2016 baroque special with rachael beesley
Usually it's not the sound of Baroque music that echoes down the hall at a regular VACMS play-in, but possibly Schumann, Dvorak or Haydn. So I wasn't expecting the enthusiasm from players about our Baroque special. There enough soloists and ensemble players that wanted to play in the Bach double violin concerto that we had two groups running simultaneously, and the group for the Bach Brandenburg
No 4 almost filled the generous Lauriston concert hall stage.
No 4 almost filled the generous Lauriston concert hall stage.
We spent the afternoon with our special guest Rachael Beesley, recently returned from the Netherlands where she performs and teaches at Royal Conservatoire in the Hague Rachael talked about interpreting Baroque style including the rhetorical delivery of emotions and affects. She talked about the development of music, including the great change to music introduced by Monteverdi where instruments were not just accompanying singers, but could create music and convey emotions in their own right. She showed how a violin could bark like a dog, or sigh, or be melancholic.
We also learned about gut strings and the different types of bows used since before the baroque to the present and how they affect the playing experience. After the talk we had the chance to touch and hold a selection of baroque bows.
We also learned about gut strings and the different types of bows used since before the baroque to the present and how they affect the playing experience. After the talk we had the chance to touch and hold a selection of baroque bows.
In the masterclass two groups played flute trio sonatas by Bach and Hotteterre. After a talk focussed on conveying emotions, Rachael had the violin and flute players singing and gesturing their parts to really understand the emotions and phrasing of the piece. There was plenty of practical advice about playing Baroque music too. The cellists learned that articulation of a continuo part depends on the interval being played - smaller intervals are played relatively legato, while larger intervals such as octaves are quite staccato, so the larger the interval the more separation between the notes. In a faster tempo movement, shortening the continuo notes gives a more lively, energetic feel to the music. Rachael also talked about bowing and the strong weak concepts that are so important in Baroque music.
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It was easy to feel Rachael's deep passion for Baroque music in the afternoon, and I think everyone left inspired and ready to do it again sometime soon. Armed with all that we learned we'll be back next year for another Baroque special.
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