Recorder, Flute and Broken Consort: Playing from Original Partbooks

Directed by the Loreley Traverso Consort

About the course

Step into the world of sixteenth-century ensemble music with the Loreley Renaissance Traverso Consort. A consort brings together instruments from the same family, while a “broken consort” combines different instrumental colours. In this practical course, recorder and flute players will make music alongside instrumentalists from other traditions, discovering how Renaissance polyphony was read, shared and performed from individual partbooks rather than modern full scores.

Who is it for?

Recorder players are particularly encouraged to join, alongside flautists and players of modern woodwind, brass, strings and percussion who would like to explore Renaissance ensemble music. The course welcomes all ages and levels, from beginners to experienced performers. An interest in collaborative music-making is more important than prior knowledge of historical notation.

What to expect

Over six sessions, form recorder, flute and mixed consorts and explore tuning, balance and the interplay of independent musical lines. Learn to recognise the four voices of Renaissance polyphony—discantus, altus, tenor and bassus—and their characteristic cadential patterns. With original partbooks and tutor guidance, discover historical clefs and note values through music including Arcadelt’s Il bianco e dolce cigno. Dance music from Pierre Phalèse, a madrigal by Cipriano de Rore and a frottola by Bartolomeo Tromboncino provide contrasting opportunities to explore rhythm, phrasing, expression and ornamentation. The week concludes with a short public performance by the participating groups.

Practical information