The Rhine Valley in Germany
30 April to 7 May 2012

We stay in a hotel in St Goar on the legendary Lorelei bend in this great river, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There will be three days of intensive coaching with the world renowned Martinu Quartet from Prague (see below). In addition, chamber music playing will be scheduled on two mornings. We have a full day cruise to visit historic and picturesque Rudesheim and explore this magnificent area of the Middle Rhine - one of the most romantic places in Europe. We also visit the Beethoven House in Bonn where the great composer was born and lived his early life.

"Three players from Japan participated in this program last May. We had a group of seven nationalities not so large but very familiar. Every morning we enjoyed not only string quartets but many kinds of string quintets and string trios. In the morning of the last day we invited one of the amateur violinists living near the town, and enjoyed to play with him. Our cruise on the Rhine to Boppard, drives to historic castles and vineyards were very enjoyable. The concert by Martin Sedlak, cellist, one of our coaches, was wonderful and familiar. The program was mainly J. S. Bach’s Suites. We were all so impressed by his skilful performance. The hotel where we stayed has wonderful views of the Rhine, opposite the Lorelei rock. I enjoyed one hour walking along the river every morning."
Shinji Matmsumoto. Tokyo, Japan.

Accommodation
Our hotel has wonderful views of the dramatic Lorelei rock on the opposite bank of the great Rhine River, one of the most spectacular parts of Germany. St Goar, a picturesque wine town below the mighty Burg Reinfels, has a train station and a boat station for river cruises. This modern, friendly, family run hotel welcomes amateur musicians. All rooms have views of the Rhine, en suite bathrooms, cable TV, air conditioning, central heating. There is ample free parking and an extensive sun terrace. The buffet breakfast with a variety of specialties gives a good start to the day. We have five four course dinners in the hotel restaurant or on the large terrace from where we watch the barges and cruise boats on this majestic waterway. The menus include typical food from the region; much of this is from the hotel’s own butchery and bakery. Dinners will include wine or beer from their extensive wine cellars or local beer. A bottle of Riesling from the hotel cellar is in every room to welcome you on your arrival. There are saunas and a fitness room and the massages last year were highly recommended by our participants. Two meals are in enchanting local taverns in historic Bacharach and Rudesheim both famous wine towns on the Rhine.

Concert, Chamber Music Coaching and Playing
The world renowned Martinu Quartet from Prague are joining us for one of the special coaching sessions they organise in various countries. They will arrive on 3 May and give a concert that evening. On the next three days (4 & 5 May from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00; 6 May from 10.00 to 13.00) we shall have their special coaching. We shall have just four groups and each member of the quartet plays in a group and works intensively on one quartet for the fifteen hours. Depending on the participants we may have three quartets and one quintet or even two quartets, a quintet and a sextet.

Please note: When you apply you should tell us about your experience and say what you would like to play from the list below. If there are two or three people wanting to play something not on the list please let us know and we shall try to accommodate you, The earlier you apply the more likely you will get your first choice! One quartet is already booked in with one of the Martinu violinists. A Brahms Sextet is starting so get in as soon as possible if you are interested. Some groups like to work on one piece for all 15 hours and others take a second piece for half the time. When this is decided the Martinu Quartet will send your  parts with fingering and bowing and obviously you will all use the same edition. This saves time during coaching sessions. Choose from:

• Haydn “Rider” Quartet op 74 no 3,
• Mozart “Hunt” Quartet K 458
• Schubert Quartet op 125
• Beethoven Quartet op 135
• Dvorak Quartet op 34  
• Mozart Quintets C major K 515 and D major K593
• Brahms Sextets op 18 and op 36 Dvorak Sextet op 48

The members of the quartet are very open, friendly and enthusiastic and of course highly knowledgeable and professional. They will be staying in the hotel with us and there will certainly be some interesting discussions over meals! Many of you will know the violist Zbynek Padourek who was formerly in the Kocian Quartet and a very popular coach at Chamber Music Holidays in Prague, Corfu and Thailand. On two mornings there will be scheduled playing and optional informal chamber music sessions after dinner. Listeners are welcome and optional visits to places of interest nearby can be organised for the afternoons. Early application is essential as we can only have six violinists, three or four violists and three or possibly four cellists. There is no piano so we cannot accept a pianist. It may be possible to accept one clarinettist. If you would like to discuss details email Vivienne to arrange a time she could phone you.

Day by Day Programme

Sightseeing and Leisure activities:

• We have a bus to take us to Bonn to visit the highly informative Beethoven House Museum and walk around the nearby area so important in Beethoven’s early life.
• An afternoon in St Goar, our charming local town with one of the largest castles, Fortress Reinfels, towering above it. We take the small train up to see the spectacular views and tour this ruined castle built in 1245.
• Another afternoon we visit a Winery and an historic Mill. Taste seven wines from this world famous wine area and learn about wine production. We also learn about the making of fine flours, breads and pies for which it is so famous. Local fare including delicious cheeses, pies and sausages are served.
• A day boat trip to Rudesheim up river from St Goar. We cruise past medieval towns and imposing castles with vineyards climbing up the hills. Lunch in a traditional tavern in 15th Century Drosselgasse, the captivating cobbled pedestrian street. Many taverns and outdoor wine gardens have local music to add to the enchanting atmosphere. Time to explore this fascinating town before cruising back to St Goar. Evening chamber music playing.
• Drive up the river to Bacharach, a very picturesque wine town with half timbered houses and historic buildings. After dinner in the historic Old Mint tavern we explore this charming town before returning to St Goar.

Price per person

Players - double/twin - 1,948 euros (£1,770 sterling)
Players - single - 1,998 euros (£1,816 sterling)

Listeners - double/twin - 1,494 euros (£1,350 sterling)
Listeners - single - 1,596 euros (£1,452 sterling)

There is a discount of 150 euros for payment in full by October 1st. Early application is advised.as numbers are strictly limited to six violins, three or four violas and three or four cellos.

Should you need to leave on Sunday after the coaching to get to work on Monday we would arrange a discount.

Price includes accommodation as above; a large buffet breakfast; five dinners and two lunches with wines or beer, the three day intensive coaching sessions (15 hours) with the Martinu Quartet, facilities for playing chamber music; the use of stands and the music library. Instrument rental is available. All activities and excursions as above including the boat trip and transport to Bonn, entrance to the museum and concert; the use of bicycles in free time.

To pay by bank to bank transfer in Euros click here.
Bank details for payments will be sent to you once you have filled out the application form.

To book and pay with a UK personal cheque or a UK online transfer in GB Pounds click here.

Prices in Pounds on the application forms are calculated at £1 = 1.10 euros. Should the pound fall below £1 = 1.10 euros or rise above £1 =1.15 euros the price will be adjusted.

Email us for information about flights which are not included as participants come from all over the world. The nearest airport is Frankfurt Hahn. There is a larger international airport at Bonn/Cologne and Frankfurt International airport is within easy reach by train. Trains in Germany are excellent and the St Goar train station is 1 km from the hotel.

We reserve the right to make changes due to circumstances beyond our control.

There are many books about Beethoven which would give an interesting backkground before visiting Bonn and this area.

A very well researched and highly informative fictional biography is the trilogy The Last Master by John Suchet. Others include Memories of Beethoven by Gerhard von Breuning; Remembering Beethoven by Franz Wegeler (a close friend) and Ferdinand Reis his pupil; and Beethoven: Impressions by his Contemporaries. You will find a selection online – some of these are out of print but still available, they were published shortly after Beethoven’s death.