We are delighted to welcome back the brilliantly talented keyboard player and Early Keyboard Consultant to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Welsh Colleges, Steven Devine.
During this weekend course Keyboard Music from the early Baroque, Steven Devine will explore this incredibly fertile period of keyboard music, looking at style, technique, repertoire and instruments. Although intended for pianists – teaching will be delivered on our Steinway and other beautiful grand pianos – a harpsichord and clavichord will be in residence for the duration of the course so that guests can explore what these instruments can reveal in our interpretation.
The course is suitable for pianists playing at an intermediate to advanced level.
On this course Steven has selected a repertoire of mixed ability (intermediate – advanced) keyboard music as some examples of repertoire from the early Baroque period. This selection is by no means exhaustive, but if you would like to prepare something from the below, you are very welcome!
Suggested repertoire (to choose from):
Click the links below to access sheet music. All music can be heard on YouTube.
- “Parthenia” Transcribed music for virginals by Byrd, Bull and Gibbons
- Keyboard Music by Thomas Morley
- 25 Harpsichord Pieces by John Blow
- Complete Harpsichord Pieces, Book 1: Eight Suites by Henry Purcell
- Selected Keyboard Works, Book 2 by Handel
- Notebook for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach by J.S. Bach
- Selected Keyboard Pieces, Book 2 by C.P.E. Bach
- Any of F. Couperin’s Suiets published by Dover or Le Pupitre
- Works by J.P. Rameau published by Barenreiter or Le Pupitre
Saturday and Sunday will begin with an interactive workshop, demonstrated on on either piano, harpsichord or clavichord.
Workshop titles will include:
- Baroque Music – a question of style?
- REALLY early keyboard music – written before 1700
In between the workshop and masterclass sessions there will be time for private practise on one of our beautiful grand pianos. During these sessions, Steven will give one-to-one lessons on our new Steinway or one of his own period instruments he will bring with him!
“He’s building a reputation as an outstanding recitalist; this completion of his ‘48’ is a highly satisfying account.” BBC Music Magzine November 2020
On Saturday evening, guests can sit back and relax in the main hall of the family home and enjoy a performance by Steven himself. His programme “Bach the Teacher” – Music written to inspire his pupils will include performances on both the harpsichord and clavichord with music by the “father of harmony, counterpoint and classical music”. This is an opportunity to hear an artist regularly featured on BBC Radio 3 perform an exclusive private concert in a relaxed setting. An inspirational treat not to be missed!
Steven Devine enjoys a busy career as a music director and keyboard player working with some of the finest musicians.
He is the Principal Keyboard Player with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and also the principal keyboard player for The Gonzaga Band, The Mozartists and performs regularly with many other groups around Europe. He has recorded over thirty discs with other artists and ensembles and made six solo recordings. His recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations (Chandos Records) has received critical acclaim – including Gramophone magazine describing it as “among the best”. The complete harpsichord works of Rameau (Resonus) has received five-star reviews from BBC Music Magazine.
He made his London conducting debut in 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall and is now a regular performer there – including making his Proms directing debut in August 2007 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He has conducted the Mozart Festival Orchestra in every major concert hall in the UK and also across Switzerland. Steven is Music Director for New Chamber Opera in Oxford and with them has performed repertoire from Cavalli to Rossini. He is currently conductor and Artistic Advisor for the English Haydn Festival in Bridgnorth and will be directing the Academy of Ancient Music on a tour of Spain in May 2023.
He is Early Keyboard Consultant to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Welsh Colleges, and teaches fortepiano at the Royal Academy of Music.
Finally, Steven is thrilled to be a member of the ground-breaking Art of Moog: an electronic music group specialising in the performance of Bach.
“He proved to be inspired, directing a performance full of vigour and forward movement and some excellent singing. Church Times May 2019
“one cannot ignore the immensely intelligent and impeccably placed keyboard continuo work of Steven Devine.” International Record Review, January 2012
“He’s building a reputation as an outstanding recitalist; this completion of his ‘48’ is a highly satisfying account.” BBC Music Magzine November 2020
Guests will also:
- Have the chance to play in and observe two performance masterclasses.
- Will receive a one-to-one lesson with Steven.
- Enjoy access to play on our 9 grand pianos anytime between 7am and 8pm. (There are enough pianos to go round that everyone can play a piano at any given time.)
- Experience a private accompanied talk for course participants in the main hall of the family home, performed by Steven.
- Join and socialise with a group 8 fellow piano enthusiasts during lunch and dinner.
- Dine in style with lunches and three course dinners prepared by our fabulous chef.
- Experience the Finchcocks bubble, hailed as a “paradise for pianists” by BBC Music Magazine and stay in a grade 1 listed country manor.
