English Masque:
Cupid and Death by Matthew Locke

Elleray Hall, Teddington, Middx TW11 0HG
(just off Broad St., Teddington) 
6th June 2010, 11:00am until 5:30pm

Probably the most complete surviving example of 17th century English Masque, involving spoken dialogue, recitative, songs, choruses and orchestral music.

Led by Helena Brown and Janet Oates

To include an informal concert of our work, open to friends and family, 4.30 – 5.30

Participation fee for singers and orchestra: £35, to include the score
Observers’ fee for the day: £10

Proposed outline of the day:

• 10.50: arrival and welcome
• 11.00: orchestra and singers working in separate rooms: orchestra please bring a music stand
• 12.45: LUNCH (please bring some food to share)
• 13.30: orchestra and singers work together
• 14.45: refreshment break
• 15.00: orchestra and singers work together
• 16.15: finish main session
• 16.30: informal performance of CUPID AND DEATH to family and friends (please invite them!)
• 17.30: finish and clear up

How to find Elleray Hall:

View Larger Map 

walkable from Teddington train station; buses 33, R68, 285 and 281 (from Hounslow or Kingston)

For further information, contact Helena (020 8580 8429) or Janet (janet.oates@btinternet.com)

If you wish to participate, please print this page, complete details below (or just send a note with equivalent information) and return by the end of May to Helena Brown, 13 Borough Road, Isleworth, TW7 5DY.

NAME:

Phone or email:

Address:

Voice type or instrument played:

Please circle the fee attached:    
£35 (participants)      £10 (observers)

(cheques made payable to ISLEWORTH BAROQUE)

French Baroque Study Day
with a focus on Actéon by Charpentier

14th June 2009, St Mary's Church Halls, Osterley Road, Isleworth TW7 4PW
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The day will be led by Helena Brown and Janet Oates with coaching from renowned Baroque specialists Gilly Ross (soprano) and Nicola Jackman (violinist). There will be separate sessions for vocalists and players followed by a combined session for everyone at the end of the day.

Music: Charpentier’s ‘Acteon’: Choral and orchestral parts will be provided free on the day. You can view (but not print) the score and listen to a recording on the internet at: www.personal.utulsa.edu/~john-powell/Acteon/index.htm (you will need to download the free software programme “Scorch”; follow the link at the top of the page).

There will be no auditions for solo singers but solo parts must be thoroughly prepared in advance of the day. Singers should select which part they would like to be considered for and contact Janet Oates (tel: 020 8892 1496, email janet@isleworthbaroque.co.uk) for advice and selection of music, which will then be emailed or posted to you.

Orchestra: We will be playing at modern pitch (440). Please bring a music stand.

Refreshments: Afternoon tea will be provided

Fees: All singers and instrumentalists - £30 (including the price of music and afternoon refreshments), £10 for observers.

For more information, phone Helena Brown on 020 8580 8429 or email Tom Beaton on tom@isleworthbaroque.co.uk. We have a small hardship fund which can defray some costs for IB members – please speak to a committee member.

Please print this page and return the following to Helena Brown with a cheque made payable to Isleworth Baroque if you would like to join us.

Directions:

Purcell and His Contemporaries: A Vocal Study Day

Saturday, July 26th from 10am to 4pm atThe Friends' Meeting House, Quakers Lan, eIsleworth, 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.