Music
Course Leaders
A singing lesson in progress.
The course will be directed by the internationally renowned choral director Timothy Brown (formerly Director of Music at Clare College, Cambridge), assisted by the distinguished organist David Dunnett (until September 2025 Organist and formerly Master of the choristers of Norwich Cathedral, UK.).
Alongside the direction of Tim and David, participants will receive tuition from a vocal specialist on the course, including daily exercises and advice in rehearsals. One-on-one tuition is also available - please state on your booking form if this is something you are interested in.
There will be four "section leaders" who will lead their sections within the main chorus, and assist in the running of sectional rehearsals.
Musical Ensembles
An innovation for Berwang ’26 will be the creation of two ensembles: a Main Chorus (for all participants), and a Vocal Ensemble for singers who enjoy working at a more advanced level. See booking form for information regarding the vocal ensemble.
The course rehearsals will take place in Berwang Gemeindehaus, the well-appointed community centre at the heart of the village, which lies at the crest of a hill - so some uphill walking will be involved, depending on the location of your accommodation (see Accommodation Page).
Repertoire
The Main Chorus will study Beethoven’s Mass in C, which will be performed liturgically, with organ, at the end of the course in the stunningly beautiful Cathedral of St Jacob in Innsbruck, on the Feast of the Assumption (15th August). In addition, and as time allows, the main chorus will explore a variety of secular motets and part-songs, the precise repertoire to be decided (and published) once we know numbers and distribution of voice parts.
The Vocal Ensemble will rehearse motets and partsongs by e.g. Monteverdi, Schütz, Bach and Brahms.
Please note that though music may be purchased in advanced (details of editions will be available by the end of December), scores of all music studied during the week will be available in Berwang for a small hire fee.
If you would like to rehearse or view the Beethoven in advance, please see this edition which is available for free download:
Vocal Standard & Solos
There are no formal requirements for the main chorus, though singers are expected to have had choral experience, to be able to hold a line on their own, and be able to sight read to a reasonable level to fully enjoy the course.
Singers may apply to joint the Vocal Ensemble at the same time as making a general application to the course. In order to do so, please provide a written resumé of your choral experience, and expect to undertake some preparation of music in advance of the course. Those selected for this group (which will be maximum 16-20 singers) will be strong sight-readers, and be able to rehearse quickly to enable discussion on musical interpretation and performance from the offset, rather than note-learning.
All participants are invited to audition for solos in the course repertoire. Please write to Tim Brown (tcb21@cam.ac.uk) for information about available solos. Auditions, for which all are welcome, will be held on the second full day of the course (Monday), and there will be opportunity for solo coaching beforehand. Other solos in more relaxed environments will be available (see below).
Timetable, Informal Concerts & Further Musical Opportunities
An informal concert, Aug' 25
Apart from one free day, a mixture of full and sectional rehearsals take place every day. Two days will be for the full chorus (directed by Tim Brown and accompanied by David Dunnet) and two days will be divided into the main chorus and Vocal Ensemble (directed by both Tim and David). There is one free day when course participants may wish to explore the local area, go on an excursion further afield, or simply relax. Each rehearsing day begins with some instructed vocal exercises.
Singers will enjoy a programme of intensive but fun-filled sessions of music making, interspersed with plentiful breaks to relax and enjoy the beautiful setting of Berwang and its surroundings. The week of rehearsals will culminate in two public performances.
There will be opportunities for small groups to work on their own music, either for small informal concerts or just for fun. Anyone who wishes to do this is invited to contact Tim Brown before the course.
Listeners are welcome to join the course for all rehearsals, performances, and social events throughout the week.