A Dance in the Garden of Mirth

Directed by The City Musick

About the course

Step into the vibrant musical world of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and discover the art of the medieval minstrel. Drawing on the music of court and civic musicians from across Europe, this course will explore everything from lively communal dance songs and robust instrumental dances to the refined intricacies of the courtly chanson and basse danse. Participants will encounter music shaped by both folk and courtly traditions, discovering how musicians brought it to life through improvisation, ornamentation and rhythmic invention. Singers and instrumentalists will work together and separately, exploring the colour, energy and variety of medieval and early Renaissance music while developing a practical understanding of the freedom, imagination and spontaneity at the heart of its performance.

Who is it for?

Suitable for confident instrumentalists and singers who are keen to explore medieval and early Renaissance repertoire. Instrumentalists should be capable sight-readers, with secure technique and the ability to hold an independent part. Singers should be comfortable learning music within an ensemble. No previous experience of medieval music or improvisation is required.

What to expect

The course will combine ensemble rehearsal with practical exploration of medieval style, ornamentation and improvisation. Participants will work on contrasting repertoire, from energetic dances and communal songs to more delicate courtly music, considering how rhythm, articulation, phrasing and instrumental colour can shape a performance. Singers and instrumentalists will have opportunities to work in different groupings as well as together. Across the week, the group will develop greater confidence in approaching this repertoire creatively, moving beyond the written notes to capture the vitality and flexibility of the medieval minstrel tradition, and working towards an informal end-of-week performance.

Practical information