The Music of Thomas Tomkins – workshop for voices with Carys Lane on 15th February 2025

Thomas Tomkins

Perhaps less well known than predecessor William Byrd or his contemporary Orlando Gibbons, Tomkins is nevertheless a composer of wonderful invention and skill. His work,
like that of Gibbons, forms a bridge between the music of the renaissance and the baroque and comprises consort music in the form of madrigals, and liturgical music including both full anthems and the more modern verse anthems. Born in Wales, he was a chorister at St Davids cathedral. He held post as organist at Worcester cathedral for some 50 years from 1596 until the cathedral’s closure in 1646 due to the civil war, but was also a Gentleman Ordinary of the famous Chapel Royal in London, travelling frequently between the two jobs. In this workshop we will visit both his madrigal output, looking at works from his 1622 publication – Songs of 3,4,5 and 6 Parts- and music from his sacred output. Repertory will include, possibly his most famous piece, the great lament – When David Heard and also it’s companion piece the lesser known Then David Mourned. We will investigate his huge invention in the madrigalian fa-la-la in madrigals such as Too much I once Lamented and O Let me Die for True Love. And also enjoy some forgotten gems, such as an expansive 6 part setting of the psalm 120 Woe is Me, and possibly one of the greatest madrigals ever written, Music Divine.

Music will be provided, but if you would like to download it onto your tablet please contact liz.ashby@ntlworld.com  and she will send you a link.

The Tutor Carys Lane studied at the Purcell School and Royal Academy of music, and in 1999 was awarded an ARAM from the Academy for her service to Music. Having graduated, her early career was spent specialising in early music and ensemble singing. She recorded and performed with nearly all the major professional ensembles and choirs in Britain at the time, including The Tallis Scholars, The Sixteen, I Fagiolini, The Cardinal’s Musicke, The Clerk’s Group, Tenebrae, and The Gabrieli Consort. Since then Carys has changed the focus of her career to coaching and teaching. She is now based in Oxford and teaches choral scholars at Magdalen, Merton and Queen’s and Christchurch Colleges, as well as offering lessons and classes across the university. She is the vocal consultant for The Oxford Bach Choir, and works with the Merton Girls Choir for whom she leads the probationers program. She has held coaching residencies at the university of Perth Australia, the University of Vermont, and Dartington summer schools. She teaches for the Rodolfus Foundation Choral Courses and for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. Ensemble singing has always been her primary musical passion, and she now works with The Martlet Ensemble, a professional small vocal ensemble whose remit is to work with students at University College Oxford, offering coaching to singers whilst performing with them.

The Venue The Coton Centre is on the A315 Comberford Rd on the north edge of Tamworth. The post code B79 9AA will take you to Rawlett school but if approaching from the north on the A513 it is on the left before the school and from any other direction is the next turning after the school. There is ample free parking on site.

Lifts are available from the station – just contact the organiser (below)

Timetable for the day

10.00              Registration and drinks

10.30              Morning session (with a short comfort break)

1.00                Lunch (bring your own)

2.00                Afternoon session

3.30 approx   Tea break

4.00                Final session

5.00                Finish

Workshop Organiser: Elizabeth Ashby 07892 715401

Book here for this workshop before Sunday 2nd February