Midlands Early Music Forum

Music for the Dedication of St Gertrude's in Hamburg 1607 with David Hatcher on 13th July 2024
2024-07-13 10:30 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Knowle Village Hall, St John’s Close, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0NN, United Kingdom
This workshop is appropriate for players of strings (violin and viol families), sackbuts, cornetts, double reeds (yes, crumhorns too, if a quorum can be reached!), recorders, lutes, keyboards and of course, voices. Pitch will be A440.
We shall be working on music by Michael and Hieronymus Praetorius, Orlando di Lasso, Pierre Bonhomme and their contemporaries that was performed during a service in 1607 for the dedication of the church of St. Gertrude in Hamburg.
“… After that was sung the Introit In nomine Jesu in eight parts by Bandovius [Bonhomme]. Next followed the Missa super Deus misereatur nostri, also in eight parts, by the excellent composer Orlando [di Lasso]. Instead of the Sequence was sung Alleluia by Handl [Jacobus Gallus], composed for twelve parts, but in three choirs. The first choir was sung by the boys and musicians in the chancel, the second [was played] by cornetts and sackbuts, the third by the organ… After that was sung Herr Gott dich loben wir, which Hieronymus Praetorius, our church organist, has composed for sixteen parts in four choirs… Following that was also sung the Cantate [Domino] in eight parts, by the same Hieronymus Praetorius, by the choir, organs, cornetts, and sackbuts all together. To conclude, Sei Lob und Ehr mit hohem Preis was sung by the congregation, choir, organ, and instruments.”
Hamburg, 7 January, 1609, Lucas van Cöllen, Pastor of St. Jacobi in that city.
The music is a fascinating snapshot of the German response to Monteverdi’s works in Italy, including the Vespers of 1610, showing considerable experimentation and inventiveness in the movement towards the baroque splendour of later years.
The tutor: David Hatcher is well known to MEMF regulars. David was born in Warwick and upon attaining the LTCL diploma two years after taking up music, he went on to study viola da gamba with Charles Medlam and recorder with Philip Thorby at Trinity College of Music, London. He began his career based in England, touring America, Israel, France, Germany and the Netherlands. He has broadcast for both the BBC and independent radio and television. In 1987 he moved to Japan where he was to remain for the next 9 years, taking an active part in that country’s flourishing early music scene. He has recorded with Evelyn Tubb, The Consort of Musicke, I Fagiolini, Sprezzatura, and the Japanese ensembles Chelys, Ensemble Ecclesia and the Bach Collegium of Japan.
David now lives in Leominster on the Welsh Marches and has appeared with Fretwork, The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, The Globe Theatre, The Consort of Musicke, Musica Antiqua of London, The Corelli Orchestra, The Harp Consort, Glyndebourne Opera and many other period orchestras and ensembles.
He has taught on numerous summer schools, including the Cambridge Early Music Summer School, the Easter Early Music Course at Monmouth and Sastamala Gregoriana in Finland, and is in demand as a tutor for many weekend and day courses.
Past projects include performing in Damon Albarn’s opera ‘Dr Dee’ and performing and recording with I Fagiolini in their hugely successful interpretation of Striggio’s 40-voice mass. He performed in the inaugural season of the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2014 and in the highly acclaimed production of The Knight of the Burning Pestle in 2014 & 2015. He is a founder member of The Linarol Consort of Viols, the UK’s only consort specialising in the earliest repertoire for that instrument.
Knowle Village Hall https://knowlevillagehall.co.uk is 1.5 miles away from the M42 Junction 5 and approximately 3.5 miles to the east of Solihull town centre. Nearby bus stops provide frequent transport links to Solihull Station and Dorridge Station.
There is very limited parking on site but there are several carparks very close by – some only take payment with the PayByPhone app.
Booking is now open – click here for the booking form.

Mateo Flecha's 'Ensalades' with Anita Datta on 14th September 2024
2024-09-14 10:30 - 17:00 | St.Faith & St.Laurence Church Hall, Balden Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B32 2EL, United Kingdom
Those of us who were able to attend Anita Datta’s ’s last MEMF workshop will know we are in for a treat!
She will explore with us three of the ‘Ensaladas’ of Mateo Flecha el Viejo (1481-1553). So-called for their eclectic mixing of languages and musical styles, they depict allegorical dramas as a form of courtly and carnivalesque entertainment. Exploring the Ensaladas offers musicians liberty to play with sound and imagination, creating rich and atmospheric depictions of life and politics in early modern Europe through delightful polyphony.
Repertoire: La Guerra; El Jubilate; La Bomba and Riù Riù Chiù. There’s a Spotify playlist here with performances of all the pieces to get a flavour of what we’ll be doing.
The workshop is for SATB voices and pretty much any instruments – melody (which can double any vocal line in their range) or continuo. Especially welcome: sackbuts and cornets, early percussion, early Iberian instruments (e.g. Vihuela). There will be some percussion instruments at the workshop, so anyone who would like to bang a drum or rattle a tambourine is welcome to come as a percussionist. Pitch: A=440
Please note that Anita will need notice well in advance for instruments not in C so she can prepare parts.

The Tutor, Anita Datta, is a conductor and Early Music Specialist from East Yorkshire. She is the founder and artistic director of vocal ensemble The Swan Consort, and with them has performed at major music festivals across the UK and Europe. Graduating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge as an organ scholar (2014), she is frequently engaged as an organist and continuo player, and has directed a number of early and contemporary operas. She is also a soprano, Indian Classical musician, and composer, having recently delivered commissions for Multitude of Voyces and the BBC Singers.
The Venue St Faith & St Laurence Church is on the junction of Balden Rd & Croftdown Rd in Harborne. There is a small amount of parking on site, and plenty more street parking on Croftdown Road.
The MEMF AGM will be held during the lunch break at 1pm.
Organiser: Jonathan Spencer 07784 657563 or jonathan-spencer@blueyonder.co.uk

Booking is now open – click here for the booking form.

Praetorius Christmas Workshop with Patrick Craig on 14th December 2024
2024-12-14 10:30 - 17:00 | Dorridge Village Hall, Grange Road, Dorridge, B93 8QA
This workshop is for voices and any number of instruments – strings, including viols, wind and brass at pitch A440.
The German composer and music theorist Michael Praetorius (born Michael Schultze about 1571/2) was the son, and brother, of Lutheran pastors. After studying theology and philosophy in Frankfurt he later became organist and music director to the Duke of Brunswick, where he stayed for over 20 years. After the death of his employer, he travelled extensively in Germany working as music director in several north German courts where he met and worked with Schütz, Schein & Scheidt. Praetorius considered himself a pioneer in the introduction of the new Italian Baroque style into Protestant Germany.
We will work on a selection of his pieces for the festive season.
Music will be provided on the day Instrumentalists please bring a named Music stand

Patrick Craig is a countertenor who sang a thousand concerts with The Tallis Scholars while singing as a Vicar Choral at St Paul’s Cathedral where he has worked for almost thirty years. He has also recorded extensively as a member of The Cardinall’s Musick. He lectures on choral music for the Arts Society and conducts singing workshops for organisations across Europe. He is the founder Director of this country’s preeminent all-female professional choir Aurora Nova.
Timetable for the Day
10 am: Registration and drinks
10.30am; Morning Session with a short break
1 pm: a free buffet lunch will be provided as part of a very generous legacy left by the late Heather Holt, our previous Treasurer – and much more.
2pm: Afternoon session
3.30 approx Tea
4.00: Final session
5.00: Finish

Directions Dorridge Village Hall, Grange Road, Dorridge, B93 8QA has plenty of parking but there is height restricting barrier of 2m at the entrance, If you need to travel in your pantechnicon please inform the organiser who will arrange for it to be open!
Warning for sat nav users. The official postcode for the Village Hall B93 8QA may set your destination quite some distance from the Hall.
The What3Words location is ///sponge.flopping.wedding .
From Dorridge centre on the B4101 (Grange Road) the turning to the Hall is the first left after Dorridge Park. If you get to the Railway pub you have gone too far!
From Hockley Heath, the driveway to the Hall is the first right after the Railway pub, before the “Welcome to Dorridge” signs.
Please note: The M42 will be closed between junctions 6 & 7a the weekend of the workshop, which will affect anyone travelling southbound on the M42. Details of the closure and the diversions in place can be found here.
Dorridge Station (Chiltern Line) is about ½ mile away. Turn left out of the station and at the main road turn left under the railway bridge = Grange Road. The venue is on the left past the park.
The Organiser is Jonathan Spencer 07784 657563
To book click here
