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From Elizabeth to Anne: A Century of English Music
Description
People’s lives in Elizabethan England were often more turbulent, and far more dangerous, than we experience today. Conflicts of politics and religion were reflected in music and the life of composers like Byrd and Philips, and could bring death or exile to some. A hundred years later, this nation had achieved a sort of stability, and renewed its enthusiasm for music and culture. Using recorded examples and live performance, Steven Devine, Kate Semmens, and Colin Booth will trace the changes during the 17th century, bringing, by the turn of the new century under Queen Anne, a more democratic enjoyment of music, in the completely new style of masters like Purcell and Croft. The course will culminate in a Sunday afternoon concert, featuring soprano with two harpsichords.
Tutors: Colin Booth, Steven Devine and Kate Semmens
Dinner: Friday 28 February – Lunch Sunday 1 March
Fees (£): 411 354 354 242
Tutor information
Colin Booth has combined the careers of harpsichordist and harpsichord-maker for more than 30 years. As maker, he has more than 300 customers to his credit, including a large number of Early Music professionals. Steven Devine owns three of his instruments.
As a player, Colin has performed as soloist and continuo harpsichordist in a number of countries from Denmark to South Africa. He taught and played annually for 25 years at the Dartington International Summer School and has recorded 12 CDs of solo harpsichord music. His collaboration with Steven Devine, exploring the two-harpsichord repertoire, is now nearly two decades old.
Colin’s book Did Bach Really Mean That? – an investigation of baroque notation and the conventions underpinning it, has been praised both for its detail and insights, and for being a highly readable guide for all who are keen on playing early keyboard music, whatever their chosen instrument. To accompany the book, he released a critically praised recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Colin had the good fortune, two years ago, to acquire and restore an original French harpsichord dated 1661. The first recording on it, Grounds for Pleasure, featured English music of the 17th century, and on a second CD he played music by the great 17th century French master Louis Couperin. For further information visit Colin’s website www.colinbooth.co.uk
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