CDSS’s Early Music Week at Pinewoods—Fairest Isle: Music and Dance of Great Britain and Beyond
Enjoy the fun of playing rollicking English dance music, or the beautiful polyphony of composers like Byrd, Gibbons, Dowland, Jenkins, the lively rhythms of Holborne, the poignant harmonies of Purcell, pungent Scottish tunes, the intricacies of high Baroque composers like Handel, and so much more.
In this idyllic and restful setting, you’ll be treated to fabulous food, wonderful people, plenty of opportunity to carouse and have fun, as well as to play great music together, and to dance to the music of some of the best English country dance musicians around. The fun is what distinguishes this from a lot of other workshops. And yet the teachers are also highly accomplished renowned experts in the field of early music.
Come and feel the special magic of CDSS Early Music Week at Pinewoods, no matter your age or level of ability. Discover why people return year after year and why others wish they’d found out about it earlier!
photo by John Sidtis
Our program offers musical challenges and opportunities to players and singers at every level, from highly experienced to those who are just beginning. From morning technique and consort classes to afternoon special topic ensembles, we will play and sing music from the vibrant Middle Ages to the virtuosic Baroque.
If you’ve never played a musical instrument (but wish you could) or if you studied music years ago (and fear you’ve forgotten everything), there are classes to get you started or to help brush off the rust. Introductory classes are offered in recorder, viol, and harp.
Advanced and intermediate players have a wide array of classes from which to choose. Singers of all abilities will benefit from singing class, chorus and mixed ensembles with instruments. 
Dancers and dance teachers can learn an instrument and participate in the nightly dance parties and the daily dance classes, including high-level technique classes, challenging ensembles and historical dance.
All classes are led by the outstanding and dedicated performing faculty. Our staff features active professionals and acclaimed teachers of early winds (recorders, reeds and brass), strings (viols and violin), harp, harpsichord, voice and dance.
This year, we are offering a class called What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body. This class (sometimes called Body Mapping) leads musicians to play and sing with greater ease, to avoid injury, and even heal from injury. It’s eye-opening, relaxing, practical and fun.
— Frances Fitch, Program Director
Comments from some recent participants:
- Outstanding! Sang things I never knew I was capable of.
- So amazing what we learned and accomplished.
- This was the most I have ever learned in a dance class.
- It was as close to perfect as I can think of.
- Great positive energy. Had a great time!
- Loved my week here. Will be back next year!
Scholarship Opportunities
In addition to the scholarships available through CDSS, summer scholarships are offered by Early Music America (deadline: April 15) and The Viola da Gamba Society of America(deadline: April 15).
Early Music Week is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. We thank them for their support.
