Titley Village Hall, May 2022
Ali Kinder was the perfect tutor to lead us in an exploration of three suites by Schein: her warm good nature, huge enthusiasm and ability to communicate made it a perfect day.
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Bishop's Palace, Hereford March 2022
Andrew Kirkman led us expertly and entertainingly through works by composers at the court of François I of France - Brumel, Lheritier, Richafort and Gascogne. Gascogne's music was particularly striking, and, although tricky, very satisfying to sing.
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Grange Court, Leominster, February 2022
Rory McCleery, Director of the Marian Consort, led a hugely enjoyable workshop for singers, exploring pieces from the Dow partbooks.
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Yarpole Parish Hall, near Leominster, October 2021
Tudor music representing bells, hackney carriages and street cries were some of the pieces instrumentalists tackled under the direction of tutor Mary Tyers. Singing and playing simultaneously was a new skill for many of the participants!
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St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, October 2021
The magnificent fourteenth-century church was the venue for our first in-person workshop since lockdown restrictions eased. David Allinson's direction was, as ever, superlative, and the 'deceptively simple' music he chose was both rewarding and beautiful to sing.
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The Lion Ballroom, Leominster, January 2020
Members enjoyed an excellent start to the new year, with Paul Spicer leading a terrific workshop on Buxtehude's 'Membra Jesu Nostri', and Ephiphany motets by Palestrina and Eybler.
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The Dance Centre, Llandrindod Wells, October 2019
Ali Kinder led a day of music, dancing and lots of laughter when she and her colleagues Anne Deller and Kath Waters from Apollo's Revels tutored a day for instrumentalists and dancers at the Dance Centre in Llandrindod Wells.
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Clytha House, Abergavenny, September 2019
Perfect sunshine, a superb venue and music by Gabrieli, Monteverdi and Schütz made for a memorable workshop with tutor Steve Marshall at Clytha House.
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Leintwardine, July 2019
Gabriel Crouch gave singers a memorable day exploring the most ravishing English sixteenth-century church music from both Protestant and Catholic traditions.
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Stockenny, June 2019
On the hottest day of the year, tutor David Hatcher introduced singers and instrumentalists to two glorious pieces by Michael Praetorius. We also wished member John Watson (pictured centre below) a happy 90th birthday.
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Gloucester Cathedral, May 2019
David Allinson led singers in an intensive but exhilarating study of 17th century Portuguese polyphony. This was a joint BMEMF/SWEMF event.
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Presteigne, March 2019
Tutor Lizzie Gutteridge led a 'Magic of the Medieval' day for singers and instrumentalists. In the evening she gave a fascinating recital. All this and a splendid dinner in between.
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Hereford, February 2019
A happy day singing Iberian polyphony in the beautiful setting of the Bishop's Palace in Hereford. Will Dawes was an excellent tutor.
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Leominster, November 2018
Julia Bishop was an expert and engaging tutor for our special workshop where players of modern stringed instruments had the chance to explore Baroque techniques.
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Tenbury Wells, October 2018
Our tutor, Emma Gibbins, led singers ably through a menagerie of Tudor pieces on the theme of beasts and birds. She also played for us on the church's fine Father Willis organ, with its splendidly dragon-decorated pipes.
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Sennybridge, October 2018
The first workshop of the incipient Wales Early Music Forum Cymru was a great success. Tutor David Hatcher led singers and instrumentalists through Tudor music by Cornysh, Tallis, Taverner and Tye, and the standard of singing and playing was impressive.
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Lydbury North, September 2018
A very informative and enjoyable day with tutor Dr. Peter Leech at Lydbury North village hall. It was fascinating to hear how Maria Rosa Coccia wrote a four part motet as a counterpoint exercise.
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Burton Court, Eardisland, June 2018
A lively and enjoyable day of Venetian music at Burton Court with tutor Gawain Glenton. Lots of instruments - we even had a lizard. As one participant commented, "It was great to experience the skilful way in which Gawain made use of the wide range of instruments and singers available. No-one had to feel surplus to requirements!"
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Monmouth, May 2018
Tutor David Skinner led singers through works by Brumel, Févin, Josquin and Mouton, all found in a 16th century songbook possibly prepared for Anne Boleyn. David has researched the songbook and written the introductory study to the facsimile edition, and has recorded the music with his vocal consort Alamire.
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Bartestree, March 2018
David Hatcher led a record number of singers and instrumentalists working on Music for Lent from the New World.
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Grange Court, Leominster, November 2017
Music for Advent and Christmas was the theme when the renowned singer and tutor Patrick Craig led a large group of singers for a day of glorious singing, hard work and plenty of good humour.
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Stockenny, October 2017
In October the celebrated conductor and tutor Justin Doyle led a day for instrumentalists and singers on music by Lotti. As an added bonus, we were guests at the beautiful home of John and Georgia Wren.
Lydbury North, September 2017
Peter Syrus, so knowledgeable on the music of Josquin and his contemporaries, led instrumentalists and singers in an informative, occasionally challenging, but very rewarding workshop.
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Burton Court, Eardisland, June 2017
Tutors Kate Semmens and Steven Devine gave instrumentalists and singers a laughter-filled day of music from the Pleasure Gardens.
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Bishop's Palace, Hereford, May 2017
Peter Leech gave singers an exuberant and exceptionally knowledgeable introduction to choral music of 18th century Rome. Here is a link to his group performing some of the music in the place where it would originally have been performed: https://youtu.be/9RbNnS7I3X
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Parliament Room, Gloucester Cathedral, November 2016
David Allinson led a memorable day of singing in honour of Hannah Davies who died last year.
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Llandrindod Wells, October 2016
Ricardo Barros guided instrumentalists and dancers through some of the intricacies of baroque dance.
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Stockenny, New Radnor, September 2016
Justin Doyle led a day for instrumentalists and singers, working on choruses from Handel's oratorios.
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Leintwardine: June 2016
Gabriel Crouch directed singers for a day studying music written for the death of Prince Henry
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Leominster: May 2016
Huw Williams was our tutor for a day working on music from the Chapel Royal
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Knucklas: April 2016
Andrew Collis led a day for string and recorder players, discovering the music of Schein and Scheidt.
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Yarpole Church: March 2016
Tutor Graham Coatman introduced singers to works from the Capilla Flamenca, the Flemish Chapel in the Royal Spanish Court.
Lugwardine Church: October 2015
This year BMEMF led a project to rediscover the work of Hereford composer, William Felton. David Hatcher led a day performing five of Felton's organ concertos.
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Hellens, Much Marcle: September 2015
Justin Doyle led a workshop for singers and instrumentalists on Monterverdi's sacred and secular music. (We take our afternoon tea-break very seriously).
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Grange Court, Leominster: March 2015
Sally Dunkley led a workshop for singers on settings of the Song of Songs.
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Burton Court: November 2014
Pam Smith led a workshop for instrumentalists on Corelli's Concerti Grossi.
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Stockenny: June 2014
Steven Devine and Kate Semmens led a workshop intriguingly titled 'The Secrets of our Hearts', and followed it with a ravishing recital in the evening.
Steven Devine and Kate Semmens led a workshop intriguingly titled 'The Secrets of our Hearts', and followed it with a ravishing recital in the evening.
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Leominster: April 2014
Jeffrey Skidmore, founder of Ex Cathedra, led a day working on Brazilian Baroque. Our venue was the historic Grange Court in Leominster.
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Presteigne: June 2013
Over 100 members of BMEMF and local choral societies and choirs gathered to study Spem in Alium. It was a superb day, and the excitement and satisfaction at what we achieved was palpable.
New Radnor: March 2013
The York Waits led a workshop on West Gallery music in New Radnor. In the evening they gave a concert.
Hereford: November 2012
'Music for the Royal Fireworks': tutor Ruth Watson led a workshop for woodwind and brass at the Hereford 6th Form College.
Kidderminster: Nov 11
Tutor Robert Hollingworth at a workshop for singers and instrumentalists at Kidderminster in November 2011. This was part an unforgettable day studying Missa Ecco si Beato Giorno by Striggio.
Kidderminster contd.
This picture gives some idea of the huge interior of the Town Hall in Kidderminster where the Striggio workshop took place.
Kidderminster contd.
Tutor David Hatcher working with the instrumentalists separately as part of the Striggio workshop.
Bishops's Palace, Hereford: Feb 2012
Sally Dunkley was an inspired and inspiring tutor for our Spring workshop studying works by White, Parsons and Byrd.
BMEMF's 25th birthday
This picture of BMEMF's 'Founding Fathers' was taken at Kinnersley Castle on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of BMEMF. From left to right: Grayston Burgess, (known to us as Don, his first name), Alan Crumpler and Geoff Warren. Passamezzo did some dances and involved the assembly in a Farandole.