Southern Early Music Forum

Rory McCleery on Gesualdo's 5-part motets
2022-03-10 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London)
Zoom event.

Book now for this Zoom workshop led by Rory McCleery (founder and director of the Marian Consort) on Gesualdo’s motets. A dramatic story and some gorgeous music! In this workshop Rory will focus on Gesualdo’s collection of motets for 5 voices, showing how these combined mellifluous polyphony like Palestrina’s with the chromatic style developed by the madrigal composers of Ferrara (Rore, Luzzaschi, de Wert and others). Scores will be available to download so that you can sing or play along with the music if you wish to do so.

To find out more, and to book your place, click here for the flyer and a link to the booking form. Or you can access the booking form directly here.

If you’d have liked to join us but can’t make the date, book now and you’ll be able to watch a recording of the event afterwards.

David Allinson live workshop for singers
2022-02-26 10:30 - 17:00 | Headcorn Village Hall, Church Lane, Headcorn, TN27 9NR
Headcorn

We are pleased to announce that we are running a live choral workshop with David Allinson on Saturday 26 February at Headcorn in Kent. Covid permitting! It is called ‘Preserve us O Lord! – Harmonious music for distracted tymes’.

Music has long been a source of consolation and strength at times of crisis and uncertainty; the pandemic has only served to underline how important it is. As we recover from months during which choral singing has been suspended, and amid continuing uncertainty, David Allinson offers a day of balm for the soul: music drawn mostly from the evening service of compline, whose texts speak of protection, mercy and salvation. The link to the flyer with all details is below.

Note that booking for this event will give you a chance to watch (again) the recording of David’s zoom session on music for Compline last October called ‘Before the ending of the day’. This includes his comments, together with performances, of some of the pieces we hope to sing at the workshop.

This is David’s eighteenth workshop for SEMF, tribute enough to the popularity of these events. It will fill up quickly so don’t delay!

Download further details and booking form as PDF file or Word document.

Patrick Craig on Chant and Polyphony
2022-01-17 20:00 - 21:30
Zoom event

As a beacon of light in the dark days of January, Patrick Craig will lift our spirits with a zoom session on ‘Chant and the origins of Polyphony’. The Old Testament book of Psalms is full of exhortations to worship God with song. But for the majority of history music has been shared without it ever being written down.

Patrick will trace the origins of chant, the birth of polyphony and the invention of notation. He will feature some of the most imaginative and spectacular pieces of music that are based on a foundation of Gregorian chant. He will also reflect on his recent experience of leading his all-female professional choir Aurora Nova through a full 24 hour marathon of chant, recreating the monastic services of the Divine Office.

The session will be recorded so you will be able to view it for a limited time after the event even if you can’t make the date.

Click here for the online booking form.

The link to the booking form is also in the flier: Download further details (PDF file)
