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Stage 3 à Arradon

3rd ANDANTE CHORAL WORKSHOP

For mixed a cappella choir

13-19 July 2025

in Arradon (Gulf of Morbihan)

Brittany

France

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Franck Pellé-Rolland, musical director

Welcome to the presentation page of our 3rd Andante choral workshop for mixed choir in Morbihan (Brittany-France). We invite you to discover the setting, the repertoire and the schedule of the 2025 singing week.

 

We go back to Arradon every summer for our choral workshops. Located in the heart of the gulf of Morbihan, right next to Vannes, Arradon is a wonderful spot for a quiet holiday, but we don't forget that we're here first and foremost for intense musical rehearsals.

MUSIC, SEA & BRETON CUISINE

There's nothing like a taste of the magic of the gulf, its islands and its sea air after our rehearsals.

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The wild coast of Quiberon is not far away (42 km), nor are the menhir alignments of Carnac. Of course, the historic centre of Vannes is well worth a visit, and why not the Château de Suscinio?

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Breton specialities include oysters from the Gulf, buckwheat 'galettes', ribot milk, cider and kouign amann from Arradon (a real treat).

Stage 3 à Arradon

REPERTOIRE

For mixed a cappella choir

The Song of Songs from the Renaissance to the present day

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  • Tomás Luis de VICTORIA (ca.1548-1611) Vadam et circuibo civitatem  listen to

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  • Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (ca.1525-1594) Quam pulchri sunt gressus tui  listen to ; Duo ubera  listen to

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  • Ola GJEILO (1978) Northern lights  listen to

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  • Francisco GUERRERO (1528-1599) Quæ est ista  listen to

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  • Roland de LASSUS (1532-1594) Veni dilecte mi  listen to

It is an Andante level workshop. Participants are expected to master the repertoire beforehand. (MP3s available). 

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

  • Our workshop will be held from Sunday 13 July, at 9:00am, to Saturday 19 July 2025, at 5:00pm.

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  • Two daily rehearsals : 9:00am-12:00pm ; 4:00pm-6:00pm.

 

  • No rehearsal on Wednesday afternoon : this will be an opportunity to discover the gulf of Morbihan... A much-appreciated break in the middle of the course.

 

  • A performance will end the workshop.

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

There are many accommodation possibilities in Arradon, Vannes  (6 km away) and the surroundings. You can choose your accommodation  according to your tastes and budget : hotels, holiday cottages, B&Bs and campsites.

  • Lunches (excellent indeed !) can be included in the 'workshop + lunches package'. Lunchtime meals are a great way to get to know your fellow singers. These are pleasant moments of conviviality and love of good food.

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  • Accompanying spouses are of course welcome to join the group for lunch.

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  • The course does not provide evening meals; evenings are free.

 

Hi friends,

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We are spending a whole week ‘intensely working’ on music, but that's not all...

OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE THEIR SAY.

I have been attending workshops with the Chant des Oyseaux for many years and in three different locations. Each time I have appreciated the work we have done whether it was exercices for warming up, staying in tune, developping one's listening capacities or working the score for interpretation. These workshops have helped me enormously to progress. What's more they are fun, relaxed and there is lots of humour. I also appreciate the fact that, thanks to the director's exigence, everyone knows their score before coming! I thoroughly recommend the Chant des Oyseaux workshops!  Pandora M. (2024)

PROGRAMMES OF OUR PREVIOUS CHORAL WORKSHOPS

Choral workshop -  July 2024

 

Spanish music of the Renaissance ​for mixed choir a capella

  • Tomás Luis de VICTORIA (ca.1548-1611) Motet & Mass O Magnum Mysterium.

 

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Choral workshop -  July 2023

 

Music of the Renaissance in Rome for mixed choir a capella

  • Giovanni Pierluigi da PALESTRINA (ca.1525-1594) Missa Iam Christus astra ascenderat.

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Choral workshop - July 2016

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German music of the Renaissance for mixed choir a capella

  • Hans Leo HASSLER (1564-1612) : Vater unser im Himmelreich ; Ego vero afflictus sum.

  

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Choral workshopl - July 2015

 

Repertoire for the Virgin Mary for mixed choir a capella :

  • William BYRD (ca.1540-1623) Ave Maria

  • Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Marienlieder op.22

  • Pierre VILLETTE (1926-1998) Hymne à la Vierge

  • Cristian GENTILINI (1974) Ave Maria

 

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Choral workshop - July 2014

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Spanish music of the Renaissance with one composer only :

  • Tomás Luis de VICTORIA (ca.1548-1611) Missa Ave Maris Stella

  

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Choral workshop - July 2013

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English music of the Renaissance for mixed choir a capella.

  • William BYRD (ca.1540-1623) Mass for four voices

  

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Choral workshop - July 2012

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Music in Bohemia for mixed choir a capella

 

We kicked off our summer music season with a trip to Central Europe. At the heart of the Habsburg Empire, where Italian, Slovenian, Croatian, Slovakian, Czech and German cultures mingled, Prague attracted great foreign composers. During the Renaissance, the Flemish Philippe de MONTE and the Slovenian Jacob HANDL-GALLUS showcased their talent here. Both, enriched by their travels and their contacts with the other great musicians of the time, were able to import a reading of the Franco-Flemish and Italian traditions.

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The names of these two composers were completely unknown to all the participants. Our choral workshop was therefore an opportunity to discover them.

 

As for the Romantic musician Antonín DVOŘÁK, he is often featured in concert programmes, but not necessarily in the pieces sung on this course.

  • Philippe de MONTE (1521-1603) Missa Anchor che col partire: Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei 

  • Jacob HÁNDL-GALLUS (1550-1591) Obsecro Domine ; Ab oriente venerunt magi ; Ecce quomodo moritur justus.

  • Antonín DVOŘÁK (1841-1904) Napadly písně ; Dnes do skoku a do písničky.

  

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Choral workshop - July 2011

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Treasures of German music for mixed choir a capella

 

When we think of Germany, we immediately think of J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms and their inestimable contribution to the artistic heritage of humanity. But they're not the only ones, and our 2011 choral course gave us the chance to discover some superb works by composers who, in three cases, are all too rare in concert:

  • Johann KUHNAU (1660-1722) Tristis est anima mea

  • Gottfried August HOMILIUS (1714-1785) Unser Vater in dem Himmel

  • Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847) Es fiel ein Reif

  • Josef Gabriel RHEINBERGER (1839-1901) Ave Regina

  

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Choral workshop - July 2010

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French music for mixed choir a capella or with organ

  • Claude LE JEUNE  Perdre le sens (Le Printemps)

  • Pierre CERTON  Agnus Dei  (Mass "sus le pont d'Avignon")

  • César FRANCK  Psaume 150 (with organ)

  • Claude DEBUSSY  Dieu ! Qu'il la fait bon regarder ! 

  

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Choral workshop - July 2009

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English music for mixed choir a capella

  • Thomas TALLIS  Salvator Mundi I

  • William BYRD  Ave Verum Corpus

  • Thomas MORLEY  Agnus Dei

  • Charles Villiers STANFORD  Phoebe

 

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Choral workshop - July 2008 

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Secular and sacred music for mixed choir a capella 

  • Giovanni Giacomo GASTOLDI  Amor Vittorioso

  • John BLOW  Salvator Mundi

  • Henry PURCELL  Hush, no more

  • Edward ELGAR  As torrents in summer

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