Main subjects

• Baroque violin / Baroque viola

• Baroque cello

• Viola da gamba

• Historical plucked instruments: lute, theorbo, guitar

  The main course at our University covers all the main types and styles of lute, theorbo and historical guitar.

  Bachelor's degree

  The aim of the bachelor's degree in lute/theorbo is to provide a comprehensive education on the most important solo lutes for later professional life (renaissance and baroque lute) as well as solid knowledge and playing practice in basso continuo on theorbo, arciliuto or similar instruments. Other instruments such as the baroque guitar, vihuela, etc. may also be studied or refined.

  The 1.5 hours of tuition in the main subject is supplemented by 0.5 hours of additional individual tuition in basso continuo.

  Master's degree

  The master's programme distinguishes between "Master Lute" and "Master Theorbo". The weekly main subject tuition is 2 hours.

  The Master Lute programme focuses on solo and chamber music repertoire on the various types of lute (instruments such as historical guitars, vihuelas etc. are also possible), but basso continuo is also part of the course.

  "Master Theorbo" covers all the major types of basso continuo lute, i.e. various forms of theorbo, arciliuto and the like. The emphasis here is on basso continuo and chamber music. Solo repertoire is also part of the programme.
  Instruments on loan

  In order to make this comprehensive training available to everyone, our University has instruments on loan for the most important types of lute, such as the Renaissance and Baroque lute, vihuela, Baroque guitar and theorbo.

  

• Historical Keyboards: harpsichord, fortepiano

• Transverse flute

• Recorder

  Further information on the study area Recorder

• Baroque bassoon

• Baroque trumpet

• Baroque oboe

• Baroque trombone

• Vocal studies: Baroque / Vocal studies with a focus on Early Music

• Accompaniment

• Historical dance

  The Historical Dances course complements the main subjects and offers a unique view of dances and their music, from the Renaissance to the Baroque, from the 16th to the 18th century.

  We will learn dances from the Italian and French Renaissance, such as the ballo, bassa danza or branle, pavane, gaillarde, allemande and courante. We will also look at the various dance families of the Baroque period and develop a feel for dances such as Bourrée, Allemande, Rigaudon, Gavotte, Minuet, Gigue, Chaconne, Passacaille and Sarabande, which is very useful for interpreting the music.

  Other forms are the Country Dance and the later Counter Dance, with original choreographies to music from Purcell to Mozart, leading the couples through the room in exciting interplay.

  In all these classes we work from historical sources and also support the work by looking at iconographic material. This course is an opportunity to discover a treasure trove that sheds light on the character of the dances, their phrasing and dynamics. It provides an unrivalled knowledge of how to play and interpret the whole repertoire of dance music, right through to the classical suite.

  

• Teaching methodology of historical instruments