Information for Choir

MUSIQUE CORDIALE 2013

INFORMATION FOR THE CHOIR 

It is with great pleasure that I present the programme for the choir this summer. 

As many of you already know, we have invited Graham Ross, Music Director at Clare College, Cambridge to conduct the choir and orchestra of Musique Cordiale this year.  After 4 years, Tom Seligman felt it would be a good idea to have a break. Plus it allows for a change of conductor for Musique Cordiale, which can be healthy and refreshing for everyone.

 The main choral work to be performed at the festival will be DVORAK’S Stabat Mater, a substantial work 90 minutes long, a wonderfully romantic yet heart-rending work for 4 soloists, choir and orchestra.

 We envisage that everyone will sing in the Stabat Mater but that performing in some of the other works will be by invitation. Other works which will be sung by a chamber choir include:

• Purcell: Hear my prayer, O Lord
• Bruckner: Locus iste & Christus factus est
• Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb
• Brahms: Geistliches Lied
• Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music with La Nuova Musica and orchestra

 Note about quality:  Musique Cordiale was founded around a group of singers and players, mostly my friends, whom I knew were able to perform music to a high standard within a few days in the most idyllic surroundings.  It remains important to me that the standard of music making should stay as high as possible.  Over the past 8 years, I have encouraged new singers to join the choir to come and experience a different kind of musical holiday within the infrastructure of a festival.  I also stressed that people should come prepared and not expect to learn the sometimes very challenging works during the short rehearsal period.  I (and others) have noticed recently that the standard and blending of voices has become a little irregular and therefore would like to find a way to improve this without hurting anyone’s feelings.  It is a wonderful opportunity for the choir to work with such an experienced  and inspiring choral conductor as Graham Ross,; so, although I do not expect you all to be note perfect, I owe it to Graham and our audiences that a generally high standard should be adhered to.

So, this year, I suggest that singers should either be people whom Graham or I already know or should be singers who come recommended by people whose judgement I respect.  Newcomers from elsewhere – and I hope there will be many – will be asked how much singing experience they have had and may be asked do an informal audition or send a simple recording of a piece which we will stipulate.

I am convinced that if the choir re-groups to a ‘professional’ standard, as far as possible, we will consequently attract other experienced amateur singers who will want to join Musique Cordiale. This will be more rewarding for everyone.  If we think that you are not of a high enough standard for the choir, we will offer you another role at the festival, plus we are contemplating an introductory ‘Come and Sing’ event another year.

Registration: The registration form is on this site.  We may be able to welcome a few late applicants but PLEASE TRY TO BOOK BY MARCH 31st (or at least soon after Easter if possible). Look at www.musique-cordiale.com for all information about editions, dress code and colours, arrival dates, accommodation and meals.  Graham will start rehearsing the choir on Saturday morning August 10^th; so you can arrive on Friday August 9^th, which will make travelling easier. Please book travel early for the best deals and to coincide with the times that we may be able to meet your flight/train (details here soon). Also please ensure that you have travel insurance. Our booking form does stipulate that we cannot reimburse anyone who cancels after 31 May but would happily provide suitable documentation to support any legitimate claims from your insurers.

For players, students and audiences, the 2013 International Festival begins almost a week before the choir arrives. The programme for the first week includes orchestral concerts, members of La Nuova Musica conducted by David Bates and the concert on the first Friday, conducted by Graham Ross, includes our Academy students playing with professionals. The programme for the whole festival looks exciting and features a total of 17 concerts, including 6 that are free. Concerts after the choir arrives will take place in Seillans, Callian, Bagnols-en-Foret and Correns and will include an excellent “Classic meet jazz” concert on August 12.

We look forward to welcoming you to Musique Cordiale 2013, “Bringing Music to Life”.  (And if you cannot join us this year, please keep in touch, follow us on Facebook and here, consider subscribing or renewing as a member or friend – and encourage others to do so, maybe come to a concert or two and try to find a way to join us in 2014 for the 10th annual festival).

 Pippa Pawlik & team

 January 2013