Beauchamp House International
Music and Drama Courses
2009 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 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 delicious cooked lunches on Saturday and Sunday.

We begin at 5pm on Friday with a sandwich tea and continue to 9pm.   On Saturday we start at 10am and finish at 5pm.   On Sunday we again start at 10am and conclude the weekend with a concert at 4pm to which family and friends are warmly invited.

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

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This non-residential three day course directed by Glyn Oxley is specifically designed for young string players of Grade 1-4 standard to come and develop important musical skills in a supportive and fun atmosphere.   Our players are given the opportunity to play in small ensembles - thereby introducing them to chamber music - and to experience larger orchestral playing.   We know that most of the children finish the course as much improved musicians but we do put a heavy emphasis on the fun of playing.

We make sure that we build 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, team games and other activities to keep students entertained when they are not playing.

A typical day...

10.00	Warm-up	12.30	Lunch
10.30	Sectionals/Orchestra	1.30	Chamber music/recreation
11.00	Break	3.00	Orchestra
11.30	Orchestra	4.00	Finish

Concert - Wednesday, 8th April at 2.00pm

This concert for family and friends gives the students an opportunity to show off what they have learned.

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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 at Grade 1-4 standard.   The course will be led by Cathy Laney who will choose a repertoire that appeals to students and who will ensure 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	12.30	Lunch
10.30	Session 2	1.30	Recreation
11.00	Break	3.00	Session 4
11.30	Session 3	4.00	Close for the day

Concert - Wednesday 8th April, 2.00 p.m.

This end-of-course concert for family and friends gives an opportunity for students to show off what they have learned.

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This course is directed by John Jenkins, one of the country's leading choral directors.   It has been running successfully as part of the Beauchamp summer programme 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 repertoire together with general musicianship, including an introduction 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 it a fun-packed weekend by organising a range of activities for recreation time.

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

Concert - Sunday 19th July at 1.45pm, finishing with refreshments.

This concert for family and friends gives the students an opportunity to perform the songs they have worked on over the course of the weekend.

What our students and parents said about the 2008 Choir Weekend

"So much achieved vocally in relatively few hours."

"The weekend was wicked."

"Great empathy evident between conductor and choir."

"Good balance between having fun and some serious music-making."

"I loved it.  Can't wait for next year."

"High quality music-making in a relaxed but hard-working environment.   Immensely fun and friendly; a real confidence booster.   Great food, great care, great activities, great Beauchamp traditions."

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MUSIC from EASTERN EUROPE

This course, which takes place annually 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 the quality of the food as well as 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 participants camp in the adjoining paddock (caravans are welcome) but, for those seeking greater comfort, there are many local bed and breakfast establishments or cottages to rent. A list is available 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.

For 2009, the course directed by Alan Lumsden and Philip Thornby focuses on music from Eastern Europe.

This topic covers a larger territorial and chronological spread than usual, including Poland, Bohemia, Hungary and Croatia, from about 1500 to 1660 (fortunately all in Latin with the exception of some early works in German).   Heinrich Finck (c1445-1527) spent his boyhood in Poland, travelled widely in the German lands and returned to Cracow where he taught Stoltzer.   His great-nephew Hermann Finck (1527-1558) was mainly associated with the chapel of King Ferdinand I of Hungary & Bohemia. Each of the Fincks is represented by a setting of ‘Christ ist erstanden’, Heinrich also by what has been described as the most brilliant and imposing pre-Reformation Mass, written for a royal wedding in 1515.   Thomas Stoltzer (c1470-1526) worked at the Hungarian court chapel from 1490 to 1526, when he and his king, Louis II, met their deaths on the battlefield of Mohács.   He was the first composer to write a cycle of instrumental fantasias, one in each of the ecclesiastical modes, and was also among the first composers to use the Lutheran translation for some of his psalm settings, including the monumental ‘Erzürne dich nicht’.   By the end of the 16th century it became the norm to attract Italian composers to the Polish court.   Marenzio was in Warsaw 1596-98 for a hefty fee and a noble title!   From 1603 until his death in 1623 the music of the royal chapel was directed by Aprilio Pacelli, who had been maestro at St. Peter’s, Rome.   A prolific composer, his output includes many polychoral works.   Native composers writing large-scale works with colourful instrumentation include Zielenski (fl.1611), whose triple choir ‘Magnificat’ is a particularly fine work, Mielczewski (d.1651) and Pekiel (d.1670).   From Bohemia, Adam Michna (c.1600-1676) was the first Czech composer to write works with concertante solo parts with choir and instruments.   His ‘St. Wenceslas Mass’ was probably written in 1661 to celebrate the major refitting of the episcopal cathedral of St. Wenceslas and has an intriguingly folk flavour at times.   Also of Bohemian birth was Samuel Capricornus (1628-1665) but his family fled to Hungary to escape religious persecution and he later became Kapellmeister to the Württemberg court at Stuttgart.   Schütz thought highly of him and Carissimi performed some of his compositions.   Capricornus’ 13-part setting of ‘Psalm 119’ is for SSATTB choir and 7 string parts - 2 violins, 3 viole da braccia, 2 viole da gamba.

Continuo Course

Clifford Bartlett will again be in attendance to offer advice or instruction to any who wish to play continuo, whether a complete beginner or with some experience.  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; 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.

To download full details of the course, including programme notes, daily timetable, etc., please click here.   For an Early Music course application form, please click here.

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

Also, one for the North West Early Music Forum.

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A residential week designed specifically to help players of Grades 1-4 to develop their playing skills in a professional but fun environment.   The emphasis throughout is 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 it a fun-packed week. 

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 initially nervous about staying, did not want to leave at the end of the week!

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 Senior Orchestra and Advanced String weeks.

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Chamber groups
9.00	Sectionals	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Full orchestra	7.00	Full orchestra
10.30	Break	9.00	Cocoa!
11.00	Full strings/woodwind and brass		After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students
	Lunch

Concerts

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

• Chamber concert - Friday 7th August at 7.30pm
• Full Orchestra  - Saturday 8th August at 2.30pm, finishing with refreshments.

What our students and parents said about the 2008 Junior Orchestra week:

"As parents we think this has been a brilliant experience, enormous fun and a real success."

"This is more than an excellent music programme; this is a wonderful life experience."

"I enjoyed every day of the couse."

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

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

We 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 it a fun-packed week, organising a range of activities and trips.   Camping just adds to the magic.

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

A typical day...

7.30	Wake Up	1.30	Recreation / Excursion
8.00	Breakfast	4.00	Chamber groups
9.00	Sectionals	6.00	Dinner
9.45	Full orchestra	7.00	Full orchestra
10.30	Break	9.00	Cocoa!
11.00	Full strings/woodwind and brass	9.00	After cocoa - fun performances by staff and students
	Lunch

Concerts

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

• Chamber concert  - Friday 14th August at 7.30pm
• Full Orchestra  - Saturday 15th August at 2.30pm, finishing with refreshments.

What our students and parents said about the 2008 Senior Orchestra week:

"Fun experience and great orchestral training."

"Time to focus on the enjoyment of the instrument."

"It was amazing!"

"The camping, the atmosphere, the brilliant music teachers, the brilliant welfare staff."

"The course really engaged him wiht his violin - he returned inspired and motivated.   Many thanks to everyone who make it such a wonderful week."

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

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This residential week, 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 be coached in technique and ensemble playing by members of a leading professional quartet.   The tutors always put together a varied, stimulating and often demanding musical programme for the students and a very high level of performance is achieved.   The chamber music sessions always prove to be a particular favourite with students.

We 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!


A testimony to the success of these courses is that the majority of our students return year after year and attend other Beauchamp music weeks, like our popular jazz course.

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 our students a chance to show off what they have learned.

• Chamber concert - Friday 21st August at 7.30pm
• Full String Orchestra  - Saturday 22nd August at 2.30pm, finishing with refreshments.

What our students and parents said about the 2008 Advanced Strings week:

"Playing challenging pieces has been good for my sight-reading and exam practice."

"Nothing could be done better due to the perfection of the course."

"Another awesome year at Beauchamp - it just gets better and better."

"Yet again, another year and another amazing course.   Food and fun lived up to its usual high standards."

"The weather was pants, but everything else was awesome!"

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This course proves to be popular every year with those students keen to achieve Grade 5 theory so that they can progress with their practical music 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 music-making during the week. A must for anyone finding theory, aural or sight reading a challenge!

We 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 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 it a fun packed week, organising a range of activities and trips.   Camping just adds to the magic.

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 following year for our Senior Orchestra, Advanced Strings or Jazz weeks.

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

Concert - Saturday 22nd August 1.30pm.

All family and friends welcome.

What our students and parents said about the 2008 Grade 5 Theory week:

"I learned absolutely loads."

"The week at Beauchamp was awesome.  I cry with happiness every time I think about it!"

"Full coverage of the syllabus, giving our daughter the confidence to do the exam."

"Welfare are awesome.  Made loads of good friends and the teaches were really good."

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This fabulously popular residential week provides an opportunity for musicians to explore a whole range of jazz genres, styles and techniques (including improvising, ensemble and listening skills).

Under the direction of Pete Martin and his team of highly accomplished tutors, this ‘busy and concentrated’ week has students benefiting from specialist tutor groups, playing as part of a big band and a whole range of specialist sessions.   Other interests are also catered for during the week.   Previous years have included percussion workshops, composing, arranging, transcription skills, jazz singing, sound recording, New Orleans Jazz, free jazz, jazz listening and history.

This week is open to both adults and youngsters who play wind and brass instruments.   In addition, there are a limited number of places available for violinists, cellists, vocalists, keyboard, bass guitar and percussion so it is best to apply early to avoid disappointment!   The course is suitable for any musician of minimum Grade 3 standard (the ability to read music notation confidently).

There is plenty of opportunity provided for relaxing and socialising through participation in events and activities organised by our highly acclaimed welfare team (most of whom have attended these courses themselves)..... and we have found that camping adds to the magic.

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.

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

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

A typical Jazz Course week...

Concert - Saturday 29th August 1.30pm, ending with refreshments.

This concert for family and friends is a fitting end to the week, giving the students an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.

What our students said about the 2008 Jazz week:

"Fantastic value for money.  High standard of tuition."

"The very high standard of tuition and challenge, the incredible commitment of the teachers and the brilliant young people who help it to happen.   Just keep it as good as it is!"

"Excellent music tuition which really made a difference to my playing. Friendly and warm atmosphere."

"Expecting the best and getting it!   Confidence building, help and encouragement."a

"Beauchamp rocks!"

"Building independence. Opportunity to meet wider group of people with similar interests.  Fun!"

"Amazing as ever - can't wait for next year."

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