John Prescott, Ph.D., who gives pre-concert music lectures, workshops, discussions, and seminars on classical music, will present a five-day lecture course (9:30 a.m. to noon, Monday June 23 through Friday June 27) on the glories of French baroque music, “Versailles, Paris and Beyond.” This course for interested adults will be held in conjunction with the SFEMS Music Discovery Workshop, at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Berkeley. It will be the sixth year Dr. Prescott has presented a well-attended, in-depth lecture series (always including many audio samples) on early music composers and topics.
From the glory days of the Sun King, Louis XIV, to the cataclysmic cultural break of the French Revolution, French music enjoyed an unprecedented flowering. This lecture series will explore several of the most important genres of music that graced the French stage, chamber, and church during that extended period, including the splendid operas of Lully and Rameau, the pyrotechnics of Marais’ music for violas da gamba, and the lush, ever-varied harpsichord music of the Couperin family. No previous musical experience is necessary. Come revel in this musical feast — listen, learn, and join in the adventure!
You may register for all five days or individually by day. Tuition is $20 per lecture or $85 for the full week ($80 for SFEMS members). For more information and registration, contact Rachel Bradley by email at [email protected] or by phone at 510-548-5413. You also can download a PDF of the registration form; print it, fill it out and mail it in.
As in previous years, the profits from John’s lecture series will be used by SFEMS to help subsidize our Music Discovery Workshop. The 2014 Music Discovery Workshop for children ages 7–14 once again will be directed by Tish Berlin, joined by other music professionals who teach recorder, violin, cello, viola da gamba, harpsichord, musicianship, theatre and dance. This year’s theme will be “From Wolves to Knights to Kings and Queens: Storytelling in the Middle Ages.” Please visit the SFEMS website to read more about the Music Discovery Workshop and about all our summer workshops for adults and children.
