AdvancedThe annual Advanced Course enables players to work on more difficult and unusual repertoire: consorts by Purcell and Lawes, the fabulous repertoire for two trebles and two basses by people like Jenkins and Simpson, and the fantastic later repertoire for three basses by Forqueray, Nicolai and others.
Players for these courses need to be experienced, technically competent, and not afraid of heights, clefs, or ormanents! Here are some useful guidelines about the level of an Advanced course: - Able to play challenging notes in the left hand with out losing tone with the bow. - Able to play off the frets a third above the top fret, staying in position for crossing to the second string - Able to hold a part in complex rhythmical passage work. - Able to shift to and from the top fret in fast note values. - Able to have sufficient control of the bow to play loud with a slow bow and to shape notes. - Know which part of the bow to be in for different requirements, e.g. string crossing, fast notes, long notes with shape etc |
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March 5th - 8th 2026
Heritage Grange, Bury St Edmunds
The Elegant World of William Lawes
So many viol players think Lawes is difficult! And often it is - it's technically challenging, and often musically very dense and complex - but if we approach it with this mindset it always sounds like hard work, when actually much of his writing is immensely elegant! On this course we'll focus on Lawes, drawing out the lightness of the dances and the beauty of the pavans (and yes, on the madness of some of the bass parts, and the fact that the tenors need to find their bottom string, and the trebles might need a license for working at heights...!). We hope to have chamber organ and theorbo as well so that we can really get to know the sound world Lawes lived in.
All rooms are ensuite. The cost for 3 nights is £595. If you would like to come for 2 nights only please contact us.
Please fill in the application form here and then pay the deposit to secure your place.
We are a small organisation and early applications really help our operations - please apply as early as you can!
Heritage Grange, Bury St Edmunds
The Elegant World of William Lawes
So many viol players think Lawes is difficult! And often it is - it's technically challenging, and often musically very dense and complex - but if we approach it with this mindset it always sounds like hard work, when actually much of his writing is immensely elegant! On this course we'll focus on Lawes, drawing out the lightness of the dances and the beauty of the pavans (and yes, on the madness of some of the bass parts, and the fact that the tenors need to find their bottom string, and the trebles might need a license for working at heights...!). We hope to have chamber organ and theorbo as well so that we can really get to know the sound world Lawes lived in.
All rooms are ensuite. The cost for 3 nights is £595. If you would like to come for 2 nights only please contact us.
Please fill in the application form here and then pay the deposit to secure your place.
We are a small organisation and early applications really help our operations - please apply as early as you can!
