Masterclasses 2023: ‘The Art of Counterpoint’ This year’s topic is ‘The Art of Counterpoint’ and its development. ‘Die Kunst der Fuge BWV 1080’ by J.S. Bach and a choice of Ricercari and Canzonas by Frescobaldi, Trabaci and A. Gabrieli -which appear to be models for Bach’s counterpoint- will be the repertoire of masterclasses. Our teachers Francesco Cera og Léon Berben. They will teach on two of the best organs in Norway to perform early music:The meantone Ponzani organ in Fjære Church, Grimstad, inspired by E. Bonifazi (1638, Rome)and the Flentrop organ in Dypvåg Church, Tvedestrand, inspired by Arp Schnitger (1698, Dedesdorf). Cera is going to teach Frescobaldi’s Ricercari and Canzonas which are beautiful and clear examples of high-level counterpoint.He is going to teach also masterpieces among Ricercari by A. Gabrieli from Venice and Trabaci from Naples. This work was published in open score completely in line with the Renaissance tradition of writing down counterpoint in the form of 4-part ricercari. In the 18th century, “Die Kunst der Fuge” was seen as a work for keyboard instrumentsgenerally, for organ or harpsichord. Berben will focus his teaching on how to perform this – a masterpiece in “stile antico”- on the organ in an expressive way and with the art of rhetoric. Simply teaching you how to perform it as ‘living art’. Teaching schedule: Tuesday 18th of July: Fjære Church, Grimstad. Teaching (Ricercari by Frescobaldi, Trabaci and A. Gabrieli). Concert by Francesco Cera and Léon Berben. Wednesday 19th of July: Dypvåg Church, Tvedestrand. Teaching (movements from BWV 1080). Concert by Francesco Cera and Léon Berben. Thursday 20th July: Fjære church. Morning service in collaboration with the Organ academy. Lunchtime concert by the participants(voluntary). Instruction. Friday 21th July: Dypvåg Church. Time for individual practice. Lunchtime concert by the participants (voluntary). Instruction.
2023: Kontrapunktets kunst / Die Kunst der Fuge BWV 1080 & Ricercari
