Beauchamp House International
Music and Drama Courses
2008 Programme

Directed by Glyn Oxley this is a very popular 3 day course designed for wind, string and brass players at a minimum standard of grade 5 and up to grade 8 plus.   We also welcome pre-formed chamber groups.  The emphasis will be primarily on small group chamber music, but there will also be an opportunity for some orchestral sessions.

This is a very social course and the price includes a delicious cooked lunch on both Saturday and Sunday.

A testimony to the success of these courses is that many course attendees return year after year.  This is what was said about last year’s course

"...I have been on this course for the last 3 years.  It is great fun, an escape from usual weekend domestics and an opportunity to meet like-minded adults who love music but usually don’t have the time to indulge themselves.  I now arrange my (and my family!) commitments around this weekend – the one weekend for me in the year..." - Liz Spencer

"...It was great fun.  The repertoire was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed playing with a wide range of musicians and instruments in different ensembles.  Having the time to chat without children and meeting new people was a bonus..." - Louise Earll

Back to top

---

This non-residential three day course directed by Glyn Oxley is specifically designed for young string players to come and develop important musical skills in a supportive and fun atmosphere.  Our players are given the opportunity to play in small ensembles, introducing them to chamber music and to experience larger orchestral playing.  While we know that most of the children finish the course as much improved musicians, we do put a heavy emphasis on the fun of playing.

We also make sure that we build in recreation time into the three days.  Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves when younger) put together craft and other activities to keep students entertained when they are not playing. 

A typical day...

10.00	Warm-up	1.30	Chamber music/recreation
10.30	Sectionals/Orchestra	3.00	Orchestra
11.00	Break	4.00	Finish
11.30	Orchestra
	LUNCH

Concerts

A concert for family and friends is held at 2pm at the end of the course for students to show what they have learned.

Back to top

---

Students who come to our non residential ‘Blow It’ course get three ‘full on’ days of exciting and creative fun.  As the title suggests it is for students who play either a wind or brass instrument to grades 1 to 4 standard.  The course is directed by the talented and very popular Wes Duggan, who always chooses a repertoire which appeals to students and ensures that there is an emphasis on the ‘jazzy stuff’.  Like our string course, most students leave as much better musicians, but we do put the emphasis on the fun of playing.

We also make sure that we build in recreation time into the three days.  Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves when younger) put together craft and other activities to keep students entertained when they are not playing. 

A typical day...

10.00	Session 1	1.30	Recreation
10.30	Session 2	3.00	Session 4
11.00	Break	4.00	Close for the day
11.30	Session 3
	LUNCH

Concerts

A concert for family and friends is held at 2pm at the end of the course for students to show what they have learned.

Back to top

---

This weekend choir course is directed by John Jenkins who is one of the country's leading choir directors.   This fun weekend, which is specifically designed for both girls and boys with unbroken voices has been run successfully as part of the Beauchamp House summer prgramme for over 20 years and is still going strong.   John, a great favourite with our students, makes sure that the programme provides the opportunity to explore a wide repetoire together with general musicianship including introducing them to sight singing.   Most importantly this weekend allows young people to enjoy the sheer love of singing in an informal atmosphere.

Our choir weekend has a number of faithful followers who return year after year.

We make sure that there are plenty of opportunities for games, relaxation and socialising during the weekend.  Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves in the past) make the weekend a fun packed event, organising a range of activities.

Camping just adds to the magic!

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Session 5
9.00	Session 1	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Session 2	7.00	Session 6
10.30	Break	8.00	Session 7
11.00	Session 3	9.00	Cocoa!
	LUNCH		After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students

Concerts

There is a concert for family and friends on Sunday at 3.00pm, finishing with refreshments.

Back to top

---

Music From Mantua

This course, which is situated in the grounds of a period country house set in unspoilt countryside 3 miles west of the city of Gloucester, has developed a unique reputation for its Early Music summer school weeks, for the quality of the food as for the music.  There is a purpose-built concert hall (“The Barn”) with toilet/shower block and kitchen/dining area attached, as well as a self-contained music block (“The Dairy”).

Most course members camp in the adjoining paddock (caravans are welcome) but there are many bed and breakfast establishments or cottages for the less hardy.  A list is available from here.

The courses have been running for over 20 years, the last 10 of which have been under the direction of Philip Thorby and Alan Lumsden, with Clifford Bartlett offering a continuo course alongside.   One special feature of the courses is that nearly all the repertoire is specially prepared for each course.  These editions, often the first practical performing material since the original prints, now number well over 500 works.   In almost all cases, they are available at the original written pitch as well as that implied by the original clef configurations.  As most of the repertoire would have been performed by a mixture of voices and instruments, fully texted instrumental parts are also available.  These editions are available for sale under the imprint The Beauchamp Press, from King’s Music, Redcroft, Bank’s End, Wyton, Huntingdon. Cambs.PE28 2AA

The course is open to competent singers with good sight-reading skills.  Appropriate instruments for most of the reprertoire are bowed and plucked strings, cornetts, sackbuts, curtals and all kinds of continuo instruments.   Other instruments may occasionally be required, but it is expected that instrumentalists may occasionally be prepared to sing to help provide the best mixture of forces.  Pitch is A440.

This year, the course directed by Alan Lumsden and Philip Thorby focuses on music from Mantua.

For most of the 16th century the hereditary duchy of Mantua was among the most important centres of musical activity in Italy.   In 1526 Jacquet of Mantua arrived from the Este court in Ferrara to dominate the musical life of Mantua for the next thirty years.  He is considered by many the leading master of sacred polyphony between Josquin and Palestrina.  Giaches de Wert, the last of the great Flemings in Italy, was appointed to the new Basilica of S Barbara in 1565.  His dialogue motets, such as Egressus Jesus and Saule are amazingly modern and show him to be the missing link between Rore and Monteverdi.   De Wert was succeeded by Gastoldi in 1592.  Although Gastoldi’s fame rests upon his light secular works, he composed a wide variety of sacred works which are worth exploring.  Francesco Soriano was maestro at the ducal chapel from 1581-1586. Palestrina, in a letter to the Duke of Mantua in 1583, claimed Soriano as a pupil and friend. His Psalmi et Motecta of 1616 has works in 8,12 and 16 parts.  We will also explore the sacred works of Salamone Rossi, who worked with Monteverdi as a string player in Mantua.  Pallavicino, mdc between de Wert and Monteverdi, left motets a 8, 12 & 16, including a fine Jubilate Deo a 16.  Monteverdi's time at Mantua, from 1590-1612, was almost entirely devoted to secular music - four books of madrigals and L’Orfeo and L’Arianna.  His astonishing collection of sacred music published in Venice in 1610 was designed to show his skill and versatility to prospective employers and he left Mantua for Venice in 1612.  The collection is best known today for the Vesper music with its amazing synthesis of prima and seconda prattica but we will enjoy the Missa in illo tempore, based on the Gombert motet of 1554, which is in many ways the culmination of the glories of the stile antico.

Continuo Course

Clifford Bartlett will again be in attendance to offer advice or instruction to any who wish to play continuo, whether they are complete beginners or more experienced.  The notation of chords is uncomplicated, and the harmony easy to understand, so players can concentrate on their musical role rather than worry about working out quick-changing or complex chord patterns.  This is dovetailed into the other activities of the week, and the formality of the instruction will depend on what suits each student.  While the course will provide basic electronic keyboards, adequate for teaching purposes, it is hoped that most participants will bring their own instruments.  Ideally, several organs are needed in the main rehearsal area for the large scale choral/instrumental works, with others placed in smaller teaching rooms.

Philip Thorby  is well known as a performer, teacher and conductor of Renaissance and Baroque music.  As a recorder and viol player he has performed, recorded and broadcast with many of London’s early music groups, and in particular with Musica Antiqua of London, which he also directs.  He teaches on numerous summer schools and short courses and other teaching includes directing the early music of Trinity College of Music, London, and visiting other colleges both in this country and abroad.  Philip is a regular visitor to Israel, where he works with both adult and children’s choirs.

Alan Lumsden   has had a varied career as performer, conductor and teacher.  He was associated for many years with the late David Munrow’s Early Music Consort of London and with James Tyler’s London Early Music Group.  He has directed workshops for many of the Early Music Fora, the Canford Summer School of Music, the Benslow Music Trust as well as courses in America, Australia, New Zealand and many countries of Europe.  He has been artist-in-residence at Washington University, St. Louis, Professor in the early music department of the Royal College of Music and was for many years on the staff of the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he was coordinator of Renaissance music studies.  His publications include a large number of editions of early music and the baroque wind section in the Grove Handbook of Performance Practice.

Clifford Bartlett  has been a music publisher for the last 15 years, and his King’s Music editions are used throughout the world, especially for period-instrument ensembles.  His Monteverdi Vespers has become the standard for historically-aware performances and recordings and his editions of baroque operas are widely used.  Oxford University Press has published his edition of Handel’s Messiah.  His magazine Early Music Review reviews new books, editions and CDs each month.  He first discovered how to play organ continuo by being thrown in at the deep end and playing ten different concerts in a month.

For an application form for this course, please download one from here.

Here is a link to the National Early Music Association
which you may find useful.

Back to top

---

This is a great opportunity for our younger students to spend a productive week of their summer holidays developing their theatrical, dance and musical skills in a supportive and fun environment.   This year students with a talented musical theatre team will be putting on a production of High School Musical.   This is one of the most popular contemporary musical theatre pieces encompassing catchy memorable tunes that inspire young people.   Let your youngsters be part of this summer spectacular.

We also make sure that there are plenty of opportunities for relaxation and socialising.   We are also especially proud of how first timers to our courses feel really at home after only a couple of hours.   Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves when younger) make the week a fun packed event, organising a range of activities.

This non-residential, 5 day course will be held at the Gloucester Academy’s term time home, 11a Westgate Street, an ‘easy to get to’ location near the cathedral in the centre of Gloucester.

A typical day...

9.35	Session 1	1.30	Recreation
10.30	Session 2	3.00	Session 4
11.00	Break	4.00	Close for the day
11.30	Session 3
	LUNCH

Concerts

A concert for family and friends is held at the end of the week, giving the students chance to show off what they have learned.

• Friday at 3.00pm, finishing with refreshments.

Back to top

---

A residential week designed specifically to help players between grades 1 and 4 to develop their playing skills in a professional but fun environment.   We put a heavy emphasis on quality tuition with an inspirational and qualified teaching team who work with the students in small groups and as a full orchestra.  

During the week, students will develop their sight reading and technique and get lots of opportunities to improve their ensemble playing during chamber music and full orchestral sessions.   Many music teachers comment on how well their students’ playing has developed during their summer music week at Beauchamp.

We also make this a fun and developmental week for our students.   Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves when younger) make the week a fun packed event. 

Our welfare team is also skilled at dealing with all eventualities from organising wet weather activities to supporting the very few students who are homesick. Camping adds to the magic and we have found that some of our younger students who were nervous about staying did not want to leave at the end of the week!

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Session 5
9.00	Session 1	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Session 2	7.00	Session 6
10.30	Break	8.00	Session 7
11.00	Session 3	9.00	Cocoa!
	LUNCH		After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students

Concerts

Concerts for family and friends are held at the end of each week, giving the students chance to show off what they have learned.

• Chamber concert - Friday at 7.30pm
• Full Orchestra  - Saturday at 2.00pm, finishing with refreshments.

A testimony to the success of these courses is that the majority of our students return year after year and when they get too advanced for Junior Orchestra, join our Intermediate Orchestra and Advanced String weeks.

What our students and parents said about the 2007 Junior Orchestra week:

"...the high quality of the tuition in a fun environment is the best feature and rated as excellent..." - Mr and Mrs Kerry

"...I was so impressed with this course that I have told lots of music teachers about it..."

"...My children enjoyed all of it and the welfare staff made it an especially fun week..." - Mrs Lambourne-Davis

Back to top

---

This course proves popular every year; particularly for those students keen to achieve Grade 5 theory so that they can progress with their practical Associated Board examinations.   Our experienced tutors have an excellent reputation for being able to coach students with no previous knowledge of theory to a standard where they are able to take and pass their Grade 5 Theory examination easily.   During the week students are helped to make the connection between 'theory', aural and practical music making, all done in a stimulating and fun way.   There are also plenty of opportunities for all kinds of playing during the course of the week.   A must for anyone finding theory, aural or sight reading a challenge!

We also make sure that there are plenty of opportunities for relaxation and socialising.   One of the features of our courses is the life-long friendships that our students form with other young musicians from across the country and Europe.   We are also especially proud of how first-timers to our courses feel really at home after only a couple of hours.   Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves in the past) make the week a fun packed event, organising a range of activities and trips.   Camping just adds to the magic!

* If the numbers permit we will run two "Grade 5 Theory from Scratch" courses during the summer of 2008.   Please indicate your first and second choice when booking.

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Session 5
9.00	Session 1	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Session 2	7.00	Session 6
10.30	Break	8.00	Session 7
11.00	Session 3	9.00	Cocoa!
	LUNCH		After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students

A testimony to the success of these courses is that the majority of our students return year after year.   Some students who come to us for the Theory week come the year after and join either our Intermediate Orchestra or Jazz weeks or the Advance Strings later.

What our students and parents said about the 2007 Grade 5 Theory week:

"...I had a lot of fun and learnt LOADS!..."

Back to top

---

This is a very popular residential week which is designed for string and wind players of grade 5 standard or above.   Like all our summer music weeks we put a heavy emphasis on quality tuition with an inspirational and qualified teaching team who work with the students in small groups and as a full orchestra.  This is a fantastic opportunity for young musicians to work closely with the professional musicians of the highly acclaimed young Carducci Quartet.   The teaching team always put together a varied, stimulating and often demanding musical programme for the students which takes into account the playing standard of the students and the instruments they will be playing.  During the week, as well as playing as a full orchestra, students will take part in sessions to enhance their sight reading and technique as well as small ensemble playing through playing chamber music.

We also make sure that there are plenty of opportunities for relaxation and socialising.   One of the features of our courses is the life long friendships that our students form with other young musicians from across the country and Europe.   We are also especially proud of how first timers to our courses feel really at home after only a couple of hours.   Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves when younger) make the week a fun packed event, organising a range of activities and trips.   Camping just adds to the magic.

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Session 5
9.00	Session 1	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Session 2	7.00	Session 6
10.30	Break	8.00	Session 7
11.00	Session 3	9.00	Cocoa!
	LUNCH		After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students

Concerts

Concerts for family and friends are held at the end of each week, giving the students chance to show off what they have learned.

• Chamber concert - Friday at 7.30pm
• Full Orchestra  - Saturday at 2.30pm, finishing with refreshments.

A testimony to the success of these courses is that the majority of our students return year after year.

What our students and parents said about the 2007 Intermediate Orchestra week:

"...I’ll be coming next year and the next and the next..." - Amy Fanning

"...Lovely welfare staff, lots of fun and the Carducci!..."

"...I love the feeling of being surrounded by family at Beauchamp.   Welfare take care of everything and make Beauchamp the highlight of my summer..." - Honor Ara

Back to top

---

This residential week which is directed by the Carducci Quartet is specifically designed for advanced string players of grade 7 and above.   This is a fantastic opportunity for young musicians to spend a week being coached in technique and ensemble playing by a leading professional quartet.   The Carducci Quartet always put together a varied, stimulating and often demanding musical programme for the students which last year varied from a work by Philip Glass to Romanian folk dances and a very high level of performance is achieved.   The chamber music sessions always prove to be a particular favourite with students.

We also make sure that are plenty of opportunities for relaxation and socialising.   One of the features of our courses is the life long friendships that our students form with other young musicians from across the country and Europe.   We are also especially proud of how first timers to our courses feel really at home after only a couple of hours.   Our highly experienced and very popular welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves in the past) make the week a fun packed event, organising a range of activities and trips.   Camping just adds to the magic!

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Session 5
9.00	Session 1	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Session 2	7.00	Session 6
10.30	Break	8.00	Session 7
11.00	Session 3	9.00	Cocoa!
	LUNCH		After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students

Concerts

Concerts for family and friends are held at the end of each week, giving the students chance to show off what they have learned.

• Chamber concert - Friday at 8.00pm
• Full Orchestra  - Saturday at 2.30pm, finishing with refreshments.

A testimony to the success of these courses is that the majority of our students return year after year.

What our students and parents said about the 2007 Advanced Strings week:

"...nothing could be done better due to the perfection of the course..." - Stephen Randall

Back to top

---

This is a fabulously popular residential week providing the opportunity for musicians to explore a whole range of jazz styles.

Using highly accomplished tutors, this ‘full on’ week involves students benefiting from specialist tutor groups, playing as part of a big band and a whole range of instrumental sessions.   Specialist interests are also catered for including for example, percussion workshops, keyboard skills, composing, arranging, jazz singing and free jazz.

This week is open to both adults and youngsters who play wind and brass instruments.   There is however a limit on the number of places available for violinists, cellists, vocalists, keyboard, bass guitar and percussion.

There is also plenty of opportunity to relax and socialise through participating in events and activities organised by our highly acclaimed welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves) - and we have found that the camping adds to the magic!

If you are keen on jazz, then you might like to see the following websites:

www.cheltenhamjazzarts.co.uk
www.beyondeternitypromotions.com

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Session 5
9.00	Session 1	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Session 2	7.00	Session 6
10.30	Break	8.00	Session 7
11.00	Session 3	9.00	Cocoa!
	LUNCH		After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students

Concerts

Concerts for family and friends are held at the end of each week, giving the students chance to show off what they have learned.

• Saturday at 1.30pm, finishing with refreshments.

A testimony to the success of these courses is that the majority of our students return year after year, some of whom also attend other Beauchamp courses during the summer.

What our students and parents said about the 2007 Jazz week:

"...Beauchamp this year has been great. I have had loads of fun and learnt loads about jazz drumming.   Hope to see you next year..." - Will

"...Had an amazing time this week. Learnt lots and met some lovely people..." - Lizzie

"...Beauchamp is so fun. I am definitely coming back next year because I love it..." - Lucy

Back to top