Workshops

Our workshops are catered to each individual group and organisation to which they are offered.

We are currently offering a workshop entitled ‘Modern from Medieval’ to a number of Secondary schools and Colleges. Our aim is to introduce young people to medieval music and explain its relevance today, with particular reference to the immense creative possibilities that can be drawn upon in composing new works.  We want to encourage today’s young musicians to explore and draw inspiration from the sound world, texts and techniques of the past when looking to create new artistic ideas.  These workshops will be taught in conjunction with Patrick Harrex, a Brighton based composer, from whom we are commissioning a work to use during the workshop and for performance in a concert at the end of each workshop day.

Performing medieval music - These workshops offer either a head first dive into a world of improvisation, dance and ensemble playing for beginners in the field, or specialised topical work on performing particular genres.  They can be taught in group sessions or in the form of master classes for the more advanced.

Reading from original notation – In these workshops participants are invited to take a glimpse into the rich world of medieval music-manuscripts, and to discover the music itself through the eyes of those who wrote it. One has to try it to believe the musical and visual difference it makes to follow this practice, as well as the satisfaction it gives when a beautiful piece of music emerges from what could have been Chinese a few hours earlier! Materials can range from the Ars Antiqua and the Notre-Dame school, through Italian and French Ars Nova, and Ars Subtilior all the way to early as well as late Burgundian Chanson.  This course is suitable for more advanced musicians.

An introduction to medieval music – This workshop is aimed at the younger generation and gives a general overview of music and culture from the 13^th to the 14th centuries, introducing a variety of compositions, composers, and instruments by demonstration, discussion and group music-making.

Written and unwritten – This set of workshops looks at improvisation, a skill that was one of the most important elements of music making throughout the entirety of the Middle-Ages. Here a specific improvisation technique is targeted with the goal of making it usable by the end of the workshop. Techniques range from pure Organum style improvisation and others based on Gregorian chant such as fauxbourdon, to secular dance music like the Basse Danse.