Keyboard Study Day w/ Desmond Hunter: Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies

Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies

Study day to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Byrd (c1542-1623)

A lecture/demonstration and masterclass on the keyboard music of William Byrd led by Dr Desmond Hunter.

Saturday 25th February 2023

Lecture 11.00 am – 12 noon 

Masterclass 1pm-4.30pm approx.

The Chapel of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (by kind permission of the Master and Fellows)

The organ by Taylor & Boody in the college chapel offers the chance to hear Byrd’s music in the mean-tone temperament used for keyboard instruments of the time.

Desmond Hunter’s particular interests relate to the performance of 16th- and 17th-century keyboard music. His doctoral thesis focused on the embellishment of virginalist music. He has published extensively on the performance of early English keyboard music and has conducted masterclasses on this repertoire, notably at the Corso di Organo Antico e Cembalo in Brescia, Italy. He edited a highly acclaimed volume of Fantasias and Related Works by William Byrd, published by Bärenreiter in 2019.

Dr Hunter is the recipient of organ-playing awards at conservatoire, national and international levels. He has given numerous solo concerts throughout Europe and in the USA and Canada, including performances in the Royal Festival Hall, London, Westminster Cathedral, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, de Grote of St Bavokerk, Haarlem, Antwerp Cathedral, Koszalin Cathedral and the Duomo del Ss Corpo di Cristo, Valvasone, Italy. He has appeared as concerto soloist with major orchestras and has broadcast many programmes on BBC Radio 3, including two programmes of early keyboard music on the oldest playable organ in the world from the Cathedral of Valère, Sion, Switzerland. Desmond Hunter is emeritus Professor of Music, Ulster University, and a National Teaching Fellow.

· Event will begin with lecture/recital at 11.00 am and will end by 5.00 pm with exact timings to depend on the final number of masterclass participants. There will be a lunch break of one hour and there are plenty of cafés nearby.

· Ticket costs: £30 for the day, £15 for students.

· Contact for booking and payment details: james@cambridgeorganacademy.org

Applications for the masterclass contact Anne Page: a.page@ram.ac.uk