E A S T E R N E A R L Y M U S I C F O R U M T H A M E S V A L L E Y E A R L Y M U S I C F O R U M

Biber: Missa Salisburgensis

Saturday–Sunday 12–13 October 2019

Thaxted Parish Church Directed by Patrick Craig

This monumental work was rediscovered in 1870, first attributed to Orazio Benevoli, and then recognised as the work of exceptional Austrian composer Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. Described as a great mysterious nebula, Biber’s 53-part Missa Salisburgensis recreates the vault of heaven with its rich, complex scoring of trumpets and timpani, cornetts, sackbuts, strings and continuo with two eight-part choirs. The entire work, including the motet Plaudite tympana, will be rehearsed over the weekend with a final performance late Sunday afternoon.

Patrick Craig has enjoyed a varied career as a countertenor and conductor. A long-standing member of St Paul’s Cathedral Choir and The Cardinall’s Musick, he sang with the Tallis Scholars for 20 years and is increasingly in demand as a conductor. Last year he made his Proms debut conducting the Tallis Scholars, and has guest directed The Cardinall’s Musick at festivals in Brighton, Lichfield, Brinkburn and Aldeburgh. In 1997 he founded Aurora Nova, this country’s foremost professional all-female choir. Patrick recorded Biber’s Missa Salisburgensis with the Gabrieli Consort in 1998 and is delighted to get the opportunity to revisit this magnificent work in Thaxted.

We will be using the King’s Music edition of the Mass, instrumental and vocal scores may either be posted in advance (postage payable) or collected on the day. The mass is scored for two choirs of SSAATTBB, trumpets, timpani, strings, flutes, recorders, oboes, cornets, sackbuts and organ. Pitch is A=440.

Coffee will be available from 9.30 Saturday and Sunday morning, with work beginning promptly at 10. There will be a ‘workshop performance’ at 5.00pm on Sunday 13rd October, in the Church of St John the Baptist, to which guests are welcome. Admission is free, with a retiring collection.

The cost for the weekend will be in the region of £80 for members of EEMF or other Fora/£90 for non-members, including score, teas and coffees, and Sunday lunch. A full score may be purchased for £25 plus postage, from Ellen Sarewitz

Schedule:

Saturday 12th October

10am–4.45pm All instruments and voices in Thaxted Parish Church (coffee and tea in church)

Sunday 13th October

10am–1pm All instruments and voices, in Bolford Street Hall, followed by light lunch

2–4.15pm All instruments and voices in Thaxted Parish Church

5–6.00pm Performance in Thaxted Parish Church

To apply for a place, please complete the attached slip including your preferred instrument/part and return it to Ellen Sarewitz. Patrick will assign parts. Once the mass has been scored, and final costs confirmed, we will e-mail you confirmation and a request for payment, preferably by bank transfer.

If you wish to stay overnight, you must arrange your own accommodation; the Thaxted Information Centre https://www.thaxted.co.uk/index.php/tourism/thaxted-tourist-community-information-centre has listings, as do Airbnb and Booking.com , etc.

Application Biber Missa Salisburgensis

12–13 October 2019

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Please complete this slip CAREFULLY and send or it-mail it to: Ellen Sarewitz, Langworthy House, Brockhampton, Hereford HR1 4TQ E: ellen.sarewitz@cantab.net I wish to apply to participate in the Biber Missa Salisburgensis workshop, Thaxted, 12–13 October 2019. Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Postcode ______________________ Telephone _______________ Mobile _______________ E-mail _____________________________________________ Voice: ___________________________ Instrument(s): ________________________________________ I am a member of _________________________ Early Music Forum / Please send EEMF membership details ❏❏