Mateo Flecha’s ‘Ensalades’ with Anita Datta on 14th September 2024

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.