WORKSHOP Performing vocal polyphony from 15. and 16th century sources
October 14 @ 16:00 - October 16 @ 12:00
In the 15th and 16th centuries—what might be called the golden age of polyphony—the performance situation in the great churches of Europe was quite different from today’s, as singers gathered around a central music stand and shared a large “choirbook” in which the voice parts were notated separately using so-called mensural notation. On 14-16 October, singers of Renaissance polyphony will get a chance to experience this way of performance in a 3-day workshop led by Stratton Bull, Artistic Director of the Holland-based vocal ensemble Cappella Pratensis. This group performs exclusively from facsimiles of original sources, including glorious choirbooks presented with inspiring calligraphy. Stratton Bull will explore repertoire both from the Low Countries and Slovakia, allowing participants to interact with the music just as their illustrious predecessors would have done some 500 years ago. No prior experience with the notation is required, but choral experience and good reading skills are recommended.
WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
- 10. 2024 – 4pm – 6pm Introduction to mensural notation
- 10. 2024 – 10am -12.00am and 2pm – 4.30pm Mensural notation and singing from the sources
- 10. 2024 – 10am -12am Mensural notation and singing from the sources
If you are interested in active participation, please send your name, surname, telephone contact, voice group and 1-2 sentences about your previous activity in the choir or chamber ensemble to our email info@albrechtforum.eu. Participation in the workshop is free of charge; number of participants is limited. Passive participants who are interested in the topic of performing polyphonic music from period sources are also invited to attend the workshop. The workshop is part of the year-long event The Albrecht Music Salon, which is supported by public funds by the Slovak Art Council.
The workshop was also supported by the ALAMIRE FOUNDATION, whose mission is to research and disseminate Low Countries´ polyphony in Flanders, Europe, and other countries worldwide.
