Applications for the 2027 course will open in December 2026.
Part of our Summer Schools programme, this week will be the perfect opportunity to spend time with like-minded musicians, and to develop your skills under the guidance of a world-class team of tutors: course director and vocal tutor Clare Wilkinson, vocal tutors Carys Lane, Giles Underwood and Nicholas Hurndall Smith, and viol tutors Alison Crum and Alison Kinder. Clare offers a warm and personal approach, aiming to provide an experience as close to tailor-made as possible for participants.
The Heavenlie Banquett
Feasting and Faith: round the table with Byrd, Tallis, Rore, Guerrero and others
Nourishment for both body and soul is on offer this year, as we draw up a chair at some very varied tables.
For Catholics in Elizabethan England, Holy Communion was often referred to as the ‘heavenly banquet’: Christ is ‘consumed’, the soul filled with grace. Singing mass was a serious offence — a special occasion, yet every minute fraught with danger.
Despite this, Byrd published three Masses, not to mention the monumental Gradualia, an immense collection of music for the forbidden rite. Tallis’ famous O sacrum convivium (‘O heavenly banquet’), originally written for viols, appeared in their joint 1575 volume. Under less repressed circumstances, Continental composers wrote prolifically for the Communion feast (Andrea Gabrieli, Guerrero, de la Rue, Regnart, Rore, Lassus…).
Meanwhile Elizabeth herself, lavishly entertained at Elvetham, enjoyed fireworks, feasts and a ‘banquet’: a type of meal that took place after the main supper, consisting of sweet foods, spiced wine and sculptural sugarwork. Naturally, there was music too (for example, Johnson’s Eliza is the fairest queen).
Returning to everyday life, who doesn’t love a good sing-song or play-through at a friend’s dinner party? Perhaps even a madrigal. According to Thomas Morley, it was the custom for the hosts to bring out music books after supper — woe betide anyone who couldn’t read them! And on the occasions when everyone has had a drop too much, you might even reach for the odd drinking song….
Come and join us round the table for a cornucopia of musical delicacies!
This unique course is custom-made for small consorts of voices or viols (ideally pre-formed by participants). Repertoire will be personally selected and adapted for your group by Clare Wilkinson, in consultation with a team of internationally renowned tutors. The emphasis is on friendly, collaborative music-making at a high level.
Two sessions each day will be spent with your ‘home consort’. In addition, there will be mixed sessions where singers and players combine in different ways, and various workshops, talks and/or larger-scale pieces.
Instead of working towards a concert, we will perform for each other informally in ‘musical gatherings’ over the course of the week.
“Extremely well organised – no idea how you do it!”
“It was a fun week. I also liked this years talks a lot. Thank you to everyone involved in organising this course.”
“A great collection of skilled amateurs from all over the world singing and playing Renaissance music with knowledgable and inspiring leaders.”
“If you enjoy singing one-a-part polyphony, come to CEM – you will love it. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly that you will quickly be put at ease. It’s hard work and intense, but incredibly rewarding and satisfying.”
A typical day’s schedule might be:
- 09.00 Optional warm-up
- 09.30 Session 1: Home consort groups
- 11.00 Coffee
- 11.30 Session 2: Home consort groups
- 13.00 Lunch, followed by free time (informal music if you wish; or or snap up a space in our ‘voice clinics’!)
- 15.00 Session 3: a talk, workshop or larger-scale piece
- 16.00 Tea
- 16.15 Our popular ‘After-tea talks’, given by participants who wish to share a passion
- 17.00 Session 4: Mixed consort groups
- 18.30 Dinner
- 20.00 ‘Musical gathering’
- Afterwards: Informal music as you wish; Benslow’s bar is open!
This example timetable is subject to change.
Music will largely be provided one month before the course in pdf form, via Dropbox, and participants will need to print this at home to bring, or read from their iPads. Repertoire may be supplemented during the course week. Do bring your own music for free time if you wish. Pitch will be A=440.
Arrival and departure times: Participants should arrive in time for tea at 4pm on Sunday 25 July 2027; the first session will start at 5pm. The course ends with breakfast on Sunday 1 August 2027.
Is the Renaissance course for me?
The course is intended for experienced singers and viol players who are confidently able to hold a line alone.
Tutors will create a comfortable environment so that you are relaxed enough to be at your best. Music will largely be provided one month before the course in pdf form, so you can get familiar with almost everything in advance. Participants are often surprised by how high the standard is: you will need either to be an excellent sight-reader, or take time to look at the music beforehand.
For viol players, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn about an earlier style of viol playing from two leading experts, and to explore the rich repertoire composed with this sound in mind. This course is for confident, rhythmically secure players of Renaissance viols, with plenty of opportunity to explore wider repertoire outside the course material. A small number of instruments may be available to borrow.
For singers, this is a small-scale consort singing course, where everyone is expected to take a lead. We strongly encourage you to pre-form your own ‘home consort’ with singers you know; pre-formed groups will be given precedence in the applications. For individual applicants, Clare will consider how best to combine applicants. Her aim is to form one-per-part consorts of singers where possible; however, the top priority is making well-matched groups. This depends on a candid appraisal of your own abilities: please sing through the sight-reading extract in the application form and be scrupulously honest about how well you manage. Being realistic about your standard will result in more satisfying music-making for everyone! If you prefer to share a line, we will aim to pair you with another singer but also give you opportunities to try out holding your own line.
After applications have closed, the consorts will be finalised with a view to ensuring the right balance of voices and instruments. At the tutors’ discretion, combinations of singers that were not pre-formed may be changed during the week.
Consorts will be expected to work autonomously, as well as under the direction of our tutors, and we will help you build the skills to do this. There will be a focus on being a good chamber musician and colleague, as well as singing and playing to the best of our ability.
After applications have closed, the line-up will be finalised with a view to ensuring the right balance of voices and instruments. Non-singing/playing observers are also welcome; the cost for this is £50 per person per day, by arrangement. Please contact us for details.
Venue
Our course will be held at Benslow Music, Hitchin, just a 30-minute train ride from Cambridge or London. An ideal base for exploring some of England’s most beautiful countryside, the historic town of Hitchin with its fine parish church is a destination in itself. There is also plenty of free parking.
Benslow Music has ten designated rehearsal and practice rooms, including two halls suitable for larger ensembles and public events. They possess a fine Goble harpsichord modelled on a 1727 Christian Zell original as well as virginals, a spinet and a restored Broadwood square piano dating from the 1820s.
Benslow Music provides a wide range of comfortable bedrooms with ensuite or shared bathroom facilities, enviable catering and all sorts of rehearsal and practice rooms. The beautiful gardens provide an inviting space in which to relax and regather energies between sessions. Additionally, all summer school participants will be able to make use of Benslow Music’s extensive music library during their course. Find out more about accommodation on Benslow Music’s website.
Fees and bursaries
Find all information about fees and on how to pay the deposit.
The Selene Webb (née Mills) Memorial Bursary Fund supports those whose financial situation would prevent them from attending our courses without assistance, particularly music students and those setting out on a career in music. Find out more on how to apply for a bursary.
