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French Classical Organ Study Trip – Paris, Poitiers & Versailles

French Classical Organ Study Trip – 19 – 21st July – 

Paris, Poitiers & Versailles. 

RCO has organised the above, aimed at those preparing for ARCO for examination in July 2017 and January 2018 when the Historical Studies topic is France, 1680–1760, and the Set Work is the Premier Livre d’orgue by Clérambault, although anyone with skills diploma level (and above) is welcome – to ensure adequate playing time, only 12 spaces are available.

The organ music of the composers of the French Classical School (Boyvin, Clérambault, F. Couperin, Dandrieu, de Grigny, du Mage, Guilain, Lebègue, Marchand, Nivers…) is amongst the most beguiling in the repertoire, yet there
are few organs in the UK which can begin to offer a glimpse of the sound world crucial to the projection of this repertoire, nor the action which facilitates the execution of the many ornaments. This study trip offers players of
diploma standard and above the opportunity to hear and play the famous organs of St Gervais, Paris where several generations of the Couperin family were organist, including François Poitiers Cathedral world famous late Classical organ
Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles a historically inspired instrument of 1996 in the original case of 1710

The trip includes:

Demonstration and class at St Gervais
Classes and performance at Poitiers Cathedral
Class at Versailles plus entry to the rest of the Palace and grounds afterwards .

Accommodation, transport and meals / other expenditure are excluded from the cost, however, suggested travel arrangements and further information can be found here.

Costs:

RCO Member: £345

Non-member: £375

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Buxtehude’s Chorale Preludes Workshop – London

Buxtehude’s Chorale Preludes Workshop – 8 July 2017 –
London (SE22 9AT)
(For directions click here)

Explore the wealth of variety offered by Buxtehude’s choral settings. There is material suitable for organists of Grade 5 standard through to advanced/diploma.

The venue: St John the Evangelist Church can be found at the at the top of Goose Green, at the corner of East Dulwich Road and Ady’s Road, on the borders of Dulwich and Peckham. Nearest station: East Dulwich (trains from London Bridge Station).

The organ: JW Walker 1985, built for Trinity College of Music and now on permanent loan to the church. It has three manuals and pedals.

What to prepare: 5 – 10 minutes of Chorale Preludes and Choral Partitas by Buxtehude.

Cost:

RCO Member: £65

Non-member: £71

Further details and booking can be found here.

 

 

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An Introduction to Trio Playing – London

An Introduction to Trio Playing – 01 July 2017 (11.00 – 14.00) – 

St Mary’s Church, Lothbury London (EC2R 7HH)
(click here for directions).

Are you an intermediate organ player looking to venture into or expand on your trio playing skills? If so, RCO are running this course for you!

Success in co-ordinating three independent lines opens the gate to a wealth of wonderful music, including Bach’s famous sonatas.  Students find that achieving that success is a significant challenge, so let Anne show you the techniques that will overcome that challenge.   Prepare a single exercise (two-stave combinations) , as detailed below, and we will provide all other exercises needed.

What to prepare:
Please prepare at least one piece from the list here, perfecting all two-stave combinations. (Please do not try combining all three staves).

Cost: 

RCO members: £65

Non members: £71

 

Further information here.

 

 

 

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Advanced Trio Playing – London

Advanced Trio Playing –  Saturday 13th May (14.00 – 17.00) – Christchurch, Chelsea (SW3).

Are you preparing a trio for an RCO Diploma examination, for Cambridge University organ scholarship trials in the autumn, or simply wanting to improve you playing of this most challenging of genres? If so, Richard Brasier will offer advice on interpretation, registration and how to make trios (slightly) easier to manage when performing under pressure. The course will are use the beautiful Flentrop organ in Christ Church, Chelsea installed in 2010.
Students are asked to prepare one or two trios movements by JS Bach, JL Kreb or others.

Further details, booking and directions can be found here.

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RSCM Liverpool Area Organ Course – April 2017

 

RSCM Liverpool Area Organ Course –  Tuesdays April 25th, 2nd May, 9th, 16th and 23rd 2017

7.00pm – 8.30pm

Do you know anyone who would like to begin to play the Organ, develop their skills or polish up what they already know?

If the answer is YES, then we have the answer!!

Course Leaders : Daniel Bishop and Geoff Williams 

The course will use the three organs located in the splendour of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, the Chapel of Liverpool College (L18 8BG) and the parish church of St Anne Stanley (L13 3AE)

The total cost is £100 (age 18 and over) or £50 (under 18). The fee includes the cost of any course material (cheques payable to “RSCM Liverpool Area”)

If you would like to take part please forward expressions of interest (and the fee) to Geoff Williams (details below) who will then contact you directly so that the course can be tailored accordingly. Areas to be covered will include – hymn playing, improvisation and repertoire. Please also indicate your age if under 18.

Closing date: Saturday March 18th 2017

For further information contact:

Geoff Williams Geoffrey.williams@liverpool.ac.uk or at 28 Brookland Road West, Liverpool, L13 3BQ .

Further information can be found here.

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East Anglican Academy of Early Music – 2017 Programme of Events

East Anglican Academy of Early Music has released their 2017 Programme of Events. 

The East Anglian Academy, based in Suffolk promotes concerts and workshops encouraging interest in organs and other keyboard instruments of historic and musical note.

Many events take place using the  renowned 1674 Thomas Thamar organ and the 1797 William Allen chamber organ in St Michael’s Church, Framlingham.

Highlights include:

Organ Recital by Matthias Havinga on the Thamar organ in St Michael’s  – 8 October 2017.

There are also non-organ centred events such as:

Wild Men  of the Baroque – a family concert featuring recorder legend, Piers Adams with performances of Bach, Vivaldi and Handel – 25  June 2017.

The Academy Chamber Choir & Players is also being launched this year, with performances throughout the year, the programme will include the entire work from which Lotti’s famous ‘Crucifixus’ is drawn, as well as much-loved masterpieces by Bach. 

 

Further details can be found on their website here and in the flyer below.

 

 

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Organ Scholar Experience – Sidney Sussex College

Set Your Sights! – a taste of the organ scholar experience (Saturday 8 April 2017, Cambridge)

RCO Academy is putting on an event for  teenage organists (14 – 19) who are interested in developing their skills, and is ‘essential’ for those looking to apply for an organ scholarship in the near future. It would also benefit participants of RCO’s TOSE event (see here) which is running later in the year. It is hosted by three well-renowned organ tutors.

During the day, you will play various organs at Sidney Sussex College, culminating in evensong, following which you will have the opportunity to visit the newly refurbished organ at King’s College.

The programme consists of both morning and afternoon segments:

Morning:

Work on organ repertoire (bring pieces of your own choice)
Keyboard skills
Coaching in choral conducting.

Afternoon

Centres around preparing for a service of choral evensong at which everyone will sing and many will play and/or direct. The music chosen (see here) varies in difficulty to allow as many as people as possible to participate as organists and conductors.

Parents / friends etc are welcome to attend the service. 

Booking and further information can be found here.

RCO Members: £50
Others: £57

https://www.rco.org.uk/events.php?eventid=483

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THE ORGAN SCHOLAR EXPERIENCE (TOSE) – 18 – 23 July 2017, Oxford

RCO’s annual, ever popular, flagship summer school for ambitious young organists returns from Tuesday 18 to Sunday 23 July in Oxford. 

TOSE is designed as a residential course for those aged 14 – 19 considering an organ scholarship, or those who simply wish to gain experience in repertoire playing and technique, accompanying and conducting choirs, and keyboard skills.

There are expert teachers with experience in both churches and concert halls who will be providing tuition.

You will also get the opportunity to

perform in student concerts
sing and direct choral services of compline and evensong in Oxford University college chapels
attend tutor recitals

And, like all residential courses, there is a lively social programme to enjoy! We hope you make lasting friendships and forge vital connections.

Accommodation is provided in individual rooms at The Queen’s College.

Fees:

RCO Members: £650
Non-members: £680

Early-bird discount of £30 on bookings until 28 February.
Bursaries are available to assist with TOSE fees (see here).

Further information and booking can be found here.

https://www.rco.org.uk/events.php?eventid=474

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International Organ Competition, Paris

Applications invited for: International Organ Competition

23rd – 27th October 2017, Paris

For the first time the Académie André Marchal and the Association Gaston Litaize are joining forces to put on this competition which features both Interpretation and Improvisation categories. 

The competition is open to all organists regardless of age and nationality

First Prize (for each category): 3000 EUR.

Other prize categories (amongst others) include ‘best interpretation of Bach’ and ‘best performance of contemporary work (written post 2000)’.

Applications to compete are invited and should be submitted between 15th April and 8th July 2017. 

Applications should be accompanied by a recent CV and photo, the entry fee of 60 euros (per category) and a recent recording as stipulated in the rules

Application forms can be downloaded here (The website is in French, however a number of web browsers are capable of translating content).

The panel will be headed by Louis Robillard (France).

Further information can be found on their website:

http://www.academieandremarchal.org/concours20151/index.html

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HALIFAX MINSTER – 2017 ORGAN RECITALS

Organ Recitals 2017

Halifax Minster has attracted some international, also some high-profile organists for this series.

Last year there was a significant increase in attendance to the recitals. 

Please support the Minster in 2017; all are very welcome.

Recitals on Thursdays at 1:00 pm

(Lunch available from 12.30 pm) 

 

www.halifaxminster.org.uk

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