Led by international chant expert and premier choral conductor, Professor Eugeen Liven d’Abelardo,

Women’s group chant conductor, Antanina Kalechyts

Vocal warmups and individual voice training by tenor, Christopher Fülling

Working language of the workshop is English (Dutch, German, Italian, French, & Russian available)

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Housing, dining, and some rehearsals at the Guest House of the Art Monastery.

Rehearsals and nightly Compline in the monasteries and churches of Calvi dell’Umbria and surrounding sites.

Visit to two working monasteries where the chant offices are still sung: Monte Oliveto and Sant’Antimo

Closing concerts and vespers in Orvieto and Calvi.

The focus of the workshop will be the SINGING of Gregorian chant. Whereas most chant is taught by musicologists, Professor d’Abelardo was an internationally known orchestral and opera conductor and composer before devoting his life to the study and performance of Gregorian chant. Thus in addition to musicological detail, he brings an innate understanding of choral voices and a virtuosic ability to bring alive this liturgical music as it would have been sung at the apex of its development a millennium ago. His professional ensemble Hartkeriana’s acclaimed recordings and international performances have done just that with the St. Gall codices ascribed to the 11th-C monk Hartker.

In this workshop, chanters of all abilities and experience levels will join professional singers and experienced chanters (much like the mix of skills in a Medieval monastery) to immerse themselves in the study and performance of this repertoire. The workshop will cover each of the necessary aspects to experience the fullness of this music.

- MUSICOLOGY: Each day will include the study of Gregorian chant neums and stylistic performance technique as applied to the repertoire of the monastic office (psalmody, antiphons, responsories, etc.).

- MEN’S & WOMEN’S GROUPS: In the afternoons the men and women will meet separately to explore this more traditional sound world and choral experience. These groups will perform separately and together in the public concerts and liturgies.

- VOICE TRAINING: morning vocal warmups and individual voice lessons will provide insight and confidence to your personal vocal performance.

- CONTEXT: Throughout the week there will be lectures on history, St.Gallen notation, form development, modality, and the role of chant in monastic life. Also included will be excursions to nearby monasteries where Gregorian Chant is still performed.

- CONTEMPLATION: After a meal and time for meditation, each night we will sing the day-closing office of Compline in the breathtaking coro of the monastery, where the cloistered nuns celebrated the offices for centuries.

- BONUS: The male course participants may stay an extra day (May 10) to join the Vespers for S. Pancrazio that will open the three-day patron saint festival of the town of Calvi.

€900* per participant includes room and board (based on twin share accommodations at the Casale Santa Brigida)** and the program detailed above. Scholarships available.***

Our daily itinerary will be:

8.00 breakfast

9.00 vocal warm up w/Christopher

9.45 First session: Gregorian chant neum reading and singing

10.45 coffee break

11.00-12.00 Second session: history, theory, topics

12.30 lunch & siesta

15.00 Third session: Repertoire preparation

16.15 tea break

16.30 Forth session: Repertoire preparation

Afterwards, private study in small groups (psalmody), and private voice lessons can be scheduled with Christopher & Theresia

free time

19.30 dinner

21:00 sometimes, public Compline in the coro of the monastery

*transportation to/from Italy is not included. Discounts available for people who bring or rent their own car.

**Single room supplement of €365

*** Scholarships available for professional musicians and for music and theology students with valid student ID. To apply for scholarships send CV to christopher AT artmonastery.org

Booking and other inquiries to mia AT artmonastery.org