Music in Paris before the Great War

February 28th - March 5th 2010

At the end of the 2009 Spring Music Week there was general enthusiasm for the proposal that this holiday should focus on the music of Debussy and his contemporaries.

In the 1880s Wagner's music enjoyed an enormous vogue amongst French intellectuals and musicians, powerfully influencing the works of César Franck and his pupil D'Indy. Saint-Saëns and his pupils Fauré and Duparc pursued a more specifically French tradition - more ordered, restrained and pure in musical form. In turn, the influence of Fauré on his pupil Ravel and on the famous teacher Nadia Boulanger was to resonate long into the twentieth century, and as the century turned Debussy's harmonic innovations were to influence almost every composer of the early and middle twentieth century.

A fascinating period with, one might say, almost too many good things. Paris also was an exciting place at the beginning of the century and we must find time to remind ourselves of the Ballet Russe and Stravinsky.

This year 'the big screen' was introduced for the first time as a device both for examining musical extracts and for looking at 'background' images - of patrons, painters and the like. It was an experiment which worked well and guests were persuaded that our special study should be of Debussy's opera Pelléas et Mélisande, with a complete DVD performance on the final day.

The Spring Music Week has been fortunate in attracting a group of some twenty or so 'regular' guests who have become very good friends over the years. This is no 'clique' however; newcomers are so thoroughly welcomed and absorbed into the party that they may confidently look forward to a laughter-filled and highly sociable holiday. The talks are aimed towards the 'cultivated amateur' and guests require no special musical skills - though musical extracts will be projected and examined from time to time. And rumours of written examinations should be ignored!

TUTOR
Geoffrey Keating (M.A. Oxon, A.R.C.M.) read for his degree in music at Oxford, took early retirement from Millfield School in Somerset after 17 years as its Director of Music, and now lives in Gatehouse of Fleet, where he is church organist, jazz pianist, conductor of the Solway Sinfonia, lecturer with the Glasgow University of Adult Education, and freelance photographer.

The piano is his first instrument, but he has played French horn and bassoon in orchestras and ensembles, and has wide experience as a choral conductor and singer.

The Eves String Quartet from the RNCM

performing for the March 2005 group.

The 5-night holiday runs from Sunday evening through to mid-day Friday. All prices are per

person and include full English breakfast, morning coffee, 4-course dinner and VAT @ 17.5%.

Non-participating partners are welcome, and the cost for them is £50 less than above.

Deposit of £150 per person for the holidays, which can be made by cheque or credit card. This is non-refundable unless the room is subsequently relet - cancellation insurance is available.