An intensive week of exploration of the glories of C15th and C16th music. This year our theme is Music for the d'Este Dynasty. From Josquin's Missa Ercole Dux Ferrara, written for Duke Ercole I, through frottole commissioned by his daughter Isabella, to madrigals and polychoral works by Orazio Vecchi, maestro di corteto Ercole II, by way of music by Cipriano de Rore and Giaches de Wert, the d'Este were among the most influential and knowledgeable patrons of the arts in C16th Italy. This week will celebrate them in song, dance, sacred music and instrumental music, recreating the piffari who accompanied their ceremonial occasions, the choir who sang in their chapels, and the intimate ensembles of viols, lutes and voices in which the d'Este family themselves took part.

Each day of the course will be divided between sectional rehearsals (directed by our specialist tutors) and ensembles, both large and small. The after-dinner sessions will include informal performances of works covered in the day, as well as exploring early dance and working on large-scale pieces in which all the course members will take part.

Repertoire will vary from large-scale pieces involving everyone, to intimate, small-scale consort music for all combinations of voices and instruments. The tutors will be in residence all week for coaching and workshops on all aspects of Renaissance ensemble performance. Opportunities to try new instruments may be presented. Plenty of music will be provided, but you are also invited to bring your own sets of parts and scores if you wish. Please indicate on the application form if there are particular pieces or composers you wish to study.

Philip Thorby, a powerhouse of energy and inspiration, is Director of Musica Antiqua of London and a Senior Fellow of Trinity College of Music. An unequalled performer on both viol and recorder, he is also a magnificent singing tutor and director.

Lute-player Jacob Heringman has performed and recorded with numerous English ensembles, as soloist and ensemble/continuo player, and made several highly acclaimed CDs with Catherine King and his own group, Virelai.

David Hatcher studied viola da gamba with Charles Medlam and recorder with Philip Thorby. He has performed with his own ensemble Harmonie Universelle and as a guest with The New London Consort and Fretwork. His recordings include CDs with Evelyn Tubb, Chelys, Sprezzatura, and the Japanese ensembles Ensemble Ecclesia and the Bach Collegium of Japan. He has also appeared on Japanese national television, and his recordings with the Consort of Musicke, Evelyn Tubb and Bach Collegium of Japan are regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3. He also teaches early dance.

Emma Murphy is our recorder expert, and will also work with mixed ensembles. Emma, herself a CEM 'graduate', works with the Gabrieli Consort, King's Consort and Ex Cathedra as well as with many chamber groups, in particular the trio Da Camera.

Nicholas Perry performs regularly at Shakespeare's Globe, and with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gabrieli Consort and His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts. He plays cornetts, flutes, shawms, curtals and bagpipes.

We invite applications from singers, and from players of viols, recorders, lutes, sackbuts, cornetts, shawms in D and G and other Renaissance instruments at A=440. Players of Renaissance viols and recorders will be especially welcome. Recorder players should be familiar with all sizes (descant to bass), unless offering another instrument or voice as well. Renaissance recorders are strongly preferred. Shawm players should, ideally, offer a quiet instrument too for ensemble work. Viol players are encouraged to bring Renaissance as well as Baroque instruments; please let us know which sizes you can bring. It may be possible to borrow Renaissance viols during the course. All applicants should have a good standard of sight-reading and be able to hold a line confidently on their own. Singers may be encouraged to take solo parts as well as singing in ensembles. Those applying as instrumentalists will also have opportunities to sing if they wish.

Applicants should have a good standard of sight-reading and be able to hold a line confidently on their own. Those applying as singers will be encouraged to take solo parts as well as singing in ensembles. Those applying as instrumentalists will also have opportunities to sing if they wish. If you are unsure about your standard, please email or phone 01223 847330 to discuss.

Concerts

The course will begin with a lute-song recital by Jacob Heringman and Faye Newton in Little St Mary's Church, at 2.00pm on Sunday 12th August. The tutors will give a full-length concert on Wednesday 15th August. On the final evening all course members will participate in an informal concert, in which we will perform a selection of the pieces studied during the week. All concerts are open to the public, and participants attend them free of charge. (See Concerts for further details.) There will be a party after the final concert.

Participants should aim to arrive in time for the recital at 2.00pm on Sunday 12th August. Most days there is a free period of 2-3 hours after lunch, for practice or rest, but the remainder of each day is filled with music - and meals - from morning to night! The course ends with breakfast on Saturday 18th August (or after the Friday night party for non-residents).

Fees

The residential charge, including all meals, tea and coffee, tuition and concerts, for the week is £710. The charge for an en-suite room is £920 per head for the week. Local residents and others finding their own bed and breakfast accommodation pay £600. Observers pay £40 less. Daily charges and half-board rates are available on request. Some financial assistance may be available: please see Bursaries.