French music in the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715) Start date 8 July 2011 End date 10 July 2011 Venue Madingley Hall Madingley Cambridge Tutor Dr David Ponsford Course code 1011NRX179 Director of Public Programmes and Professional Studies: For further information on this course, please contact Dr Ian Baxter Linda Fisher, Academic Programme Manager on 01223 746218 Sandy Haylock, Administrative Secretary on 01223 746227 To book See: www.ice.cam.ac.uk or telephone 01223 746262 Tutor biography Dr David Ponsford MA, PhD, FRCO, ARCM is both a scholar and a professional organist, harpsichordist and conductor, and is an authority on keyboard music of the 17th and 18th centuries. An exhibitioner at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he studied organ with Peter Hurford, Lionel Rogg and Piet Kee, and with Kenneth Gilbert and Gustav Leonhardt. He was awarded a PhD at Cardiff University where he is now Associate Lecturer in Performance Practice as well as Conductor of Cardiff University Chamber Orchestra and the University Choir, as well as teaching organ and harpsichord at Bristol University. He has recorded for ASV, Gaudeamus, Hyperion, Riverrun, NPC and Guild, and in 2004 was awarded a Leverhulme Research Fellowship. His edition of Biber s Mystery Sonatas was published by Ut Orpheus, Bologna, in 2007, and his book French Organ music in the Reign of Louis XIV is being published by Cambridge University Press this year. In teaching and performing, he aims to combine executant skill with intellectual understanding, to bring the music alive with authority and meaning. University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education, Madingley Hall, Cambridge, CB23 8AQ www.ice.cam.ac.uk
Course Programme Friday 8 July 2011 Please plan to arrive between 4:30 and 6:30. You can meet other course members in the bar which opens at 6:15. Tea and Coffee making facilities are available in the study bedrooms. 7.15 pm Dinner 8.30 pm 10.00 pm Paris and Versailles: the institutions and organisations; Musique de Chambre, Musique de la Chapelle, Musique pour la Grande Ecurie. 10.00 pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion Saturday 9 July 2011 8.00 am Breakfast 9.00 am 10.30 am Italian influences in Paris; Francois Couperin and the fusion of musical styles. Performance practices including notes inégales. 10.30 am Coffee 11.00 am 12.30 pm Couperin s chamber music. Marin Marais and the viole de gambe. 1.00 pm Lunch 2.00 pm Free 4.00 pm Tea 4.30 pm 6.00 pm Piéces de clavecin: Louis Couperin, D Anglebert, François Couperin 7.15 pm Dinner 8.30 pm 10.00 pm Concert: Music at the court of Louis XIV. Venue: Madingley Church Helen Crown (baroque flute) David Ponsford (harpsichord) Music by Louis Couperin, De La Barre, Hotteterre, François Couperin 10.00 pm Terrace bar open for informal discussion Sunday 10 July 2011 8.00 am Breakfast
9.00 am 10.30 am Sacred music: Michel Richard de Lalande and Marc-Antoine Charpentier 10.30 am Coffee 11.00 am 12.30 pm The French Classical organ: its music and its influence on J. S. Bach. 1.00 pm Lunch The course will disperse after lunch
Course syllabus Aims: To gain an insight into the extraordinary and multifarious musical genres that were cultivated during the reign of Louis XIV. To understand something of French styles, performance practices and the influence of Italian music during the period. To appreciate the qualities and characteristics of composers such as Louis Couperin, François Couperin, Lalande, Charpentier, Marais and de Grigny. Content: Through architecture, sculpture, painting, landscape gardening, as well as wars, Louis XIV was intent on establishing hegemony in Europe. Music was included in this political programme, both in publications and in performances. The music at Versailles was highly organised: Musique de chambre, de la chapelle, and pour le grande écurie. We will study their organisation, functions, and some of the music written for them. Repertory to be studied: chamber music by François Couperin - Les nations, Les goûts reunïs, L apthéoses de Lulli and Corelli. Also to be studied will be an analysis of French style and performance practice, and the glorious harpsichord music by Louis Couperin, D Anglebert and François Couperin. Sacred music by Lalande and Charpentier written for St Louis and the chapelle royale will be discussed and played, as well as the organ music for the important Parisian churches and the Cathedrals of Reims and Rouen. Also to be considered will be the influence of Parisian musical publications in the rest of Europe, and particularly on J. S. Bach. The course will include a recital of French music given by Helen Crown (Baroque flute) and David Ponsford (harpsichord), containing works by Louis Couperin, Hotteterre, De La Barre and François Couperin. Presentation of the course: 1. Lectures introducing the various topics and particular works 2. Listening to CD recordings 3. Analysis of scores 4. Class discussion 5. A live concert of harpsichord and flute music Outcomes: As a result of the course, within the constraints of the time available, students should be able to: 1. Know about the musical institutions and organisation of music at Versailles. 2. Know about French Baroque organ, harpsichord, chamber and sacred music repertories. 3. Understand French performance practices, in particular notes inégales. 4. Understand the influence of Italian music in Paris, and the use of these styles in François Couperin s chamber and organ music. 5. Appreciate the scope, breadth, as well as the refined styles of French Baroque music.
Reading and resources list Listed below are a number of texts that might be of interest for future reference, but do not need to be bought (or consulted) for the course. Author Title Publisher and date Anthony, James R. French Baroque Music Amadeus Press, 1997 Tunley, David François Couperin and The perfection of Music Ashgate, 2004 Ponsford, David French organ music in the reign of Louis XIV Cambridge University Press, 2011 Note Students of the Institute of Continuing Education are entitled to 20% discount on books published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) which are purchased at the Press bookshop, 1 Trinity Street, Cambridge (Mon-Sat 9am 5:30pm, Sun 11am 5pm). A letter or email confirming acceptance on to a current Institute course should be taken as evidence of enrolment. Information correct as of May 2011