The Garden of Love – Anthems from the Song of Songs : Vocal workshop with tutor Sally Dunkley on 17th February 2024

The Music: The sensuous love poetry of the biblical Song of Songs has long proved an inspiration to composers and found its way into use in the Catholic church mainly by way of metaphorical reference to the Virgin Mary.

Our workshop day features settings of Song of Songs texts by 16th-century composers from various European countries. Some are well known names, such as Palestrina and Gibbons, while others are rarer discoveries – Clemens non Papa and Vincenzo Bertolusi. All are delightful to sing.

The Tutor, Sally Dunkley,  has enjoyed a long career as a professional consort singer, as a student in the Clerkes of Oxenford, then with the Sixteen from its very first concert, and the Tallis Scholars too. She started making performing editions when few were readily available; some are now published by Oxford University Press (series ‘Musica Dei donum’) and the Church Music Society. She is delighted to share her experience through workshops, summer schools and talks – this is her second visit to MEMF.

The workshop is from 10.30 to 5pm with refreshments at 10am, lunch 1-2 (bring your own or use shops nearby) and a tea-break.

Directions to  St Philip’s church Centre –  drive along the B4101 from the Knowle direction into Dorridge and under a railway bridge.  There is a Sainsbury’s garage on the right after the bridge and you need to turn right after this onto Manor Road where the church is immediately on the right.  There are plenty of disabled parking places at the church and some free street parking by the church and nearby.  There is also a large public car park immediately behind the church. To get to it you turn right immediately after going under the railway bridge and before the Sainsbury’s garage.  This is a station over-spill park which is available on Saturdays for £5 for the day, payable through PayByPhone.  There is a footpath at the back of the car park which takes you to the back door of the church so you do not need to walk all the way round by the road.

Booking is now open – please scroll down for the booking form.