SWEMF Workshop for voices and instruments with Alison Kinder.
29th November 2025 – Leckhampton Village Hall, nr Cheltenham.
Thirty-three singers and instrumentalists met for a splendid day of music-making under the expert leadership of Ali Kinder. Many thanks to Jenny and Jonathan Tribe who organised it all and provided tea/coffee and biscuits for it.
We spent the morning with Palestrina: his 8-part motet Confitebor tibi and the Sanctus and Benedictus from the Mass he based on it. Thanks to Ali’s guidance both these long and complex 2-choir works sounded pretty good. In the afternoon there was a complete change of mood with a short lively 8-part Laudate Dominum and a 4-part In te Domine speravi, both by Hans Leo Hassler. A setting of Ave Regina Coelorum in 7 parts by Cipriano de Rore was in a much earlier style. Then Ali convinced us that after a short tea-break we could do one more piece, the 5-part Rore Jubilate Deo.
At the end of the day I think most of us were fairly tired – not so, Ali, who had been on her feet all day cheerfully encouraging us all and sorting out any problems.
Thank you very much, it was a splendid day.
Frances Zagni