Midlands Early Music Forum

Schutz: Psalmen Davids workshop with Bill Carslake on 7th March 2026
2026-03-07 10:30 - 17:00 (Europe/London) | Coton Centre, Tamworth, Church Comberford Road, Tamworth, B79 9AA, United Kingdom
Come and celebrate one of music’s finest dramatists, Heinrich Schütz, in four of his great psalm settings in German. Whether Schütz was writing opera, oratorio or these ‘Psalmen Davids’, he prioritised character and intention, and maintained a musical pacing that was close to life. His freedom in word-setting in German and Latin and his use of everyday speech rhythms were as liberating and far-reaching as in the work of his contemporary, John Donne. His introduction of thorough-bass/’basso continuo’ created a musical double commentary – a tension between the sung text and its harmonic underlay. Yet he could be stark and ask the big, bold question. His work transcended religious and national divides, and his travels between Venice and Dresden brought the latest Italian urgency into Germany’s Lutheran church, changing it for ever. Welcome to the German Baroque! We will be ‘going big’ with Zion Spricht, and will also include the joyous Danket dem Herrenn.
Repertoire: Zion Spricht swv 46, Ich freue mich swv 122, Ich danke den Herren swv 111, Danket dem Herren swv 45

This workshop is for voices and instruments:
Continuo: Organ, Harpsichord, Theorbo/lute/chitarrone, Cello/double bass.
Winds: Cornetti, sackbuts, Bassoons, Recorders/flutes, Trumpets (great for Danket SWV 45, where Schütz incorporated the court trumpet ensemble, and for Zion Spricht swv 46, but not for the other two – so it would be good if the trumpets could sing or play something else in those pieces).
Strings: Violins, Viola, Violone

The Tutor, Bill Carslake, composes music inspired by outdoor fieldwork collaborations. He conducts widely, and he is passionate about eco sail. He has a lifelong fascination with Renaissance and Baroque choral music. His latest orchestral work, Carrownagappul (2024) was commissioned for the 25th anniversary of Imperial College Sinfonietta – inspired by fieldwork in Galway, Ireland in collaboration with photographer Tina Claffey. A Finzi Scholarship orchestral piece, Mountain Hare (2022) was premiered by Farnborough Symphony Orchestra; and the travel essay Composing with Hares features in the Finzi Trust podcast series. Bill collaborated with poet Helen Mort on The Singing Glacier (2017) inspired by their climbing expedition in East Greenland – which has featured twice on BBC Radio 4. The current fieldwork project is The Sea of Trees, a sailing voyage to the Faroe Islands to study phytoplankton and sea bird colonies. He is Co-founder of Guild of Ships Ltd – a platform for sailing ship companies that carry passengers and cargo by wind.

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 from Tamworth station, a mile and a half away, can be arranged if required – please get in touch with the organiser: Elizabeth Ashby 07892 715401
Booking extended to 24th February – click here.

!A la Batalla! with Greg Skidmore and Sue Addison on 2nd May 2026
2026-05-02 10:30 - 17:00 | Swallowbeck Methodist Church, Lincoln
The Music for this workshop will comprise Sections from Victoria Missa Pro Victoria and Guerrero’s Missa de la Batalla Escoutez and Spanish Music reflecting battle songs. Singers and instrumentalists will rehearse separately in the morning and together in the afternoon, in preparation for a sing/play through at the end of the day.
10.00 Registration and drinks
10.30 Morning session with short break
1.15 Lunch (bring your own)
2.00 Afternoon session
4.00 (approx) Tea
4.30 Sing/playthrough
5.00 Finish
The Tutors
Born in Canada, Greg Skidmore arrived in England as an undergraduate at Royal Holloway College, University of London. After graduating with First Class Honours in Music, his post-graduate Choral Scholarship at Wells Cathedral led him to Lay Clerkships at Gloucester Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. He now lives in London and pursues a varied career as a consort, choral, and solo oratorio singer alongside his growing commitments as a conductor and workshop leader.
Greg is one of the UK’s leading consort and choral singers, having appeared with The Tallis Scholars, The Sixteen, The Cardinall’s Musick, I Fagiolini, Tenebrae and The Gabrieli Consort
More recently he was appointed Musical Director of The Lacock Scholars and has performed throughout the UK with them, including ongoing engagements at Westminster Abbey.
He has given workshops and masterclasses in the UK, France, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia in association with The Sixteen, I Fagiolini, and on his own.
Sue Addison is recognised as one of the world’s leading exponents of historic trombones. She currently plays principal trombone with The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Academy of Ancient Music, The Sixteen and the Gabrieli Consort. Her experience ranges from being a full time member of the City of Birmingham Orchestra under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle, to recording for the BBC Comedy ‘The Two Ronnies’. She is a founder member of His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts and of The Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment. She is currently Professor of Baroque trombone at the Royal College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Northern College, and Trinity Laban.
Venue
Swallowbeck Methodist Church, 472 Newark Rd, Lincoln LN6 8RZ
The church has a small car park only at the front so if anyone has mobility problems let me know and I will keep a space for you.
Otherwise the dentist next door has a car park at the back of the building. Drive in and you will see the signs directing you to the car park. Parking well should allow at least 20 cars to park in there. They do have a surgery on that day so there may be people walking from the car park. There is also street parking opposite.
The railway and bus station hub is a good walk away from the venue but it is on a bus route.

Workshop Organiser is Wendy Leonard 07540 560656
Book by 18th April here

The Colossal Baroque with Dr Stephen Bullamore on Sat 20th June 2026
2026-06-20 10:30 - 16:30 | St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark-on-Trent
Experience the wonder of the Colossal Baroque in the magnificent church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark. This workshop day will be led by Dr Stephen Bullamore, Director of Music, Newark Parish Church. We will be exploring poly-choral works (with instruments) by Schütz, Biber and Benevoli, concluding with the famous In ecclesiis by Giovanni Gabrieli. These works require huge forces, of up to 32 parts.
The workshop is for voices and instruments at A=440
Continuo: Organ, Harpsichord, Theorbo/lute/chitarrone (several players welcome)
Winds: Cornetti, Sackbuts, Curtals, Recorders and appropriate period instruments.
Strings: Violins, Violas, Cellos, Violone, Viols
Also trumpets and timpani for Biber
Working with the recently restored building, we will be able to spatially separate the groups of singers and instrumentalists creating a rarely-experienced soundscape.
Music to be performed will be:

Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich? Heinrich Schütz (Dresden)
Dixit Dominus a 25 Orazio Benevoli (Rome)
Vesperae a 32 (extracts) Heinrich Biber (Salzburg)
In Ecclesiis – Giovanni Gabrieli (Venice)

The Tutor, Dr Stephen Bullamore is Director of Music (Master of the Song School) at St Mary Magdalene church, Newark. Here he oversees one of the last remaining Parish Church Choral Foundation, made possible by the bequest of Thomas Magnus in the 1530s. He previously held posts at Guildford and Lincoln Cathedrals and was Director of Music at Waltham Abbey for the best part of a decade.
For ten years Stephen was Musical Director of the North Herts Guild of Singers. He is Musical Director of the Leicester Philharmonic Choir and of Bingham & District Choral Society; he previously was Musical Director of Barnet Choral Society. Between these groups he has conducted much of the choral repertoire, including Bach’s major works, several Handel oratorios, Ethel Smyth’s monumental Mass in D and Elgar’s three concert length choral works.
He holds a doctorate in Editorial Musicology (“The Sacred music of John Weldon, 1676-1736”) and has contributed to Grove Online. In recent years he has been drawn to crafting arrangements of pre-existing tunes to suit modern performance demands.
Timetable for the Day
10 am: Registration and drinks
10.30am; Morning Session with a short break
12.45 pm: Lunch (bring your own)
1.45 pm: Afternoon session
2.55 approx Tea break
4.30: Finish – . Church closes at 5pm
Venue: St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Walk, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JS https://www.stmnewark.org
The church is located in the centre of this historic town with cafes and market adjoining. We have the use of this magnificent and recently restored medieval church, in particular the nave and extended crossing. The Magnus Room, at the west end, will be available for personal belongings and space for lunch and breaks. The church will be open to visitors during the day.
There is no on-site parking but there is a facility to ‘drop off’ instruments.
Public parking nearby (prices may not be accurate)

St Marks Place, Lombard Street, NG24 1XP – NCP Multi-storey, can be pre-booked, £8 for the day. Closest.
London Road / Balderton Gate Car Park NG24 1TN
Lovers Lane Car Park, 12 Lovers Lane NG24 1JD Height restriction 7ft 6Riverside
Arena Outer Town Car Park( off the A46), 22 Great North Road NG24 1BN. Height restriction 7ft 6. A scenic 10 min walk over the river, past the castle into the town centre. £3.70

There are two train stations: Newark Northgate on the LNER East Coast main line, 15 mins walk away, and Newark Castle on the East Midlands line, 10 mins walk away.
Workshop Organisers Jill Davies daviesmusic@btinternet.com 07721 317030 and John Lock.
Booking is now open, click here to book by Monday 8th June.

Pentecostal Polychoral Music with Mark Wilson on 12th September
2026-09-12 10:30 - 17:00 | Oddfellows Hall, Stafford
Details to follow.
Booking will open in August.

Workshop for Voices and Instruments with Philip Thorby on 14th November 2026
2026-11-14 10:30 - 17:00 | Solihull Methodist Church Hall, Blosssomfield Road, Solihull, B91 1LG, United Kingdom
We welcome back Philip Thorby to lead this workshop in Solihull.
Details tba

Workshop for voices and instruments with Alison Kinder on December 5th 2026
2026-12-05 10:30 - 17:00 | Dorridge Village Hall, Grange Road, Dorridge, B93 8QA
We welcome back Alison Kinder to lead this workshop. Details tba.
