Is Baroque Week for you?
For players, the course is principally for those with baroque instruments at A415. However, we are also very happy to accept string players on modern instruments tuned down to A415 and using gut strings. If you do not own a baroque bow we may be able to loan you one for the course. Wind players will need at least one instrument at A415. Plucked continuo instruments as well as keyboard players are very welcome. Keyboard players will have opportunities to play from either figured bass or realisations. Many participants play more than one instrument and the format of the course gives plenty of opportunity for this.
For singers, the course offers a rare opportunity to sing solo music with instruments
as well as working in a small consort of voices and we recommend that you prepare
and bring arias, cantatas or motets that you would like to work on with small groups
of instrumentalists. In the weeks before the course we will send details of some
of the music programmed and may allocate some solo parts to appropriate singers.
We can only accept a maximum of ten specialist singers, but instrumentalists who
also want to do some solo or one-
Playing and singing is mostly one-
To achieve a balanced distribution of suitable voices we will not confirm places
for specialist singers until February. However please still apply as soon as possible
as this will help us to plan repertoire etc. (and en-
“Excellent teaching and friendly, helpful tutors”
“Tutors manage to achieve such wonderful results in such a short time”
Dates and times
Registration will be from 2.30pm on Sunday 13th August 2023, with tea/coffee and cake available in the common room from 3.30–5.30pm. There will be an explanatory meeting for newcomers (or those who haven’t been for a few years) at 4.30pm, including a tour of the campus, and then an initial course meeting for all before dinner, which is followed by an organised playing and singing session. The course finishes with lunch on Sunday 20th August. Please see the venue page for more information about the school.
Queen Anne’s School, Caversham, Berkshire
13th-
Residential Baroque Music Summer School
What to expect at Baroque Week
Whether you are an amateur, student, semi-
The emphasis is on chamber music, usually exploring different repertoire in almost
every session. Thanks to the extensive Baroque Week library of around 3000 works
there is always something interesting to play, whatever the line-
In recent years we have had participants from all over Europe, USA, Israel, South
Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. We make every effort to
ensure that newcomers feel welcome, and have a “buddy” system where a long-
“It must be the friendliest course in the country”
A typical day at Baroque Week
BREAKFAST
Session 1 — Tutor-
COFFEE
Session 2 — Instrumental chamber music; singers work in small consorts with continuo and possibly other instruments, or in a masterclass format
LUNCH
Session 3 — Free time, untutored chamber music, or a special event
TEA
Session 4 — Chamber music for singers and instrumentalists; followed by:
Pre-
DINNER
After dinner, there is an all-
(On Wednesday, the tutors give a concert)
In the first main session, we offer tutor-
History
This amazing, long-
We are delighted that Trevor Pinnock agreed to become our Patron in 2016 and are honoured that he is giving his support to Baroque Week.
Baroque Week was constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2014 with Registered Charity number 1161774. Its official objects are:
1) The promotion and performance of baroque chamber music for the public benefit; and
2) To promote education in baroque music for the public benefit.
Membership of the charity is open to anyone who is interested in furthering its purposes and agrees to act in good faith to further these purposes.
Joining or renewing membership of the Baroque Week charity
The minimum donation for membership is £1. The suggested amount is £25. Subscriptions expire on 30th September; those who join/renew on or after 1st August are members until September the following year. Click here to download a form to join or renew.
Constitution of the Baroque Week
To see the constitution, please click here.
In this session we largely separate the singers and instrumentalists so that the singers have a chance to work in small consorts (usually one to a part) with basso continuo and possibly a few other instrumentalists. On some days singers will study solos in a masterclass format. This gives the chance for most players to concentrate on instrumental chamber music of their own choice.
After dinner all are invited to take part in the choir or accompanying orchestra, which this year will include music by Charpentier. This will be performed in Saturday’s final concert, together with some of the pieces studied in Session 1.
On Wednesday evening there will be a concert given by the tutors which will centre around this year’s theme.
“The tutors’ concert was a highlight”
Keyboards
Each playing room has one or more harpsichords, spinets or chamber organs. We are grateful to those who bring their own keyboard instruments and tune them daily, who get a £50 discount. The remainder belong to the tutors, or have been hired.
In the fourth session, after tea, singers and players are encouraged to make up groups together to explore vocal and instrumental repertoire of their own choice.
On Monday to Friday evenings there is an informal concert before dinner, where participants can perform some of the music they have particularly enjoyed during that day’s sessions.
After lunch you are free to do what you like, whether it be more chamber music (untutored),
swimming in the school pool, resting or exploring places of interest nearby. On
one or two days there may be special events offered, such as a 30-
“I got hooked the very first time round…”