Learn to sing like a cathedral chorister in the
historic city of Ely.
This long weekend for experienced singers will focus on the glorious
music of the Anglican liturgy with particular focus
on the services of Evensong and Compline - which we will sing in the
cathedral.
Our weekend will concentrate on vocal technique, plainchant,
psalm-reading and the canticles. There will also be a
special session on very early (Gregorian Chant) notation which we
will study in preparation for the singing of Compline,
the night service, which we will sing in the sublime acoustic of Ely
Cathedral’s Lady Chapel
The weekend will conclude when we sing the Evensong service on Bank
Holiday Monday.
Ely Cathedral interior
The Octagon at Ely
There will be plenty of leisure time to explore Ely including a
guided tour of the Cathedral itself. We shall also spend
half a day in Cambridge on Sunday, visiting some of the colleges
including Kings College - where Nigel Perrin was a student.
Afterwards we have scheduled an hour of punting on the Cam followed
by dinner in the town before returning to Ely.
Coach transport will be provided.
Music
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G Minor - Henry Purcell
O Nata Lux - Thomas Tallis
Salvator Mundi - John Blow
O Thou the Central Orb - Charles Wood
Responses, Psalms and Hymns
The course will cost £195 which
will cover all tuition, music, two evening meals, guided tour in
Cambridge, and punting.
The weekend begins with coffee at 9.30 on Saturday morning, with the
course proper beginning at 10.00 am, and ends after Evensong early
on Monday evening.
Accommodation is not included but
there are hotels and B&B’s within easy travelling distance. We have
also secured a limited number of rooms for the weekend at the Lamb
Hotel in the centre of Ely and these can be booked directly with us.
The cost of two nights B&B at the Lamb is £95 per person based on
two sharing. Three nights B&B will be £145 on the same basis.
The single room supplement is £20 per night.
Some people may choose to stay on
Friday night and if sufficient people wish to do this we will
arrange an optional dinner and boat trip on Friday evening.
NIGEL PERRIN
After winning a choral scholarship to King's College, Cambridge,
to study under Sir David Willcocks, Nigel Perrin became
well-known as the original high voice of the King's Singers. For the
next eleven years he travelled the world on concert tours, recorded
some twenty-five albums and appeared in countless television shows
with artists as diverse as Kiri Te Kanawa and Cliff Richard. This
background and experience formed the basis of his current
international career as a highly sought-after conductor, director of
choral workshops, adjudicator and teacher.
PETER NORTH
Peter North is Head of Voice at the King’s School Ely and was Tenor
Lay Clerk at Ely Cathedral for 17 years. He is a member of the early
music group Musica Contexta with whom he has appeared on several
recordings for Chandos.
In addition to his teaching and
solo work, Peter also directs a number of choirs. His passion for
plainchant has led to a renewed and growing interest in the ancient
service of Compline in the City of Ely and he now directs a choir
which sings the service in the Cathedral during Lent and Advent
Deposit and payment
We will require a £50 deposit per person at time of booking. The
balance is payable no later than four weeks before we leave.
Need more information?
Please contact Nick Couchman (nick@runbysingers.org) or Jane
Osgathorp (jane@runbysingers.org) or ring Nick on
01438 812100 (daytime).
