Catherine Black "the cello ensemble course"

Introduction to the course

Last year we experienced the soaring spirituality of Tallis, Palestrina and Byrd alongside the drama of John Dowland and Weelkes. This year [2012] we will be playing music from the English Renaissance composers, the Italians and with a special focus on the mystical Spanish composers - Morales and Victoria.

The arrangements are from three to eight parts and given the ranges within the whole, makes it possible to mix standards, so relative beginners (around Grade 2 standard) can play gorgeous music with more advanced players. The more experienced cellist can also move parts and gain a much deeper understanding of the music and their role within it.

Whatever age you are, come and experience some of the most sublime music.

'Unsung Heroes' - The Book [May 2009]

'Unsung Heroes', my ensemble workshop has really hit the right note for cellists of all levels. I'm therefore moving into in-house publication and am very happy to announce that the first volume of Unsung Heroes was published in May 2009.

The collection contains ten varied scores by Byrd, Tallis and Dowland and others. The majority are for four parts, but there are also scores for three and five parts so your group can double some parts where necessary. There will be helpful musical and technical notes on each piece. The format is very user-friendly and the scores sit well on a music stand with a good ring binding. The cover is another stunning image by Max Carrington which may become a poster soon too.

This would make a brilliant present for a cellist friend. And, if you are looking for Renaissance & Baroque sheet music for your ensemble, then look no further!

You can see more details and order this book from this website right now!

Summer School aims

August 2012 is the sixth Summer Course for Unsung Heroes which now has a following from all around the country and now cellists are coming from europe too. I absolutely love this week and this year it is expanding in its remit so you leave the course having exceeded your expectations as a player and musician. I also want you to have absorbed this amazing repertoire and have developed a feel and passion for its writers and their times.

Throughout the course we will be looking at and developing the following:

Each session will begin with getting ready to play: stretches to prepare the body, energy exercises to prepare the mind and body, followed by cello warm-ups.

Learning to play with others and refining our ability to listen will be on-going work. We will look at the broader picture of the musical architecture: the fore, middle and backgrounds and what this means for your place in the mix.

Though we are modern cellists, we will look in depth at playing more in style from our bow use to the role and type of vibrato we use in early music.

This is what the cellist Fiona Murphy says of this music...

I have been a member of String Theory Cello Ensemble playing the Unsung Heroes repertoire. I have had an amazing journey both technically and musically.

Studying this fantastic repertoire makes you explore every avenue of expression. A greater awareness of the life in your bow and it's releationship with your left hand is vital in achieving the huge range of both tone colour and articulation needed to put this music across to the listener.

This type of self-investigation is most rewarding as it opens up new possibilities in one's playing and in the beautiful union of cellos singing together.

As string players we often emulate the voice, but do not use it much as an integral part of our practising. Given our repertoire here, we will be using our voices to understand the phrasing and to draw the ear in.

You will end the course with a concert to which we invite friends and family.

Summer School 2012 extras & preparation

Details of the 2012 course are still being finalised, so we have left up those for the last school...

For those who have been on previous summer schools, there are some differences:

• This year's course is six days long.
• There will be daily sessions in technique which address specific issues thrown up for us by the music.
• Each day will end with a performance which we will record. This will enable you have a clearer and more objective overview of what is and isn't happening.

Reading list. This is for those of you who want to make this as broad an experience as possible. These popular and easily available books will help you develop a stronger understanding of music and culture in the Renaissance and Baroque eras.

• 'Man and His Music'. Alec Harman and Wilfred Mellers. Barrie and Rockliff
• 'The Cambridge Music Guide'. Stanley Sadie and Alison Latham. CUP
• 'A History of Western Music'. Christopher Headington. Paladin
• 'Big Bangs' (in particular see chapters 1 and 5). Howard Goodall. Chatto & Windus
• 'The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'
• 'A History of Western Music'. Donald J. Grout. W.W.Norton & Co.
• 'The Rough Guide to Classical Music'.
• 'A social history of music' by Henry Raynor. Look particularly at chapters 7 & 8
• 'The Cello Suites' by Eric Siblin
• 'A concise history of western music' by Paul Griffiths published by CUP

This years course is related to St Marks, Venice. So these websites are very relevant www.basilicasanmarco.it especially look at the virtual tour, and www.comune.venezia.it

Listening. Your local library will have a wide selection of choral music by Byrd, Tallis, Weelkes, Morales, Palestrina, Gibbons and others.

Check out secular music too (opera, chansons and madrigals) by Monteverdi, Morley, Purcell, Lassus and Josquin.

Vocal groups to hear include The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars (Gimell Label), The Hilliard Ensemble (ECM Label), The Monteverdi Choir, Stile Antico,The King's Singers (EMI),various artists on the Harmonia Mundi Label, Handel Opera Seria on naïve Label. Numerous cathedral choirs.

Unsung Heroes : What students say

Paul writes:

Trish from Wales, writes:

Thank you for your patience and dedication to getting the best out of us.

Stephanie from Lincolnshire, writes:

Thank you for making me feel so welcome. I had great fun and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Your and Fionas enthusiasm is infectious and now I can't wait for the August course.

Six day course - Lewes

Details of the 2012 course are still being finalised, so we have left up those for the last school... costs and dates are correct.

When? SUNDAY Aug 5th - FRIDAY 10th 2012. The final performance [see below] will be on the Friday. Repertoire includes works by Monteverdi, Wilbye, Gabrieli, Purcell and Lassus

Where? At the All Saints Centre, Friars Walk Lewes, East Sussex.

Lewes is the county town of East Sussex. It ia a very old and picturesque town that nestles in the South Downs. It is quite small and is easily walked around. If you like walking this is the place to do it! Brighton and the seaside are very close too. You may wish to spend a day up in London before or after the course. If you are interested in opera then you can get a bus in the afternoon to Glyndebourne from the railway station. Book your opera tickets in advance though - you can phone 01273 813813 for return tickets and it's worth looking at the site www.glyndebourne.com to see the wide range of ticket prices..

Repertoire?This year we are expanding the remit and will be including in the repertoire, music written for St Mark's church in Venice. These works explore architecture and acoustics and All Saints Centre (a church too) is an ideal space for us to play this music.

• 'Sonata pian e forte' by Gabrieli
• 'Ave Maris Stella' from Vespers 1610 by Monteverdi
• 'Lay a garland' by Pearsall
• 'Sicut Servus' by Palestrina (this is in UH Volume 1)
• 'Hear my prayer, O Lord' by Purcell
• 'Occhi, piangete' by Lassus

Standard? It is in the nature of the writing that the parts are varied, so the range is from around Grade 2 upwards.

Daily times? Sunday - Thursday: each day starts at 10am. Please arrive to set up at 9.45am. Finish at 3.0pm. Snacks and drinks are provided daily and there will be water available in your rehearsals.

... and on Friday [concert day] we meet at All Saints for lunch at 1.30, rehearse, then do an early evening concert at 6pm. Afterwards if you'd like to go out for a drink and/or meal together I will book a restaurant.

Cost? £490 for the week's course - even better value than last year! This year we will have meals provided by Catherine Benjamin of Olive Branch Catering, a very good Lewes-based company. Any special diets are easily catered for so just make your needs clear on the application form. Course fees are payable by cheque, or for overseas students, by bankers order.

Travel? Lewes railway and bus stations are very close and there are direct trains from Gatwick and London. If coming from overeas bear in mind that Gatwick Airport is in West Sussex, and so is quite near. If you travel to Gatwick you can catch a train direct to Lewes and it takes about 30 minutes. If you do arrive at Heathrow, catch the tube into London and then go to Victoria station where you can get trains for Lewes which will take 65 minutes. The trains are usually marked to Eastbourne or Hastings.

What about my cello? If you are not buying a seat for your cello, tell the airline that you will be carrying a cello that you would like walked onto and off the plane. There are compartments in the hold into which your cello can be strapped upright. When I have taken my cello in planes, I have been met at the gate and someone then carries the instrument on and if you remind them to walk it off and not to put it with the baggage things will be fine.

If you are travelling by plane and would rather hire a cello at a reasonable rate in the UK, I can organise this for you. Please get in touch in good time though!

Alternatively I do have a couple of cellos that can be borrowed by any overseas student, check with me first and then you will only need to bring your bow.

Accommodation? You may live locally and be travelling here daily but if not, Lewes has several small hotels and some excellent Bed & Breakfasts. Here are some useful websites:

• www.lewesbandb.co.uk
• www.bedandbreakfasts.co.uk
• www.visitus.co.uk
• www.hillroadstudios.com

Eating? Delicious lunches are included in the fees. Here are some of the places I go to and would recommend to you for the evenings.

• Lewes is now famous for Bill's Produce store and cafe.This is a must! You can find this just over Cliffe Bridge. It is a wonderful place to have breakfast, lunch or tea and is open till 5pm on weekdays and from 10 -4pm on Sundays. You can also get take-aways from Bill's if you are in a rush.
• I also love Lazzati's Restaurant tucked away at 17 Market Street. This is a small and intimate place to eat fresh seasonal and authentic Italian food. Since it is small, it may be worth booking ahead on 01273 479539.
• Another delight is Chaula's Indian Cafe Restaurant. This is another rare eating experience and again people come from all over to experience this cuisine. It is at Eastgate House just outside Waitrose. Again, I'd book just to be sure on 01273 476707.
• Just outside All Saints church on Lansdown Place is another lovely cafe called Laportes. You can sit and read the papers there and buy local produce too. It is open until 5.30.

You will need: A spare set of strings and a black-hole or other floor protector. Bring layers to rehearsals and pack something glamorous to wear for the concert bearing in mind that glamour and churches sometimes don't add up in an obvious way! But, you need to look good for the concert.

I will provide music stands so don't add to your shoulder strain!

Closing date: Closing date for the Summer course is July 27th. If you have just found this oage and the closing date has past, please call me or email me to book a place and to let our caterer know.

Click here for Application form

One day workshop - Lewes & Cambridge

The one day 'Unsung Heroes' Workshop are intended for secondary school students and adults of all abilities, from relative beginners right through to the very experienced. The workshop will be an exciting day of ensemble playing.

Students from earlier Summer schools have returned again and again, as none of us could get enough of the whole experience!

Catherine is an inspiring teacher and player. My lessons are such a treat, a time for me where I can feel both nurtured and challenged in just the right measure. The one-day course was a revelation and definitely helped me relax about my playing and learn to enjoy it more, which is something that is all too easy to forget when you're trying to get it right! The music was beautiful too. It's a great feeling to be playing alongside other cellists [Marta]

You are both excellent teachers who stimulate and encourage one to feel that playing the cello is not only a delightful thing to do, but possible! [Jane, France]

I'm a trainer myself and I was particularly impressed by the fluidity that the course progressed with and the range of aspects of playing covered...I thought your teaching was superb and the setting and length just right. [Rob, Hampshire]

You've clearly put a huge amount of thought into how to explain the techniques required to play the cello well and it made the course very worthwhile [from the October 2008 workshop]

I really appreciated your teaching and the attention to detail and am thinking about issues I hadn't thought about before. [Rosie, London]

..a great day of instruction and inspiration last Saturday. It always makes me think harder about "how to" [Lisa]

Students are now being sent scores and practice notes in advance of the workshop. Do let me know in good time so you can have your scores.

So, come and join me for the one day workshops. Book now!

When in Spring I? Saturday March 3rd 2012: Chase away winters chills playing energetic and exuberant madrigals by Morley & Ferrabosco. [Lewes]

When in Spring II? Saturday April 14th 2012: Passion Time - sacred music by Monteverdi and Tallis. [Lewes]

When in Summer? Saturday June 2nd 2012: Serene and meditative Palestrina and Tallis. [St Marks Church hall, Barton Road, Cambridge CB3 9JZ]

When in Autumn? Saturday October 13th 2012: theatrical Tomkins and Morley going fast and furious. [Lewes]

Where? Unless noted above the one day workshops are in the church hall of St Thomas, Cliffe High Street, Lewes. NB Please park in the Phoenix car park which is an all-day car park. After you turn into Malling Street, turn right into Harvey's Way which takes you into the park.You will see the church spire from here and the hall is just behind the church.

From? 10.30am-4pm

Cost? £65 per person includes refreshments but please supply your own lunch. There are several restaurants and cafes very near the hall which is centrally located. Course fees are payable by cheque, or for overseas students, by bankers order.

Click here for Application form

Scores: if you wish to have scores before the 1-day workshop, please indicate on your application form.