Planning preparation Franco-Flemish polyphony and improvisation

Schedule and content

Three main topics 
1. Mensural notation - introduction 
2. Polyphonic improvisation - introduction
3. Examples in repertoire

All sessions are on Jitsi (see link on this page)

Target students: 
- 14-17 years
- melody instrument / willing to sing
- flexible
- open minded
- mobility (8 students/country)


1. MENSURAL NOTATION

30th of August - 3rd of September
Daily introduction for teachers from 9am-10am (Brussels Time)
Every (interactive) session will be recorded and will be available online

Day 1 (Aug 30)
Mensuration levels and Tactus - theory and practical tips for instruction
Day 2 (Aug 31)
Notes and values in context - theory and practical tips for instruction
Day 3 (Sep 1)
Ligatures - theory and lots of excersises!
Day 4 (Sep 2)
Alteration in perfection-imperfection / meaning of color - Lots of excersises ;-)
Day 5 (Sep 3)
Organisation of scores in manuscripts 

After this session you should be ready to share all this content with your students in order to be 
able to read easily on a basic level notes in manuscripts with mensural notation.

2. IMPROVISATION 

27th of September - 1st of October
Daily introduction for teachers from 9am-10am (Brussels Time)
Every (interactive) session will be recorded and will be available online.
We will basicly follow the outlines of the practical handbook (in French) by Barnabé Janin (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-WZt7KR1Oa6YPPOOmVCe22F9bzIy1R6f/view?usp=sharing) combined with other material from different authors and 
own material.

Day 1 (Sep 27)
Gymel (XVth and XVIth century) - techniques and excercises 
Day 2 (Sep 28)
Two-voice polyphony (XIVth century) - techniques and excercises
Day 3 (Sep 29)
Canon in the unisono - techniques and excercises
Day 4 (Sep 30)
Faux-bourdon - techniques and excercises
Day 5 
Flourishing and cadencing essentials - techniques and exercises

This sessions will give you essential techniques and material to start exploring the way boys were trained in the Low Countries to 
perform Discantare super planum cantum (singing on the book). It's an adventurous way of performing counterpoint in a very practical way.
Important is not to be afraid to fail and discover. 

In this stage it's also important to share your experiences with other schools.

3. EXAMPLES AND FIRST REFLECTION

13th of December and 14th of December (9am-11am Brussels Time)

Day 1 (Dec 13)
Exchange of experiences
Examples in repertoire
Day 2 (Dec 14)
Examples in repertoire (short)
Practical meeting about the organisation in the mobility stage.


MULTIPLIER EVENT

February 2022 
Feb 21-25