Project Leader:
James Demby (Florence -Italy), Jan Melaerts (Antwerp - Belgium)
james.demby@tiscali.it

Description:
The course is dedicated to all those singers and vocalists that individually or in group want to perfect their knowledge and performance level of choral Renaissance music in general, and particularly of the repertoire for multiple choirs (eight to sixteen voices) that involves participation of choral, solo singers and instrumental groups.
The aim of the Master Class is, throughout the week of lessons and rehearsals that will be held in Florence, to set up the performance of compositions (motetti and parts of the Mass Liturgy such as as Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei etc.), written in multiple choral style, by some of the most important masters of the Renaissance between the end of the sixteenth and the first part of the seventeenth century.
The program of this year will be focused particularly on the comparison between authors of the Venetian School (such as Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi etc.) and authors of the Roman School (such as Cristobal De Morales, Lodovico Da Victoria, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Luca Marenzio etc.).
The two choral groups that already work with the Directors of the Master Class: Melpomene Choir, (Antwerp – Belgium) and Camerata della Consuma Vocal Ensemble, (Florence Italy), will participate to the Master Class as promoting choirs of the initiative.
A basic instrumental ensemble of five instrumentalists (organ, two chitarrone,and two viola da gamba players), will be at the Master Class throughout the week providing the continuo section in rehearsals and concerts.
A group of renaissance winds (cornetti, renaissance trombones, recorders, dulciana etc.) will be added if allowed by a sufficient number of registered students.
The musical program will be presented, as a conclusion of the Master Class’ work, on the occasion of two concerts to be held in Florence, in historical sites that can properly respond to the complexity of the musical scores.
Aim of the course is also, in fact, to point out and study the structural and constructive relationship between the music and the actual architectural space where the music will be performed, particularly emphasizing the acoustic properties of the environment required for a good performance of this music (i.e. sound reverberation’s quality and time, dimension and structure of the space in which all the different sound sources constituted by choirs and instrumental groups will be placed etc.).
Rehearsals will begin at the Auditorium del Duomo - where the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation promotes its programme of concerts for young talented musicians - where a modern structure with different room articulations will allow separate and group rehearsals – and shall continue in the actual architectural spaces chosen for the concert’s performance.
The Master Class’ closing concert will be held at the Cathedral of the Vallombrosa Abbey in the Florentine Mountain.

Application deadline:
The application deadline for the seminar is April 30th 2008.
Applicants should specify the voice extension and the musical experience.
The musical texts of the program will be available to all applicants from February 1st 2008.

Registration at the masterclass:
Participants are requested to fill up the Registration Form available on "http://www.fondazione-delbianco.org/seminari/registration/form.asp?idw=92".
Once the form completed and sent, then they will receive on line a password for uploading their personal cv and photo on the web page.
Finally, the participants are requested to proceed with the payment of the fee and accommodation; here below are the economic condition.



Registration fees:
Soon on line

The choral groups should specify in their curriculum their experience in the field of renaissance music.

The Hotel accommodations in Florence will be in care of the Promo Florence Events and will provide various lodging opportunities and different economic solutions;
for information please write to info@fly-events.com

Programme:
The seminar will start on Saturday July 5th at the Auditorium del Duomo,
with the audition of participants (solo singers and groups) and the assignment of the different voice roles in the repertoire.
During the week between July 6th and 12th there will be lessons for individuals, separate (single choir), and “tutti” choir rehearsals with or without the instrumental sections and groups.
Visits to the monuments and museums of Florence will be organized in care of the Romualdo del Bianco Foundation (under confirmation by the Soprintendenza Polo Museale of Florence).
Concerts in Florence will be held on July 11th and 12th.
On July 13th the entire group of participants will reach the Vallombrosa abbey via coach for rehearsals and performance of the closing concert. The return to Florence will be in the late evening.
At the end of the Master Class an official participation diploma will be released.
The CD recording of the concert will also be available on request after the studio mixage and post production.

Dates Summary
• April 30th 2008 General application deadline.
• From February 1st 2008: musical texts of the program will be available at the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation
• Saturday July 5th Auditorium del Duomo: Auditions of participants - basic seminar’s Rehearsal Schedule.
• July 6th to 8th: separate rehearsals and lessons at the Auditorium del Duomo
• July 9th to 11th: rehearsals and general rehearsals at the architectural site chosen for the first concert. (Oratorio dei Vanchetoni)
• July 12th: general rehearsal and second concert at one major church in the Florentine area. (S. Miniato al Monte)
• July 13th: general rehearsal and concert at the Vallombrosa Abbey

for other information click here