Early Music in the Vale is ....
a company that delivers
workshops, educational performances, lecture recitals, continuo courses, coaching, editing, and lessons.
We are responsible for the Education Programme for the Chipping Campden Festival, which includes a range of different music styles as well as dance.
Workshops are available for children as well as adults. Director Micaela Schmitz has a particular specialty in Renaissance choral music, and gives dance and music improvisation workshops. These range from Tudor history to GCSE's to adult education.
Early Music in the Vale is business manager for the harpsichordist Micaela Schmitz and ensembles. Performances always help the audience put things into context through pre-concert talks, workshops, demonstrations, readings, and information.
a chance to listen:
A chance to listen
Friday 24 August 2007 1:30pm
A Royal Progress: From the Chapel Royal to Versailles.
Micaela Schmitz, harpsichord
Concert at the Friendsi Meeting House, Worcester
Saturday March 4,2006 Cotswold Continuo Course:
Handel and Purcell For Singers and Continuo Players
Dr. Micaela Schmitz will tutor the day, and we will cover the following:
For singers: what players expect as cues, how to use interpretation to rehearse, when to lead, when to follow, Handelian quirks – appoggiatura.
For players: when to get out of the way, when to create a big sound, how long to hold bass notes in recits, when to restrike, last chords in Handel recitatives
For singers and players: :how to keep action moving forward, how to work as a team, rehearsal techniques, when to lead & when to follow, recitative types- measured, less measured, etc., when to ornament & when not to, determining tempo, and other questions
We will not focus on continuo figures for this session, although you are
welcome to bring questions. The level of participants can range from those who have never played continuo to those who are advanced, but would like new ideas or coaching. Any A415 continuo instrument – bassoon, cello, gamba, lute, harp, harpsichord, etc is welcome. Singers simply need to have prepared their pieces and be open to experimentation. We encourage teams (singer and continuo) to enroll, but you are welcome to come singly. It will be a gentle informal course and there is no problem if people choose the same pieces, as there is always something to learn from different interpretations!25 GBP includes lunch and tea! Pleaes contact me for a repertoire list of what to prepare! 01386 859 648 worldschmitz@yahoo.com
Those who came to the continuo day some on Friday, 14 October, 2005 If you gave good review and we had a waiting list for non-weekdays, so march4th is your chance!
For more information or to book
ring 01386 859 648/ 07762 827880
See the link www.earlymusica.org for more information on tutors and programmes.
We also offer individual tuition, group coaching, and school visits/workshops.
New Course offered
at the Farncombe Estate
Dayschool 17 June 2006
Sigismondo D'India, 5 -voice madrigals
These rarely performed works are perfect a capella. We will work on text interpretation, and vocal sound as well as working on 'performing' a selection of the works in the afternoon.
The composer, a contemporary of Gesualdo, was famous for composing monody, a highly ornamented, expressive, solo vocal genre. His madrigals are less well known, and this course will serve to introduce this part of his output. His five-part madrigals were partly influenced by Monteverdi and Gagliano, were of the genre that impressed English writers in the 1580’s, inspiring many English composers to write their own madrigals. The balance, suitability for the voice and the interplay of different melodies were hallmarks of the Italian madrigal style.
This is intended for people who can read music and are comfortable singing in groups.
We will sing with more than one singer to a part. Parts tend to be SSATB- we may shift the pitch for comfort but are likely to be at A440.
We will work a capella as much as possible, but there will be keyboard accompaniment as well.
We may spend some time with single line parts as well as a score with all 5 parts displayed
We will sing in the original Italian, and will spend some time on the historical background of the pieces and take a look at the poetry in the text.
We will spend some time on the historical background of the pieces.
We will work from a specially prepared edition; copies will only available on the weekend.
This is not listed in the 2005-6 brochure!
for info. /booking
0845 230 8590
You missed:
Wed 12 October, 7:45pm in Newport.
Cathy Dew, recorders, and Micaela Schmitz, Harpschord perform music by Montalbano, Fontana, Corelli, van Eyck, Telemann, Handel and more.
Wed, 10 August 2:30pm/3pm
The English-Dutch Connection,
Micaela Schmitz, harpsichord
A free dance workshop at 2:30 (for 30 maximum)
followed by the concert 3pm.
This concert was recently performed at the London Harpsichord Centre; a keen concert-goer had this to say about the performance:
'The programme consisted of music reflecting the many links between England, the Spanish Netherlands, and the United Provinces in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Micaela gave a fascinating and detailed introduction to each piece, with some entertaining and informative quotations and anecdotes. ...Micaela is a confident and sensitive player with a secure understanding of the music of this period...For me, the highlights were probably the Bull ‘In Nomine’, The Bells, and ‘Onder een linde groen’. All three in some ways seem to exemplify the music of their time, and being so well known demand something extra from the performer if they are really to impress. Micaela did this with complete success, and gave us some really spine-tingling moments.'
Wed. 24 August 7:30 pm 'Music for the Prussian King'
performed by Terza Prattica (Clare Beesley, baroque flute; Micaela Schmitz, harpsichord)
including the famous 'Hamburger' Sonata by C.P.E. Bach.
£ 8 includes programme and refreshment
Friends Meeting House, Sansome Place, Worcester WR1 1UG
Tickets from Worcester Festival 01905 611 427
Parking: recommended using St. Martin's Gate.
www.earlymusica.org.uk for further info., map
A shorter version of the programme was given on April 1 (no joke) for The Friends of the County Music Library in Worcestershire a the Elgar School of Music, Worcester.
Gala Keyboard Concert
Saturday 7 May, 7:30
performed by Laurence Cummings, Micaela Schmitz, and Paul Simmonds, from early clavichord music to duo repertoire by Bach, Couperin, Pasquini, and more, as introduced by the performers, using instruments by Karin Richter, Peter Bavington, William Dowd(restored by David Law, Michael Johnson)at St. Eadburgha's (Grade I listed) Church in Broadway.
The group pulled off two concerti for two keyboards to rave reviews. Some audience members had the opportunity to hear the clavichord for the very first time.
Previous Work at Farncombe
A day school for voice especially of Byrd and Purcell's music was taught by Micaela Schmitz on April 16, 2005.
Early Music in the Vale was present for the open day at Farncombe on May 14, 2005. It was great to see so many people there.
Talk at the Farncombe Estate, 10 June 2005
a talk about the history of the clavichord, harpsichord, and fortepiano by Micaela Schmitz with some musical examples, cheese and wine. This went over well, and people were inspired to ask loads of questions!
Pictured below is Dr. Micaela Schmitz
updated 05-06 |
