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Chant as Early Music: Toward a Nuanced Performance of Gregorian Chant
February 22, 2025 – 2 p.m.
First Congregational Church, Kalamazoo
Chant represents the oldest surviving large musical repertoire of the Western world, with an enduring cultural footprint. While many people today encounter chant in movie and video game soundtracks, or even in humorous videos on social media platforms, for over a millennium chant has been (and continues to be) the ubiquitous accompaniment to the rituals of the Christian church. Over this time, it has served as a shared lexicon of melody that has informed sacred and secular music alike.
Throughout this period, however, performance of chant has varied considerably, and there is significant evidence that the style of modern performances of chant—the sound we know from soundtracks, videos, or even modern religious or secular performances—does not reflect the character of earlier performances of the same repertoire.
In this workshop, we will explore some of the oldest manuscripts containing chant notation and use them to inform a highly nuanced performance of this remarkable music. There is a unique thrill that accompanies looking at a 1200-year-old manuscript and translating it into sound. And this won’t be a purely academic exercise—we will sing the results of our explorations together!
This workshop will focus on the historical musical content of chant instead of the theological, so all faith backgrounds are welcomed. In addition, no ability to read modern musical notation is required for this workshop, and we welcome singers of all abilities and experiences. If you can talk, you can sing. Come sing with us!
Workshop leader: Dr. Luke Conklin
Dr. Luke Conklin is Early Music Michigan’s Artistic Director. Luke Conklin is a historical performer who has worked with early music groups throughout North America, including Apollo’s Fire Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Portland Baroque Orchestra, New York Baroque Incorporated, and the Trinity Wall Street Baroque Orchestra and Choir. In addition to his work as a performer, he is an active music educator teaching private lessons on modern and historical woodwinds as well as serving as the co-director of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Preparatory Winds from 2020-2024 and Woodwind Counselor at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. Beginning in 2024, he will be teaching Woodwind and Brass Methods at Kalamazoo College. Luke holds a master’s degree in Chant and Ritual Song from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, as well as degrees in Historical Performance Practice from Case Western Reserve University and The Juilliard School.
Registration details
Registration fees
Registration fees for this workshop are pay-what-you-will, but we suggest the following fees:
Student: $20
General Admission: $35
Supporters’ Circle: $50–100
Sponsors will receive an EMM window cling, their names or a dedication added to our online list of Supporters and our online program for the workshop, and our annual newsletter.
Workshop Sponsor: $100+
Sponsors will receive an EMM window cling, sticker, and double-wall tumbler with straw; their names or a dedication added to our online list of Sponsors and our online program for the workshop; and our annual newsletter.
Group Registration: If you are associated with a choir, school program, or other group that would be interested in registering with a group rate, please contact Becky Straple-Sovers.
Registration deadline
Advance registration is open until February 15, 2025.
Registration is open until the workshop begins, and you can register on-site! Please note that attendees who register online on or after February 16, 2025 will be asked to print the workshop materials and bring them to the workshop. (If you are a late registrant and this will not be possible for you, please contact us as soon as possible.)
Workshop materials
The workshop agenda and documents will be made available to attendees ahead of time. We will have workshop materials for advance registrants, and a limited number for same-day registrants, but if you are able to, please consider helping us cut costs by printing out the materials yourself and bringing them to the workshop!
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EIN: 38-3296106