An opportunity to work at the set repertoire sitting in a large circle, playing and rehearsing together with the Tedesca Quartet. This is large-scale chamber music, not an orchestra!
STANDARD: CONFIDENT, SKILFUL
Resident: £582 Non-Resident: £445 (25% off for under 27s) Code: 24/361
Booking for Members opens at 11am on Tuesday 14 May 2024
Non-Member and online booking opens at 11am on Tuesday 4 June 2024
For details on how to become a Member to take advantage of early booking, see here.
What is the course about?
The Tedesca Quartet – Nic Fallowfield, Jenny Curtis, Richard Muncey and Clare Bhabra, once again bring their innovative approach to Group Quartets, sitting and playing within the group and approaching everything as large-scale chamber music. Individual responsibility and initiative are encouraged, as is discussion on musical issues, rehearsal techniques and so on. The repertoire for this course is to be confirmed. On Wednesday the Tedesca Quartet will give a recital and entry is included in the course fee. As usual, we ask you to bring your own parts and to number the bars before you come. The first complete bar counts as bar 1 and ‘first time only’ bars at the end of repeated sections should not be taken into account in your calculations.
Tutor website: www.tedesca.co.uk
Please note: This course will begin at 4.30pm on the Monday and finish after lunch on the Thursday.
What will we cover?
We will be working on Schumann’s String Quartet No 1 in a minor Op 41, No 1. We will also be exploring Beethoven’s String Quartet in a minor Op 132 (with the exception of the third movement, the Heiliger Dankgesang).
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course you will be able to…
By the end of the course you will feel that you know a great deal more about our set work and its inner workings and you’ll have had an opportunity to listen to it with fresh ears in the public recital on the Wednesday evening. In addition you will have had an insight into how a professional string quartet goes about the business of rehearsing and preparing a new piece.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Standard: Confident, Skilful.
How will the course be taught, and will any preparation be required?
Initially we start out sitting in a large circle and having a first play-through of the set work. In the following session the four members of the Tedesca Quartet move into the centre of the room facing outwards to their respective sections, and we rehearse in that formation. The quartet often ‘revolves’ so that the four sections of the large group get a different perspective. When useful, the Tedesca Quartet will demonstrate passages.
On the last day of the course the seating changes again so that participants are able to feel that as well as being part of the large group they can also relate to a smaller unit within the mass.
Will music be provided in advance of the course?
No, but parts with bowings and bar numbers will be available on the Benslow website some weeks before the course and these can be printed if people wish to do so. Participants can also bring their own music: useful resources are IMSLP and of course Benslow’s own library (for Members). It would be helpful if participants bringing their own music could ensure that bar numbers match those in the parts on the website. Similarly with bowings, slurs and other articulations: these can vary considerably between different editions and it will save time on the course if we all have the same thing in front of us as a starting point.
Is there anything I need to bring?
Just you, your music and instrument!
What previous participants said about this course…
“Amazing experience, the Tedesca are brilliant, so encouraging.”
“The coaching is always outstanding from the Fab Four. Always. By the last day I am playing beyond anything I might have expected or previously experienced.”
“Don't panic! There can be no kinder tutors than the Tedesca Quartet - they are very patient and guide participants through their sessions with good humour.”