Purcell and His Contemporaries: A Vocal Study Day

Saturday, July 26th from 10am to 4pm atThe Friends' Meeting House, Quakers LaneIsleworth, TW7 5AZ

Singers: £24 (£20 IB members), Observers: £5

This was an informal study day led by Gerald Place, tenor and Dorothy Linell, theorbo. Together they are the duo England’s Helicon, and most recently have had a recital of Shakespeare Songs released on the Naxos label. As well as being very experienced performers they give regular workshops and masterclasses, both here and in the USA. In addition to his solo work, Gerald has worked with many specialist ensembles including The Sixteen, The English Concert and the BBC Singers. Dorothy has several distinguished recital partners, most notably the counter-tenors Stephen Rickards and James Bowman.

The repertoire for the day was:

High voices: Music for a while, Sweeter than Roses; The self banished (medium voice); Man is for the woman made

Low voices: Evening hymn; Sweeter than roses; The self banished (medium voice); Man is for the woman made

The Indian Queen by Purcell

Sunday 13th April 2008, 12:00 noon to 6:00pm Millennium Hall, St Mary's Church

The study day was led by Helena Brown, musical director of Isleworth Baroque . Our vocal coach was Janet Oates. We are also very pleased that our patron Catherine Bott, singer and BBC broadcaster, was one of the tutors on the day.

You can request information on this and other study days via email from Tom Beaton: tom@isleworthbaroque.co.uk

A Secular Masque by William Boyce

12th May 2007, Chiswick Community School

We had a great time studying a very rare work - A Secular Masque by William Boyce. We created printed music for use by singers and instrumentalists from a handwritten score by the composer.

A Secular Masque is a setting of songs by John Dryden, written at the turn of the 17th - 18th centuries. There is no plot - instead there is a general discussion between gods and goddesses regarding the decline in moral values. It is an allegorical commentary on events of the 17th Century, looking ahead to the new century.

Handel Study Day

25th February 2007, 12 noon until 5:30pm, St Mary's Church, Osterley Road

We learned various extracts from Jephtha and Acis and Galatea.

The day was led by Helena Brown with Janet Oates as vocal coach. Laurence Slater gave a short talk on the two works being studied. We were also delighted that Catherine Bott, our patron, joined us on the day to provide expert comments and give advice to the group.