5th Summer Music at Ansells Weekend, 2013

Posted on 1 February, 2013 by Tom Goskar

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

Plans are well advanced for our 5th Summer Music at Ansells Weekend, from Friday 28th – Sunday 30th June 2013. As usual, there will be special public concerts on the Friday and Saturday night, and workshops for 8 singers all day Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by a teatime concert by the participants on Sunday afternoon.

No booking available yet, but please, if you think you might like to be considered for a place, let us know as soon as you can; we’ll compile a list of those who’ve expressed an interest, and send out booking forms when we have more information.

Contact us at stephen@varcoe.com for further information.

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Song Workshop at Ansells Farm, May 2013: The Merry Month of May

Posted on 1 February, 2013 by Stephen Varcoe

Saturday May 4th 2013

With any luck, by the time we reach this date, cherry trees will be full of blossom, the birds will be fledging their latest families, the thoughts of young and old alike will be turning to the approaching summer in all its glory – and the snow will finally have vanished for another year! What a perfect time for celebration of all things fresh and lovely, so hey nonny nonny, and come and sing a roundelay at Ansells. Composers of many centuries and nationalities have been moved to write about this special time of year, and we want to hear the songs you think the best and most interesting, even if there’s only a passing whiff of apple blossom in the lyrics…

Contact us at stephen@varcoe.com for more details of this day, or to be added to the mailing list for future workshops.

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Song Workshop at Ansells Farm, March 2013: Sensational Songs!

Posted on 1 February, 2013 by Stephen Varcoe

Saturday March 16th 2013

Our theme for the March workshop is the Five Senses – taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing. We invite you to search out any pieces inspired by sensory pleasures or pains – and that covers most of the vocal repertoire, at least those songs which have anything at all to do with life and being human. Scents redolent of the countryside or nostalgic for the past; city bustle, rural peace or battlefield clarion calls; the caress of a lover or the touch of a ghostly hand; drinking songs and feasting for stomach or eyes – the potential is almost endless.

Contact us at stephen@varcoe.com for more details of this day, or to be added to the mailing list for future workshops.

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Song Workshop at Ansells Farm, January 2013: The Generation Game – Songs for and about the family, children and childhood

Posted on 10 December, 2012 by Stephen Varcoe

Are we being self-indulgent in focusing our latest workshop on babies, children and family life? We should come clean and admit that impending grandparenthood may have influenced our choice this time, but then why not? There’s a wealth of material in the vocal repertoire which reflects the love of parents for children and vice versa; lullabies, nonsense songs, and fairytales both dark and cheery; Victorian tales of brave orphans and selfless daughters, tender tributes to young mothers, stories about naughty children, pious hymns about good ones. Composers have dedicated music to their own children, and been inspired by them, as well as writing with other peoples’ in mind.

We invite you to explore these possibilities, and perhaps to come up with some more unusual slants on the theme (you don’t have to restrict yourself to human families, for instance) – family life can be very comical (or tragic) too…

Contact us at stephen@varcoe.com for more details of this day, or to be added to the mailing list for future workshops.

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Song Workshop at Ansells Farm, December 2012: Whatever the Weather…

Posted on 11 October, 2012 by Stephen Varcoe

Whether the weather be fine,
Whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We’ll weather the weather whatever the weather
Whether we like it or not!

What’s guaranteed to figure in a typically British conversation? Yes – the weather! No other nation seems to talk, write, complain and even sing about it quite as much, so we thought it would be fun to explore songs (not only English ones, of course) which celebrate the best and worst aspects of this defining feature of our lives. From stormy weather to sunny summer idylls, from snow and frost to dismal drizzle, whether it calls for a solar topee or a fur coat, there’s bound to be a song to reflect every mood and style. Dig out some old favourites or dare a new discovery or two – the run-up to Christmas is the perfect time for dreaming of tropical climes or winter wonderlands – the choice is yours…

Contact us at stephen@varcoe.com for more details of this day, or to be added to the mailing list for future workshops.

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Song Workshop at Ansells Farm, October 2012: Tales of the Unexpected

Posted on 26 September, 2012 by Stephen Varcoe

Saturday October 20th, ‘Tales of the Unexpected’.

With Hallowe’en just around the corner, visions of ghosts, gods and all things Gothic provide the subject matter for our latest Song Workshop. Whether it be a mystical experience, an eerie folk legend, a story of mischief wrought among men by the immortals, or something altogether darker and more macabre, let your imagination conjure some spells and incantations in song form, and bring them along to chill the blood and tingle the spine. If vampires and witches are not to your taste, you could lighten the mood with the cherubs, fairies and sprites which abound in songs through the ages. Or perhaps offer a helping of heavenly harmony? Whatever aspect you choose, there is plenty to explore here, and we look forward to some interesting ideas.

Contact us at stephen@varcoe.com for more details of this day, or to be added to the mailing list for future workshops.

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Music at Ansells Weekend June 29th – July 1st 2012

Posted on 26 September, 2012 by Stephen Varcoe

Our 4th annual music weekend was the other major national event of this summer, taking place as it did between the Jubilee celebrations and The Olympics! Friday night’s opening concert saw Stephen Varcoe and the marvellous soprano Patricia Rozario, with pianist Christina Lawrie, presenting a sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant programme of words and music ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.

Then on Saturday world-renowned chamber ensemble The Fibonacci Sequence played music by Mozart and Bach, ending with Poulenc’s enchanting ‘Babar the Elephant’ narrated by Stephen Varcoe, for many the highlight of the entire weekend. Sunday afternoon’s tea concert, given by the singers participating in the daily workshops, rounded off another wonderful, intense musical experience; the sun shone for us, as it always seems to do, despite the dismal weather this summer, and all agreed it had been a tremendous few days.

Plans are already afoot for next year’s Music at Ansells weekend, which will take place from Friday 28th- Sunday 30th June 2013. Put the date in your diary, and watch for more information nearer the time.”

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Ansells Song Workshop Weekend, June-July 2012

Posted on 22 June, 2012 by Stephen Varcoe

As part of our Ansells Song Workshop Weekend we are promoting three concerts on the evenings of June 29 and 30, and the afternoon of July 1. The first, entitled All Creatures Great and Small, is a partly serious, partly hilarious safari through the animal kingdom in words and music, featuring the wonderful soprano Patricia Rozario, Stephen Varcoe (baritone) and Christina Lawrie (piano).

The second concert will be given by the chamber music ensemble The Fibonacci Sequence, who will be playing Mozart and Bach, and Poulenc’s highly entertaining Babar the Elephant, with Stephen Varcoe narrating.

The third concert on the Sunday afternoon will be given by the participants on our singing course. Prices are £14 for Friday, £10.50 for Saturday and £5 for Sunday, or £25 for all three.

Please email stephen@varcoe.com for bookings and further information.

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Song Workshop at Ansells Farm, February 2012: “Old & New”

Posted on 3 February, 2012 by Stephen Varcoe

Saturday February 25th: This time the theme is ‘Old & New’, inspired by the turn of the year. Think of past pleasures and future adventures, dawn and dusk, birth and death – all sorts of beginnings and ends find expression in songs. Search out some interesting pieces and bring them along.

Also  A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY! Our 4th annual Ansells Summer Music Weekend will take place from Friday 29th June – Sunday 1st July. More details soon.

As always, contact us at stephen@varcoe.com for information or to apply.

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Song Workshop at Ansells Farm, November 2011: High Days & Holy Days

Posted on 19 September, 2011 by Stephen Varcoe

November 26th 2011 – ” High Days & Holy Days”, songs for celebrations and festivals. 

With Christmas just around the corner, and the rest of the calendar full of red-letter days (whether secular, religious or just plain fun), bring along some songs for special occasions large or small, national or personal. Please email stephen@varcoe.com to apply or for more details.

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