Home
About SFEMS
Membership
Concerts and Venues
Workshops
Directory and Affiliates
Newsletters
Other early music sites
Online ordering
Contact us

SFEMS Baroque Music Workshop, June 14-20, 2009

Introduction | Faculty Bios | Concerts | Master Classes

Baroque Workshop Master Classes 2009

Chris Brandes: Voice Master Class

The class will be tailored to each singer and their particular goals for the week. The class will include movement and some issues of technique as they arise. The greatest focus will be on style, language, rhetoric and ornamentation. As this is an Italian year, each student is encouraged to bring works of their own choosing from Monteverdi to Handel. Additionally, if you have duets and trios you are itching to sing, please bring them! This class will be fun, informative and enormously supportive. A diva-free zone. If you have any questions, I can be reached at: cmbrandes@aol.com.

Sand Dalton: Oboe Master Class

In accordance with this year's "Italian" theme, oboists are encouraged to bring solo sonatas by Italian composers (Vivaldi, Gemimiani, Platti, Sammartini, Galuppi etc.) or Italianate pieces by other composers such as Handel, Telemann, Vincent, Babel et. al. Just about any piece titled "Sonata" or with Italian time words will qualify!

We will work particularly on recognizing metrical structures and applying historical rules of poetical /rhetorical declamation. Ornamentation in slow movements will also be explored.

Clea Galhano, Frances Blaker: Recorder Master Class

Students perform prepared Italian baroque sonata movements in front of class and receive instruction from one of our two instructors. Please prepare two movements either from the same or from two different sonatas.

Composers include Castello, Fontana, Merula, Scarlatti, Mancini, Marcello, Vivaldi and other Italians, as well as Italians active elsewhere in Europe such as Matteis, Barsanti, Geminiani and others.

For the final ca. 40 minutes of this class all recorder students and both instructors will gather together to study of issues of performance practice and baroque style in a combination of playing and discussion.

Note: students at a variety of proficiency levels participate in the master class – you do not have to be a Master to take part. Choose music that fits your abilities. If you have questions about repertoire selection contact Frances Blaker at francesblaker@sbcglobal.net. (Pitch: A= 415 or A= 440)

Kathleen Kraft - Flute Master Class

The class will cover all aspects of technique (breathing, position, fingerings, and embrochure) as well as musical style and expression (phrasing, ornaments, rhetoric, and articulation). Each student will have opportunities to perform in the class. You are urged to focus on Italian music (this year's workshop theme), there are sonatas by Vivaldi, Sammartini, Locatelli and many others. However, since Italian music is a bit thin for flute, you could bring something “Italianate” such as Handel or Telemann. The class has a supportive and friendly atmosphere with lots of lively group discussion. Traversi will be available for silver flute players who wish to try them. It is helpful if you let me know in advance which pieces(s) you select. Feel free to contact me with any questions at (707) 874-2014 or kkraft@sonic.net.

Michael Sand - Violin Master Class

The violin/viola master class is organized as a series of individual lessons, but I encourage students to audit each other's lessons since the same problems tend to come up over and over. And to make it easier to understand these problems, I see to it that everyone gets a copy of the pieces being worked on. I have found that working in this way, all the important issues, both technical and musical, basic and advanced, tend to get covered in the course of the week. Modern players who want to get an intense immersion in Baroque style are welcome. Our workshop theme this year is the music that was played and composed in Central Europe where both Italian and French styles flourished, along with the work of the German composers. It would be appropriate for students to prepare either pieces in both the earlier 17th-century style and/or pieces in the later 18th-century style. Call Michael Sand if you wish to consult about repertoire (707) 942-0717, or email him at sandviolin@aol.com..

Mary Springfels: Viola da Gamba Master Class

All gambists will prepare a piece for the master class. Repertoire could include solo diminutions by Bassano, Frescobaldi Canzonas, Corelli Op 5 sonatas, or viol obbligati from Handel's La Resurrezione or Tra le fiamme. Technique studies will concentrate on arpegiation, chording and string crossing. Ensemble play will include music by Legrenzi and Marini. Ms Springfels will be glad to answer any questions about repertoire via her gmail address. mvspring@gmail.com

Peter Sykes: Harpsichord Master Class

Coming soon.

Tanya Tomkins: Cello Master Class

The 'cello masterclass will offer students the opportunity to explore interpretation of baroque music and at the same time to improve bowing and sound while playing on gut strings and using a baroque bow. This class is not limited to Italian repertoire. Students should also feel free to bring in Bach or other composers of their choosing. We will have fun, while sharing musical ideas and experimenting with phrasing, solving our technical problems and facing the obstacles to our musical expression. We will create a workshop environment in which students will be free to make suggestions to one another. Experimentation will be encouraged!

Last updated 05/11/2009.