Advanced Baroque Chamber Music
Sat 31st Jul to Sat 7th Aug
SS27
Advanced Baroque Chamber Music
Directed by The Brook Street Band
About the course
Explore the richness and variety of Baroque chamber music with The Brook Street Band, taking Georg Philipp Telemann’s remarkable Essercizii Musici as the starting point for a week of music-making and discovery. Published in the 1740s, this extraordinary collection brings together solo sonatas and trio sonatas for a wide range of instruments, combining Italian, French and German musical influences with Telemann’s characteristic inventiveness, expressive imagination and flair for instrumental colour. Alongside the Telemann we will also be looking at Handel’s Trio Sonatas Op. 2 and Op.5.
Through practical ensemble playing and detailed coaching, participants will explore the stylistic and technical challenges of this repertoire, developing their understanding of Baroque phrasing, articulation, ornamentation and musical dialogue. The course will also examine the relationship between melody and basso continuo, the expressive possibilities of different instrumental combinations, and the historical context in which this music was created. Drawing on their extensive experience as performers and specialists in historically informed performance, The Brook Street Band will help participants bring greater confidence, imagination and stylistic understanding to their playing.
Who is it for?
This course is designed for accomplished amateur musicians, conservatoire-level students and established chamber ensembles with experience of historically informed Baroque performance. Participants should be comfortable playing on period instruments at Baroque pitch (A=415). As a guide, the course is suitable for players of approximately Grade 7/8 standard and above, with relevant period-performance experience.
What to expect
Each day will combine practical chamber music coaching with exploration of the musical language and performance practices of the Telemann and Handel works. Working in small ensembles, participants will develop their ability to communicate musically, shape phrases expressively, respond to fellow players and interpret the nuances of eighteenth-century notation. Particular attention will be given to ornamentation, articulation, stylistic contrasts and the interplay between instrumental lines.
The role of basso continuo will be explored throughout, including an introduction to figured bass for all participants and more detailed guidance for keyboard players. Historical background and discussion of performance practice will complement the practical sessions, encouraging participants to look beyond the printed notes and develop their own informed musical interpretations. The emphasis will be on collaborative music-making, developing ensemble skills and discovering the expressive possibilities of this wonderfully varied repertoire.
Practical information
| Tutor | The Brook Street Band |
| Week | Week 1, 31 July–7 August 2027 |
| Session | Session 1, 9.00–10.30am |
| Level | Advanced |
| Preparation | Participants should be familiar with Baroque performance practice. Details of music and any advance preparation will be provided. |
| Performance | Opportunities for playing and sharing within the group |
| Participants | Period-instrument string and wind players, harpsichordists and continuo players |
| Experience | Previous experience of performing at Baroque pitch (A=415) and reading historical facsimiles. A short biography outlining relevant experience is helpful. |
| Skills | Confident instrumental technique, good ensemble skills and some familiarity with historically informed performance. |
| Repertoire | Georg Philipp Telemann – Essercizii Musici and Handel’s Trio Sonatas Op. 2 and Op.5, with related Baroque chamber repertoire as appropriate. |
