REBIRTHS & REVIVALS: TWO ENGLISH CHORAL RENAISSANCES
7-11 April 2026 at St Catharine’s College
REPERTOIRE
This is our first specialist course, dedicated to the repertoire of the two Renaissances in English music.
England has witnessed (at least) two artistic Renaissances in the last millennium; and both have brought with them sublime choral music. Alongside the work of Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and other 16th century masters, this course will present music by composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who were inspired by the rediscovery of their musical heritage, such as Parry, Vaughan Williams and Holst.
Under the umbrella term ‘Renaissance music’ there are a plethora of styles. At one end we have the formalistic design of Taverner’s Dum transisset, built around a monorhythmic chant; a magnificent piece of choral architecture. And at the other, the exuberant Haec dies by William Byrd, a setting which engages with the text in a much more obviously emotional manner. Both respond to the joy and triumph of the Easter story, but in very different ways.
We will have the opportunity to work on a core repertoire of sacred works suitable for our daily Evensong, Vespers, Mass 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.
Compline at St Catharine’s College, Dir: Dr Edward Wickham
Evensong 1 at Sidney Sussex College, Dir: Dr David Skinner
Byrd 2nd Service (at ‘original’ pitch)
John Taverner: Dum transisset Sabbatum (down a tone from notated pitch)
Vespers at Queens’ College, Dir: Sally Dunkley
Evensong 2 at Pembroke College, Dir: Luke Fitzgerald
Psalm 107.1-7 (Parish Psalter)
Hubert Parry Never weather-beaten sail
Mass at St Catharine’s College, Dir: Dr Edward Wickham
Kyrie from Vaughan Williams Mass in G minor
Gloria from Sheppard Plainsong mass
Credo set to Merbecke
Charles Wood Communion Service Sanctus/Benedictus in the Phrygian mode
Byrd Mass for four voices: Agnus Dei
Sung Grace for our Formal Dinner: Oculi omnium (Wood)
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!