Music from England, Italy and Germany – Baroque String Workshop at A=415

This Baroque string workshop is for violins, violas, cellos, double bass/violone, viols and continuo – to include theorbo.           A=415

Music to be played will be:

John Blow (1649-1708) Chaconne for strings. John Blow was an English composer and organist who started his musical life as a chorister at the Chapel Royal where he became ‘proficient in music’. Obtaining a Doctor of Music, he later had a distinguished career as composer and organist at St Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, where one of his pupils was Henry Purcell, and the Chapel Royal. Although most of Blow’s music was choral, he wrote some instrumental music, one of which is the Chaconne.

Archangelo Corelli (1653-1713) Concerto Grosso in Fmajor Op 6 no 2.  Archangelo Corelli was an Italian virtuoso violinist and composer whose music was key in the development of the modern genres of sonata and concerto, and the importance of the violin. His concerti grossi are regarded as the epitome of the style and Opus 6 is a collection of 12 concerti of which we shall play no 2

Johann Christoph Pez (1664-1716) Suite in E minor. Johann Christoph Pez (1664-1716) was a German composer from Munich. One of his early employers offered him the chance to study music with the leading Italian composer, Corelli, in Rome. From there he returned to Germany, working to improve the various court orchestras where he was employed as Kapellmeister. After returning to Italy to study composition and violin, he finally settled in Germany where he enjoyed a successful career Like many of his contemporaries, Pez was heavily influenced by the French style and was one of many imitators of Jean-Baptiste Lully.

Ludovico Viadana (1560? – 1627) La Fiorentina. Ludovico Grossi da Viadana was an Italian composer, teacher and Franciscan friar who held various posts as Director of Music in several Cathedrals. He is known mainly as the first significant figure to make use of the newly developed technique of figured bass, one of the musical devices which was to define the end of the Renaissance and beginning of the Baroque era in music.

Music will be provided on the day. Please bring a labelled music stand.

The tutor, Oliver Webber is a London based Baroque violinist with three decades of experience in the field. He is director of the Monteverdi String Band, specialists in 17^th century ensemble music. He also appears regularly with the London Handel Players and the Gonzaga Band, with whom he has recently been coaching students at Stavanger University. In the orchestral world, amongst various other posts, he has been a principal player and occasional guest leader of the Gabrieli Consort for around 20 years, in the process helping the orchestra explore aspects of historical performance such as all gut stringing and use of the French bow hold. He teaches baroque violin and viola at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he also runs classes on ornamentation for instrumentalists and singers. He complements his teaching and performing with research, editing, translation and string making.

Organiser: Sheila Koch 07931 237076 or sheilakochuk@gmail.com

Booking is now open – book here by 19th October 2024