an ensemble that appears regularly at the major European Festivals. Their wide-ranging and much lauded discography includes a series of ten CDs providing a broad survey of Franco-Flemish polyphony. Since 1994, Erik and Currende have been given the title 'Cultural Ambassador of Flanders' by the Flemish Community.
The course is designed for the serious amateur musician. You should be a competent sight-reader able to hold 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. Participants are of all ages and nationalities and come alone, with a friend or partner, or in a
group. Erik van Nevel is experienced at working with amateur musicians and the atmosphere is relaxed and informal. The plan is to meet at the church at 9.30am on Monday 12 October. Then until Friday 16 October there
will be rehearsal sessions each morning from 9.30 to 1pm and another at the end of the afternoon from 5pm to 7pm. The course ends with a final concert followed by supper in the evening of Friday 16 October. The group will eat
together on one other evening; apart from these two suppers, meals are not included in this course, but group visits to restaurants will be arranged on the other evenings for those interested. You arrange your own
accommodation: there is no shortage of choice.We will give you a list of suggestions, including nearby hotels, inexpensive hostels, accommodation in religious organisations and web sites offering appartments for rent, when you
register. The fee for the course is paid in two parts: a deposit of £175 or a sterling cheque for £175 payable to A van der Beek online transfer of £175 to account 00703787, sort code12-11-03, or for international transfers, in the Netherlands, a transfer of € elsewhere in the Euro area, transfer of € FOR A REGISTRATION FORM FOR SINGING IN ROME 2009, below: the Church of St Andrew in Via XX Settembre, where the course will be held
IBAN GB02 BOFS 1211 0300 7037 87, BIC BOFSGB21238
