Spode Music Week
Encyclopedia
Spode Music Week is the name of an annual residential Music school that places particular emphasis on the music of the Roman Catholic liturgy. It is a registered charity (No. 1026975) in England
. The Charitable objects of the week are “to promote, improve, develop and maintain education in (and appreciation of) the art and science of music in all its aspects, especially of the Roman liturgy
, by the organising and running of an annual residential music week containing lectures, recitals, and opportunities for practical music making”.
Originally Music Week was a course run by Spode House Conference Centre in Staffordshire
, England
. The centre’s Warden, Fr. Conrad Pepler
, O.P, founded it. It was Conrad’s idea to have a music week and he was uniquely fitted for this role due to his early experiences of community life combined with artistic talent. He was the son of Hilary Pepler who, with Eric Gill
, had founded the Guild of St. Joseph and St. Dominic
at Ditchling
.
From 1954, until Spode House conference Centre closed in 1987, Spode Music week took place every Spring, starting at teatime on the Easter Monday and finishing after breakfast the following Monday. The following year, Spode Music week moved to Hengrave Hall
in Suffolk. It remained a regular fixture there (although moved to the summer) until that Centre also closed in early 2005. 2005 saw a hastily re-arranged Spode Music week take place at Stonyhurst College
in Lancashire. In 2006 Spode Music Week moved to Beechwood Sacred Heart School
in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. In 2011 the week will move again to St Edmund's School
in Canterbury.
The Composer, Anthony Milner
was the first Director. He was followed by a number of different people as Director until the composer Robert Sherlaw Johnson
(who had first attended in 1956) took over as Director in 1971. He held the post until his retirement in 1993 and remained an active member of the committee until his untimely death in 2000. Since 1996, the opera singer, Jeremy White
has been Chair of Spode Music Week.
The first week had been a largely academic event consisting solely of lectures, when the only music to be heard was played informally by course participants. However, by the 2nd year, making and performing music had become an integral part of the week and within a few years it had become the dominant activity on the week. Nowadays, each week consists of two choral pieces rehearsed daily (one of which is always a Mass performed liturgically at the end of the week) and the Orchestra.
Spode Music Week is attended by both professional and amateur musicians of all ages. Families make up a large attendance at the week and there is a special children’s choir for those younger children unable to cope with the music rehearsed by the main choir. There is a daily lecture on a musical theme (preserving the original intention of the course) and a live recital each evening. On the penultimate night of the week, a course works concert is held. The last night consists of a fun concert when everyone performs his or her party piece!
Foundation Patrons of Spode Music Week were Fr. Conrad Pepler, OP, George Malcolm
, CBE and Robert Sherlaw Johnson
, D.Mus. Past Patrons are: Mary Berry, CBE, Fr. Austin Milner, OP Current Patrons of Music Week are Professor John Sloboda
, FBA, Nicholas Kenyon
, CBE, Mary Remnant, D.Mus.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Charitable objects of the week are “to promote, improve, develop and maintain education in (and appreciation of) the art and science of music in all its aspects, especially of the Roman liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
, by the organising and running of an annual residential music week containing lectures, recitals, and opportunities for practical music making”.
Originally Music Week was a course run by Spode House Conference Centre in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The centre’s Warden, Fr. Conrad Pepler
Conrad Pepler
Conrad Pepler O.P. was an English Dominican priest, writer, editor, and publisher. He founded Warden of the first Roman Catholic conference centre in the UK, at Spode House, Staffordshire.-Life:...
, O.P, founded it. It was Conrad’s idea to have a music week and he was uniquely fitted for this role due to his early experiences of community life combined with artistic talent. He was the son of Hilary Pepler who, with Eric Gill
Eric Gill
Arthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
, had founded the Guild of St. Joseph and St. Dominic
The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic
The Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic was an art colony and experiment in communal life in early 20th century England. The story of the Guild began when Eric Gill the sculptor and letter cutter came to Ditchling, Sussex in 1907 with his apprentice Joseph Cribb and was soon followed by fellow...
at Ditchling
Ditchling
Ditchling is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is contained within the boundaries of the South Downs National Park; the order confirming the establishment of the park was signed in Ditchling....
.
From 1954, until Spode House conference Centre closed in 1987, Spode Music week took place every Spring, starting at teatime on the Easter Monday and finishing after breakfast the following Monday. The following year, Spode Music week moved to Hengrave Hall
Hengrave Hall
Hengrave Hall is a Tudor manor house near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, England and was the seat of the Kytson and Gage families 1525-1887. Both families were Roman Catholic Recusants.-Architecture:...
in Suffolk. It remained a regular fixture there (although moved to the summer) until that Centre also closed in early 2005. 2005 saw a hastily re-arranged Spode Music week take place at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
in Lancashire. In 2006 Spode Music Week moved to Beechwood Sacred Heart School
Beechwood Sacred Heart School
Beechwood Sacred Heart School is a co-educational independent school for boys and girls aged 3 – 18, which comprises a Nursery, Preparatory School and Senior School, with boarding for girls aged 11 – 18...
in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. In 2011 the week will move again to St Edmund's School
St Edmund's School
St Edmund’s School is an independent school in Canterbury, Kent, England, U.K. with over 500 pupils, including both day pupils and boarders.-History:...
in Canterbury.
The Composer, Anthony Milner
Anthony Milner
Anthony Milner was a British composer, teacher and conductor.Milner was born in Bristol, and educated at Douai School, Woolhampton, Berkshire. He won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music, where he studied piano with Herbert Fryer and theory with R. O. Morris...
was the first Director. He was followed by a number of different people as Director until the composer Robert Sherlaw Johnson
Robert Sherlaw Johnson
Robert Sherlaw Johnson , was a British composer, pianist and music scholar. Sherlaw Johnson was one of that group of post-war British musicians whose work reflected wider European interests in new ideas, techniques and aesthetics...
(who had first attended in 1956) took over as Director in 1971. He held the post until his retirement in 1993 and remained an active member of the committee until his untimely death in 2000. Since 1996, the opera singer, Jeremy White
Jeremy White
Jeremy White is an English bass, with an international career in opera, concerts and recording. He is noted for the wide range of his repertoire, which ranges from early to contemporary music....
has been Chair of Spode Music Week.
The first week had been a largely academic event consisting solely of lectures, when the only music to be heard was played informally by course participants. However, by the 2nd year, making and performing music had become an integral part of the week and within a few years it had become the dominant activity on the week. Nowadays, each week consists of two choral pieces rehearsed daily (one of which is always a Mass performed liturgically at the end of the week) and the Orchestra.
Spode Music Week is attended by both professional and amateur musicians of all ages. Families make up a large attendance at the week and there is a special children’s choir for those younger children unable to cope with the music rehearsed by the main choir. There is a daily lecture on a musical theme (preserving the original intention of the course) and a live recital each evening. On the penultimate night of the week, a course works concert is held. The last night consists of a fun concert when everyone performs his or her party piece!
Foundation Patrons of Spode Music Week were Fr. Conrad Pepler, OP, George Malcolm
George Malcolm (musician)
George Malcolm CBE was an English harpsichordist and conductor.Malcolm's first instrument was the piano, and his first teacher was a nun who recognised his talent and recommended him to the Royal College of Music. Malcolm went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford...
, CBE and Robert Sherlaw Johnson
Robert Sherlaw Johnson
Robert Sherlaw Johnson , was a British composer, pianist and music scholar. Sherlaw Johnson was one of that group of post-war British musicians whose work reflected wider European interests in new ideas, techniques and aesthetics...
, D.Mus. Past Patrons are: Mary Berry, CBE, Fr. Austin Milner, OP Current Patrons of Music Week are Professor John Sloboda
John Sloboda
John Sloboda was Executive Director of the Oxford Research Group, an NGO that seeks to develop non-violent approaches to national and international security issues, from 2005-2009. He is currently Director of ORG's Recording Casualties of Armed Conflict programme...
, FBA, Nicholas Kenyon
Nicholas Kenyon
Sir Nicholas Roger Kenyon CBE is an English music administrator, editor and writer on music. He was responsible for the BBC Proms 1996-2007 following which he was appointed Managing Director of the Barbican Centre, Europe's largest multi-arts centre.-Education and career:After attending St Bede's...
, CBE, Mary Remnant, D.Mus.
A few facts
- The longest attending member has clocked up 48 continuous years.
- One family (the Sherlaw-Johnsons) has held the office of secretary for over 30 years.
- The BBC has transmitted the end of course mass.
- In 1959 it cost £6, 10 shillings to attend for the week. In 2011, the cost will be £390.
- The largest ever attendance at Music Week was in 1978 for the 25th anniversary, 126 people.
- The famous harpsichordist and conductor, George Malcolm, CBE used to travel to Hengrave Hall for Music Week by simply hailing a taxi outside his home in Wimbledon and having it drive him all the way to Suffolk. Fortunately he never claimed expenses.