Baroque Discovery Day 29.JUNE

Are you a Young Musician who loves music from Baroque Era, such as BACH, VIVALDI, HANDEL and PURCELL?

CURIOUS about the INSTRUMENTS of BAROQUE ERA?

Are you Struggling to find YOUR OWN MUSICAL VOICE?

Then, Explore Historical Performance on

Harpsichord and the Baroque Violin

with us on sat. 29 June 2024!

Our special day is designed for musicians of grade 5 and above, eager to explore beyond the notes. We’d like to have as many young musicians as possible, but we accepts curious music lovers from older generations as well.

Through engaging lectures, hands-on instrument sessions, and a captivating live concert, you’ll unlock the secrets of historical performance. Guided by two of the UK’s early music experts, this event promises to enrich your musical journey. Ready to deepen your understanding and repertoire? Join us!

Only 6 Spaces Available for full participants on each Instrument!

(Auditing option available for the rest of you)

Date: Saturday 29 June 2024 11am〜6:30pm

Location: Quaker Meeting House: 17 Colmore Rd, King’s Heath, Birmingham B14 7PE

Schedule

Time	Entrance/Kitchen	Location	Notes
11:00-11:30	Registration & Welcome (Tea and Biscuit )	Entrance/Kitchen
11:30-13:00	Lecture About Historical Performance Practice/Introduction of the instruments	Large Room
13:00-14:00	Lunch Break		Lunch provided
14:00-15:00	Concert	Large Room	Open to Public
15:00-15:30	Q & A session	Large Room	Open to Public
15:30-15:45	Break
15:45-17:45	Harpsichord Trial session	Large Room
15:45-17:45	Violin Trial session	Small Room
17:45-18:00	Feedback, further information	Large Room

Concert Programme  (14:00~15:00)

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber : ‘Crucifixion’ from Rosary Sonata for violin and keyboard 

Gaspard Le Roux: Unmeasured Prelude in D minor

Arcangelo Corelli : Violin Sonata Op.5 No.10 in F major

François Couperin: Le Rossignol-en-amour

Elizabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Sonata for Violin and Keyboard (1707) No.2 in D major

Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonata for Violin and Obligato Hapsichord BWV 1018 in F minor

Tutors

Miki Takahashi (Baroque Violin)

Miki Takahashi is a baroque violinist, celebrated for her performances as a soloist and chamber musician. She began her musical journey by studying in Japan and later under Professor Lorand Fenyves at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. It was during her studies in Canada that Miki discovered her passion for historical violin, and she went on to complete her postgraduate degree at the University of Arts in Berlin with Irmgard Huntgeburth.

Miki’s talent and hard work were recognised early in her career when she won first prize and the special prize for stylistic ornamentation at the Third International Telemann Competition in Magdeburg, Germany. In the same year, she also took home the first prize as well as the audience prize at the International Music Competition Musica Antiqua in Bruges.

Miki’s success eventually led her to the United Kingdom, where she currently serves as the leader of St. James’s Baroque, co-leader of Feinstein Ensemble, and a member of 2 to Link (Classical Violin & Viola Duo) and Turini Ensemble. She also regularly performs with major baroque ensembles such as Collegium Musicum 90, The English Concert, Early Opera Company, Gabrieli Consort, Musical ans Amicable Society and Instruments of Time and Truth.

In addition to her performances, Miki is also a passionate and dedicated teacher. She currently teaches at the University of Birmingham and the Royal Conservatoire of Birmingham, inspiring and mentoring the next generation of musicians.

Masumi Yamamoto (Harpsichord)

Masumi is currently a Professor of Basso Continuo at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and Teacher of Harpsichord at two schools in London – St. Paul’s Girls’ School in Hammersmith, and James Allen’s Girls’ School in Dulwich. She also runs the South London Harpsichord Academy, which started out as a YouTube Channel and aims to help people discover the beautiful harpsichord.

She has also been involved in many events promoting the harpsichord to curious pianists, and is a regular tutor at the English Camerata International Music Summer School. She was also on the panel of judges for the Broadwood Horniman Harpsichord Competition held in 2017.

As a performer, Masumi has appeared on the concert platform as continuo player for many period-instrument ensembles, including the Gabrieli Consort & Players, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and The English Concert, as well as modern-instrument orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra and the Royal Northern Sinfonia. She was a prize winner at the International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges and became the first Japanese prize-winner in 25 years.

Masumi has given solo recitals at the London Handel Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival and most recently King’s Lynn Festival. She is also due to appear at this year’s King’s Lynn festival, playing JS Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Her discography includes a 2020 recording “Handel: Works for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord” from First Hand Records with viola da gamba player Ibrahim Aziz.

In 2024, through her work with the South London Harpsichord Academy, Masumi plans to launch some online courses.

There are 3 different ways to participate

Option 1: Full participants

Come in the morning and experience everything! Listen to the lecture, concert and actually try our baroque violin or harpsichord (or both). There will be no auditions, but the full participant should have grade 5 or equivalent on the instrument you’d like to try. For the violin players, please note that my baroque violin is full size, so if you’re still using smaller size violin, unfortunately it’s not suitable for you. However, if you’re about to move up to the full size, it’ll work. The baroque violin’s measurement is slightly smaller than the modern violin!

With this option, you’ll have 1 on 1 online consultation (20min) before the discovery day to assess what you’d like to learn and we’ll choose a piece of music to try on the instrument, tailored to your needs.

We’ll be sharing some digital resources such as introducing our instruments, explaining the differences between the modern instruments and baroque instruments.

You can opt in to try both instruments if you wish! If this is the case, you’ll have 2 consultation sessions before the course. If the participant is under 18, an adult should accompany the person (one adult per a family). Lunch will be provided, so that we have some chance to socialise at the venue.

Option 2: Auditing

If you’re interested in learning early music but do not want to try our instruments, you can just audit the whole day. You won’t be able to touch the instruments under this option. Lunch will be provided upon request and you can come and go throughout the day.

Option 3: Come to the concert only

This option is for general public and will allow access only to the  concert and Q&A session after the concert. Please book your tickets from the following button.

Registration and Fees

We prefer to receive payment via Bank Transfer, but checks are also accepted. Paypal can be used but there will be £3 handling fee. After receiving your application form, we’ll send you an e-mail with the payment options and information.

Option 1: Full participants £80 (with the additional £20, you can try both instruments. This means you’ll have 2 consultation sessions before the course.)

You have to have grade 5 or above (or equivalent ability) in order to be full participants. You’ll benefit from the lecture, Concert, Hands on instrument session and feedback! We’ll provide Lunch so that we also have some chance to socialise!

Option 2: Auditing £40 

Just come and go at anytime of the discovery day. You won’t be able to touch the instruments, but learn from the lecture, concert, Q&A session and you can also see others trying out the baroque instruments. Listening to others are a great way of learning, as there are so many common issues while playing any baroque instruments. You don’t need to be a violinist or a pianist! We’ll provide Lunch so that we also have some chance to socialise!

Option 3: Just Come to the Concert and Q & A session  £15

If you simply like music or curious about our instruments, just come and listen to the concert, and participate at Q & A session. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to a new world!