Have you been to an early music workshop, but have no local group with which to play?
Do you love baroque music ... but don’t know how to play expressively?
Are you a keyboard player who hasn’t tried a harpsichord? --or wants to play one again?
Do you want to learn how to read a figured bass and try it with other players?
Are you a baroque beginner curious about gut strings, A=415, and playing without chin/shoulder rests (violin) or end pins (cello)?
...then this workshop is for you! Recorders and other woodwinds are also welcome.
Don't be afraid of coaching:
our faculty members are the most gentle and friendly in the country.
Facilities
The workshop will be held at Camp Crystal Lake, private summer camp in the ‘Endless Mountains’ of northcentral Pennsylvania 25 miles east of Williamsport. It is a four hour drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City, and Rochester, NY, with air service from Philadelphia to Williamsport. We have reserved the Laughlin Lodge, an 1875 Adirondack-style ‘camp’ on the lake, plus additional modern cabins. Food service is in the modern camp lodge, with a special meal in Laughlin planned for Saturday night.
Schedule
Friday evening May 18
Arrive at camp
Optional dinner
7:30 Music and instrument demonstrations by our faculty. Discuss group assignments and repertoire for the weekend. We expect the group assignments to be flued through the weekiend, playing in similar and mixed skill groups and explorinig a number of different pieces. A library of music at all levels will be available, including many facsimile editions.
9:30 Informal jamming.
Saturday morning and afternoon we divide into small groups in various ensemble combinations with faculty rotating among the groups for coaching and technical advice.
We’ll have enough free time after lunch and before dinner to explore the woods trails around the camp or explore the lake by canoe.
After dinner participants may want to relax, or practice, or gather again in informal chamber groups.
Sunday morning our faculty will be available for group lessons emphasizing technical issues in the music we are playing.
Sunday afternoon will begin with a final session of coached ensemble groups, followed by an informal (and optional) concert for each other, family, and friends. Departure time is 5:00.
Dinner and rooms are available for for anyone who wishes to stay Sunday night.
Cost
The cost of weekend workshop, including instruction, room, and board is $390 per person. Non-participants’ fee is $250. Optional Sunday dinner, overnight, and breakfast is $70. Full payment is due two weeks before workshop begins. Full refund will be given if you must cancel, but please give us as much notice as you can.
Faculty
Phebe Craig is the director of the annual summer Baroque Workshop of the San Francisco Early Music Society, and from that experience knows as much as anyone alive how to make a workshop fun and productive for musicians. She has an international reputation as a harpsichord player and is the consummate accompanist for numerous groups. She is on the faculty at the University of California at Davis.
Michael Sand is one of the country’s most experienced, creative, and effective performers of baroque violin music. He too is on the faculty at U.C.Davis and the SFEMS workshop, where his master classes are legendary.
Laurie Israel is a baroque cello and harpsichord player from Boston with years of experience organizing concerts for her group ‘Ensemble Suave’ and helping amateur musicians gain proficiency and confidence in performing early music.
Organizers
Michael Gross and William Schulze are amateur violinists in Williamsport and Ithaca respectively, who love early music and have been to the SFEMS workshop several times. Michael also plays with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. We have both found that the small number of early music amateurs in our region makes it hard to get together in groups to play the ensemble music we both love. We hope that this workshop brings together such players, brings in new players, and is a lot of fun for us all.
Contact information
Michael Gross 570-584-3324 Don't hesitate to call me to discuss this workshop!
email pinetreeroad@gmail.com
William Schulze 607-227-9895 wds3@cornell.edu