Epiphany Singing Retreat Repertoire
The choral repertoire for Epiphany is almost as rich as for Christmas, and produced some of the most ground-breaking music of all time. This is a chance to work in an intimate chapel setting with Peter Phillips, director of The Tallis Scholars, on Tallis’ own Videte miraculum, a central work in The Tallis Scholars’ repertoire.
“Epiphany is possibly my favourite musical and liturgical season – so rich and yet often neglected by church musicians exhausted by Christmas. This is the season of stars and wise men; both will be present (actually and musically) during our weekend course, which will also capture some of the mystery and magic of this ancient feast.”
Dr Edward Wickham, Artistic Director
Over the course of the weekend we will have the opportunity to work on a core repertoire of sacred works suitable for our daily evensong and compline services. In addition, we will be selecting works for smaller consorts from the madrigal, part-song and close harmony repertories for more informal music-making sessions.
Repertoire
Compline at Sidney Sussex
Nunc dimittis from Gibbons Short service
Thomas Attwood: O God, who by the leading of a star
Evensong 1 at Peterhouse Dir: Benjamin Sheen
Orlando Gibbons: Short service
Thomas Tallis Videte miraculum
Evensong 2 at Christ’s College Dir Steven Grahl
Jonathan Dove: Seek him that maketh the seven stars
Sung Grace for our Formal Dinner: Oculi omnium (Wood)
Wassailling
Trad arr Vaughan Williams The Gloucestershire Wassail
We may also sing “Here we come a-wassailing”, found in Carols for Choirs
All music will be provided; but feel free to buy your own copy of The Oxford Book of Tudor Anthems (compiled by Christopher Morris; Oxford University Press) and Madrigals and Partsongs (ed. Clifford Bartlett; Oxford University Press) which are widely used in our courses.
UK/US note values
If you’re wondering what a ‘crotchet’ is, there’s a useful chart here!
Online warm-up
Don’t worry if you’re feeling a little rusty – try Edward’s “dusting off the cobwebs” video. You could also practice singing along with a Youtube video by one of the Cambridge choirs.
Enjoy!