An exciting course featuring expert coaching in the traditional way or from within the group with tutors joining your ensemble. The course also includes a concert and an entertaining and informative workshop with the Primrose Quartet.
STANDARD: CONFIDENT, SKILFUL.
Resident: £412 Non-Resident: £302 (25% off for under 27s) Code: 25/259
Booking for Members opens at 9am on Wednesday 27 November 2024
Non-Member and online booking opens at 9am on Monday 16 December 2024
For details on how to become a Member to take advantage of early booking, see here
What is the course about?
We are delighted to welcome back the Primrose Piano Quartet, featuring Benslow Music regulars Susanne Stanzeleit, Dorothea Vogel, Andrew Fuller and John Thwaites. This flexible course is open to pre-formed string or string and piano groups from trios upwards (individuals welcome if we can match you with others) for conventional coaching and/or working as an expanded group with a Primrose member. Duos can be accommodated on request.
The course fee includes entry to the tutors concert on the Friday night.
What will we cover?
The repertoire you bring, either in the form of a tutored session or in a session with a Primrose member coaching from the instrument, having joined/expanded the existing group.
What will we accomplish? By the end of this course you will be able to…
Play your chosen works at a more accomplished level, have gained more knowledge about relevant aspects such as playing and ensemble techniques, style, interpretation, context etc.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You need to have prepared your parts so you can play them as an ensemble. A good level of experience in chamber music is very useful to make the most of this course.
How will the course be taught, and will any preparation be required?
Each group will receive a coaching session with each of the Primrose members. This can be either “straight” coaching or it can be in the form of a Primrose member joining the existing group and coaching from the instrument (i.e. a piano trio can become a piano quartet, a piano quartet a quintet, a string quartet a piano quintet etc). This adds a new level to coaching as the experience of paying with a professional can teach many aspects of playing which cannot be put into words.
Will music be provided in advance of the course?
Participants are requested to bring their own music as well as spare scores for the coaches. Helpful resources: IMSLP has a wide range of parts and scores. Benslow Music members may be able to hire the music from our library…
Is there anything I need to bring?
Your instruments and parts and scores for the music you wish to be coached in.
Tutor biography
The Primrose Piano Quartet The Primrose Piano Quartet was formed in 2004 by four renowned chamber musicians and is named after the great Scottish violist, William Primrose, who himself played in the Festival Piano Quartet. The group's acclaimed discography includes favourites such as works by Fauré, Brahms, Elgar, Strauss and Schubert as well British repertoire featuring neglected masterpieces of the 19th and 20th century and major commissions from Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Anthony Payne (premièred at the Cheltenham Festival and at King's Place London). The Quartet enjoy a busy performing schedule throughout the UK and abroad with recent tours taking them to Denmark, Germany, Romania, Portugal and Bulgaria in addition to regular appearances at London's Kings Place, Wigmore and Conway Halls. In 2019 the Primrose released their latest recording, this time of the complete Brahms piano quartets. This was the culmination of years of research into Historically Informed Performance Practice and involved the musicians and recording team travelling to Vienna to record in the historic "Ehrbahrsaal", where Brahms himself frequently performed, using three different pianos of the period from the famous Gert Hechner collection. The result has been hailed by critics as "revelatory". Their next project will focus on the French Romantics, and they will record a disc of Fauré, Saint-Saëns and Chausson piano quartets in early 2023. Their own festival in West Meon is now in its twelfth year, and they were appointed ensemble-in-residence at the Battle Festival in 2016
What previous participants said about this course…
“A really well-structured chamber course tailored to your ensemble and coaching requests - a feast of enjoyment and inspiration!"
“An opportunity to perform great chamber music with friends in an inspiring and collaborative environment, with plentiful guidance and support from expert tutors who enable participants to improve their skills and learn how to rehearse.”