The Berwang Holiday Music Course offers a particular appeal for singers (2001 cohort pictured here).  There are numerous opportunities for solo and choral performances in both formal and informal situations.  Master classes are available for those who wish to take part either as performers or listeners.  These are invaluable for improving the understanding of technical and interpretative matters.  Choral rehearsals include a variety of repertoire, intended for both sacred and secular formal concerts, as well as for informal concerts.  The innate atmosphere of the course enables many to take part in musical events that they might avoid - or not have the opportunity for - in their normal sphere.  In recent years, a number of singers have been encouraged to explore solo or ensemble singing for the first time.

Rehearsals take place in the village schoolroom at the top of the village, and combine preparation for the formal concerts and informal concerts with the exploration of new repertoire.  Singers (individuals or groups) may join with course members from the other sections (wind & strings) for performance or play-through (eg with clarinet in Shepherd on the Rock; duet with wind in Hansel & Gretel etc)

Whilst the choral repertoire is provided, any ensembles or solos you wish to sing should be brought with you (at least two copies of each song).  

There are plenty of possibilities for others who play the piano to share the work of accompanying, not only the choral course but also instrumental ensembles and soloists, and recent years have seen Mai Newman, Graham Pointon, Nick Hussey and Bruce Knight taking part. 

In the last few years, our repertoire has included:

At the formal concert in the church:

Haydn - 'Harmony' Mass; Paukenmesse (Mass in Time of War)

Pergolesi

Schütz – German Requiem

Schubert – Mass in F

Beethoven – Mass in C

Mozart - Requiem

At the end-of-course formal concert in the Hotel Singer:

Austrian songs for choir & orchestra

Gilbert & Sullivan items – eg from HMS Pinafore; Gondoliers

Strauss – Choral Waltzes, eg Künstlerleben; Tales from the Vienna Forest

Elgar – Choral Dances from the Bavarian Highlands

Other Repertoire (some performed in informal concerts) has included:

Dowland - Sleep, Wayward Thoughts

Gibbons - Silver Swan

Morley - My Bonny Lass; Sing we and Chant it

Weelkes - Take here, my Heart

Tomkins - Fusca in thy Starry Eyes

Buxtehude - Magnificat

Bach - Chorales

Wilson - The Cuckoo

Milner - Orpheus

Finzi - Wherefore Tonight?

Rutter - Two American Folksongs

Other repertoire has included:

Dvořák – Four Part Songs

Brückner – Locus Iste

Byrd – Teach Me, O Lord; Ave Verum Corpus

Poulenc – O Magnum Mysterium; Tristis est Anima Mea

Copland – American Songs

Michael Haydn – Asperges Me

Grainger – Six Dukes went a-Fishin'; Mary Thompson

Brahms – Beherzigung; In Stiller Nacht; Geistliches Lied

Stanford – Seven Part Songs; Magnificat in C

Stravinsky – Pater Noster; Ave Maria

Other English Folk Songs arranged by Vaughan Williams; John Wilson; and John Vine

Ten Georgian Glees

Spirituals – Swing Low; Standin' in the Need of Prayer

Rounds

Madrigals

For 2005, the following repertoire was available in the choral sessions:

Akatombo      Japanese Folksong

Berger      The Eyes of All

Brace       Something to Sing, Vol. 4

Brown       Bless, O Lord

Foster      Plantation Songs

Paulus      Pilgrim’s Song

Pearsall      Lay a Garland

Pitoni      Cantate Domino

Purcell      Hear my Prayer

Rutter      Clare Benediction

Sakuro      Japanese Folksong

Spiritual      Ride the Chariot

Spiritual      Steal Away

Stainer       God So Loved the World

Stanford      The Bluebird

Tallis      In Ieiunio et Fletu

Tallis      O Nata Lux

Tallis      Te Lucis ante Terminum

Vaughan Williams       The Turtle Dove

                        Various     Close harmony items from In the Mood

Small groups

There will be opportunities for small group singing if that proves popular, so do feel free to bring with you small sets of music if you would like to form small groups in the break periods.

Song classes

There may be those of you who would like to work at some solo songs in a relaxed and informal kind of way.  If there is sufficient interest, this can be arranged and suggestions as to musicality but not technique given. There will be several excellent accompanists available.  If you think you might to participate in a solo class, please bring two copies of any songs you would like to sing.

Participants are encouraged to bring to the course any sets of vocal pieces they would like to share with others.  It is particularly hoped that many will bring pieces to perform – solo or with others – in the informal concerts and/or cabaret.  From 2003, the hire of choral music has been included in the course charges.