CHORWORKS WORKSHOP

Q: For what is

Jean-Baptiste Lully

(1632-1687) famous?

A: if your answer is just “killing himself with his conductor’s baton” then you need to spend SATURDAY 5^th JUNE with CHORWORKS to discover more!

VOIX HUMAINES is a one-day choral workshop on early French choral music where we will learn more about Lully, and sing his masterpiece Miserere mei, together with the Requiem Mass by Eustache du Caurroy (1549-1609). The workshop is led by Philip Cave in collaboration with the Washington Early Music Festival.

Lully’s Miserere is a luxurious ten-voice grand motet for soloists, chorus and orchestra: a richly expressive response to the Psalm’s plangent and moving text, which, at its first performance at the court of Louis XIV in 1664, reduced its audience to tears. Du Caurroy’s Requiem, by contrast, is a restrained, austere and beautiful work performed at the funerals of generations of French Kings.

On FRIDAY 4^th June at 8:00pm, at All Souls Episcopal Church, Woodley Park, Washington DC 20008, a concert of French vocal music will be given by ORPHEUS. Includes exquisite music by Charpentier, De Brossard, De Visée, and De Lalande performed by Roger Isaacs, countertenor, Philip Cave, tenor, and Michael McCarthy, bass. Tickets at the door.

Lully’s meteoric rise to favor in the French court was perhaps surprising for someone who began life as Giovanni Battista di Lulli, the son of an Italian miller... so if the Italian connection peaks your interest, then: from 6th - 11th July, Chorworks Summer Workshop presents “Italian Music from Ciconia to Monteverdi.”

Highlights of the July workshop include:

• Working with international specialist faculty who will perform, lead rehearsals and seminars, offer ensemble and conducting coaching and voice lessons.

• Singing and hearing a wide range of repertoire, both sacred and secular, including familiar names such as Palestrina, Gabrieli and Monteverdi, together with less well-known works by Caldara, Lotti and Massaino.

• Working in the inspiring location of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral College.

• Participation by a guest vocal and instrumental ensemble of period instruments.

• Meals and rehearsals will take place in close proximity, and attendees will have plenty of opportunities to interact with the faculty.

• Additional preliminary day (Monday 5^th July) is available for those wishing to spend more time learning their notes.

FACTS & FIGURES