laus polyphoniae 2016 | mors. the century of the black death

THE CENTURY OF THE BLACK DEATH THE CENTURY OF

THE BLACK DEATH

INFO & TICKETS: +32 (0)3 292 36 80 | WWW.AMUZ.BE

LAUS POLYPHONIAE – EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL23RD EDITION – 19-28 AUGUST 2016

In the 14th century, Europe was ravaged by countless disasters and misfortune: the Battle of the Golden Spurs, the Hundred Years’ War and the plague epidemic claimed millions of lives. At the same time, however, this century was a period in which the arts flourished: Dante wrote the Divine Comedy, Boccaccio the Decameron and Chaucer the Canterbury Tales. In France, Philippe de Vitry brought about a startling turn in music with his treatise Ars Nova. Composers wanted to intensify the expressiveness of their music, and were able to set down their complex works on paper thanks to new notation techniques, as can be seen in Guillaume de Machaut’s motets, chansons and the Messe de Nostre Dame. This complexity reached a climax at the end of the 14th century in the manneristic music of the ars subtilior. In Italy, vernacular songs underwent a similar evolution. The expressive lyricism of Francesco Landini’s ballate is astonishing even today. Laus Polyphoniae puts the century of the Black Death into historic context, in a ten-day exploration of this period’s musical richness.

Music from England, Italy, France, Spain, Low Countries, Germany, Cyprus, Israel, Czech Republic, Iceland

1 AMUZ Kammenstraat 81

2 St.-Pauluskerk Veemarkt 14

3 Elzenveld Lange Gasthuisstraat 45

4 Rubenshuis Wapper 9-11

5 St.-Andrieskerk St.-Andriesstraat 5

6 HetPaleis Theaterplein

7 St.-Joriskerk Mechelseplein

8 Theater Troubleyn Pastorijstraat 23

ALSO AT LAUS POLYPHONIAE

FESTIVAL MEALS

RESTO CONVIVIOTrue to tradition, you can enjoy a delicious festival meal before the evening concerts in AMUZ.

EDUCATION

LITERATURE, CULTURE AND MUSIC IN THE CENTURY OF THE BLACK DEATH Summer course for adults from 23rd to 25th August. In partnership with Davidsfonds Academy

INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ARTIST’S PRESENTATION Concert walk at historic locations in Antwerp on 20th and 21st August in partnership with Musica, Impulse Centre for Music

SUMMER SCHOOL

There is an international summer school for advanced musicians led by Stratton Bull, Pieter Stas, Chris Kale, Niels Berentsen, Valerie Horst and Els Vanvolsem, from 22nd to 28th August. In partnership with Musica, Impulse Centre for Music.

FOR CHILDREN

PENTAMERONE MUSIC HOLIDAY A music holiday for children aged 6 to 16 years, with or without existing musical skills, from 22nd to 26th August. In partnership with Musica, Impulse Centre for Music.

CONCERTOS PARA BEBÉSA novel production for our very youngest audiences (0-5 years). Concerts on 27th and 28th August.

More info at www.amuz.be

TICKETS AND INFO

AMUZ [Festival van Vlaanderen – Antwerpen] vzwTicket desk AMUZ, Kammenstraat 81, 2000 Antwerpen (MO-FR 12.00-5.00 pm) T +32 (0)3 292 36 80 | [email protected] | www.amuz.be

GROENPLAATS

OUDAAN

VLEMIN

CKVELD

ELZENVELD

BROUWERSVLIET

LONDENBRUG

PAARDENMARKT

FALCONRUIFALC

PAARDENMARKT

ITALIËLEI

BRITSE LEI

AMERIKALEI

LANGE NIEUW STRAAT

WAASLANDTUNNEL

SCHELDE

SCHELDESTRAAT

DE GERLA

CHEKAAI

KATHEDRAAL

H. CONSCIENCEPLEIN

REYNDERSSTRAATOPERA

SINT-JACOBSMARKT

KIPDORP

WOLSTRAAT

KAASRUISUIKERRUI

KEIZERSTRAAT

LANGE NIEUWSTRAAT

JODENSTRAAT

MEIR MEIR

DERBRO

STRAAT

GODEFRIDUSKAAI

Festival van Vlaanderen-AntwerpenKammenstraat 81, 2000 Antwerpen

T: +32 (0)3 202 46 69F: +32 (0)3 202 46 64

[email protected]

THE BLACK DEATH

FESTIVAL MEALS

EDUCATION

SUMMER SCHOOL

FOR CHILDREN

TICKETS AND INFO

GROENPLAATS

OUDAAN

VLEMIN

CKVELD

ELZENVELD

BROUWERSVLIET

LONDENBRUG

PAARDENMARKT

FALCONRUIFALC

PAARDENMARKT

ITALIËLEI

BRITSE LEI

AMERIKALEI

LANGE NIEUW STRAAT

WAASLANDTUNNEL

SCHELDE

SCHELDESTRAAT

DE GERLA

CHEKAAI

KATHEDRAAL

H. CONSCIENCEPLEIN

REYNDERSSTRAATOPERA

SINT-JACOBSMARKT

KIPDORP

WOLSTRAAT

KAASRUISUIKERRUI

KEIZERSTRAAT

LANGE NIEUWSTRAAT

JODENSTRAAT

MEIR MEIR

DERBRO

STRAAT

GODEFRIDUSKAAI

T: +32 (0)3 202 46 69F: +32 (0)3 202 46 64

[email protected]

Alla Francesca Gothic Voices © Eric Richmond Sabine Marc Baptiste © Chani Lesaulnier ClubMediéval © Koen Broos La Reverdie © Stefan Schweiger La Fonte Musica Il Nostromo del SognoTiburtina Ensemble © Vojtech Havlik

SUNDAY 28 AUG

11.00 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL CLOSING CONCERT | AMUZ From Machaut to Dufay: The heritage of the 14th century

Specialists from Cappella Pratensis have taught a course on singing polyphony at the summer school From Machaut to Dufay. The results of this intensive week can be heard at this presentation.

11.00 MUSICALMENTE–Concertos para Bebés | HetPaleis

13.00 ILNOSTROMODELSOGNO–As part of Flanders Culture Market | AMUZ14.30 Il nostromo del sogno will astonish you with a recital of fragments from the politically tinted chronicle 16.00 in rhyme, Vanden derden Edewaert, with an instrumental accompaniment, interspersed with ars nova 17.30 motets relating to the Hundred Years’ War.

20.00 GRAINDELAVOIX | St.-Pauluskerk Messe de Nostre Dame – de Machaut

The Messe de Nostre Dame is one of the great icons of the 14th century. It is among the first complete masses known to us that was written by a single composer: Guillaume de Machaut. He created a unique musical unity, with an unprecedented texture and vocal fireworks, performed here in a majestic interpre-tation by graindelavoix.

FRIDAY 19 AUG

18.00 KLARALIVE@LAUSPOLYPHONIAE

20.00 HUELGASENSEMBLE–Cypriot O Antiphons | St.-PauluskerkWith the Cypriot O Antiphons – motets whose words always begin with the letter O – Huelgas Ensemble gives you a taste of the rich and advanced musical style of mediaeval Cyprus, treating you to the cream of unique polyphony from the unusual manuscript J.II.9 (Turin).

SATURDAY 20 AUG

10.00 INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ARTIST’S PRESENTATION | Starting point: Theater TroubleynSome of the most promising young musicians present their work to the public after intensive coaching by Peter Van Heyghen and Raquel Andueza. Discover the IYAP ensembles selected in 2016 during a unique concert walk in Antwerp.

18.00 RESTO CONVIVIO | Foyer AMUZ

20.00 ALLAFRANCESCA–La Peste ou comment Dieu fit sortir la mort de sa cage | AMUZHebrew and Yiddish songs, ballads by Guillaume de Machaut, lamentations during processions and Min-nesang are among the works that recount how the population dealt with the plague. A refined programme with poignant music in the vernacular.

22.15 ANNE AZÉMA & SUSANNE ANSORG | Rubenshuis Reine d’un jour: Decamerone, Canterbury Tales and other medieval stories in music

We could dream of no one better than Anne Azéma, expressive soprano and storyteller, to combine the passion and delicate details of literary classics with mediaeval songs on the same themes. Susanne Ansorg will provide instrumental accompaniment for Anna Azéma.

SUNDAY 21 AUG

10.00 INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ARTIST’S PRESENTATION | Starting point: Theater Troubleyn

20.00 TIBURTINA ENSEMBLE | AMUZ Flos inter spinas – Legends of Saint Catherine, Saint Barbara and Saint Margaret

Flos inter spinas, or ‘blossom in the thorn tree’ is Tiburtina Ensemble’s poetic tribute to the turbulent lives of three saints, Catherine, Barbara and Margaret, and gorgeous works from the Benedictine Convent of St. George in Prague.

22.15 GOTHIC VOICES – Masters of the Rolls | St.-Andrieskerk

Gothic Voices focuses on lesser-known English music passed down from the 14th century, sung at the time from delicate but intensively used ‘rotoli’ or roll manuscripts.

TUESDAY 23 AUG

13.00 ENSEMBLELEONES–Der Ackermann und der Tod | AMUZThose, like Guillaume de Machaut, who could not flee from the plague epidemic, put their hope in spiritual protection from the flagellants, who processed through the city singing and whipping themselves. Their powerful, monophonic songs and other, polyphonic vocal works are bound to capture your imagination.

20.00 CLUBMEDIÉVAL | AMUZ Een wyflic beildt – Musical gems from Bruges and Italy in 1400

ClubMediéval travels between Bruges and Italy with music from the Gruuthuse manuscript and the Codex Reina. Scintillating ars nova works have been selected from the Codex Reina. The Gruuthuse manuscript reflects the vibrant, cosmopolitan character of Bruges at the time, as a world-class city.

22.15 HUELGAS ENSEMBLE | St.-Pauluskerk Albion de fluns environnée – English repertoire in French

Paul van Nevel rummaged through English libraries, discovering countless impressive manuscripts of mo-tets and secular songs. Steeped in local tradition, this music has a very specific character of its own, which is unfortunately less familiar than continental music.

WEDNESDAY 24 AUG

13.00 NIELS BERENTSEN & DISKANTORES | AMUZ Learn to sing discant – Polyphony and improvisation in the 14th century (Lecture performance, in dutch)

Niels Berentsen’s musicological research has shown that there was considerable improvisation, even in polyphonic music. His fascinating talk is illustrated with live excerpts by the Diskantores ensemble

20.00 LA REVERDIE – Venecie Mundi Splendor | St.-PauluskerkIn 14th century Venice, music played an important role in major state occasions. La Reverdie has selected the most beautiful motets by Frencesco Landini and Johannes Ciconia for an evening of Italian sparkle.

22.15 SOLLAZZO ENSEMBLE | AMUZ Cito, longe, tarde – Fly quickly, go far, return slowly

Cito, longe, tarde: during the plague epidemic, the motto of Hippocrates and Galen was more pertinent than ever. The Sollazzo Ensemble, already showered with awards despite their youth, will play a repertoire based on this theme.

THURSDAY 25 AUG

13.00 GUILLERMO PÉREZ – Solo organetto | AMUZThe remarkable organetto, a small instrument whose bellows are operated by the musician playing the in-strument, was used in both secular and religious contexts. Guillermo Pérez has selected the most beautiful solo repertoire for this melodious little instrument.

20.00 DIABOLUS IN MUSICA | AMUZ Cantores – Chapelle des Papes d’Avignon, XIVe siècle

Diabolus in Musica takes you on a journey to the magnificent Papal Palace in Avignon, where great manuscripts were created that have not been used since the 14th century.

22.15 TRIO MEDIAEVAL | St.-Pauluskerk Words of the Angel – Messe de Tournai

Experience the Messe de Tournai, written exclusively for male voices, in an inimitable version by the three singers of Trio Mediaeval. This mediaeval work is programmed alongside the contemporary Words of the Angel by Ivan Moody: a combination that promises to result in a mystical evening!

MONDAY 22 AUG

13.00 LEMIROIRDEMUSIQUE–Machaut et les visages de la mort | St.-JoriskerkFor Guillaume de Machaut, the idea of death, and particularly lovers’ death, is a very prominent poetic motif. He reuses the theme from a religious context for this – the death of Christ on the cross – to create a fascinating complexity in the music.

15.00 LECTURE BY DAVID CATALUNYA (in English) | AMUZ

David Catalunya has done years of research into the Las Huelgas Codex, one of the most important Euro-pean manuscripts of late mediaeval polyphonic music. This is the first time that he will present his research to the general public.

20.00 CANTO CORONATO | St.-Pauluskerk Earthly Sirens – The Las Huelgas Codex and newly discovered sources

After the theory comes practice: David Catalunya and the singers and musicians of Canto Coronato present new reconstructions of pieces from the Las Huelgas Codex and other mediaeval sources. A world premiere for Laus Polyphoniae!

22.15 DAVIDDORŮŽKATRIO&TIBURTINAENSEMBLE–Apokalypsis | AMUZ Let yourself be swept up into an astonishing dialogue between mediaeval music from the Huelgas Codex and contemporary jazz. Improvisation is the guiding principle in this remarkable programme based on the story of the Apocalypse.

FRIDAY 26 AUG

13.00 LAFONTEMUSICA–The Alchemy of Eros and Death / Merce o morte | AMUZLove and death as the oldest couple in history: that is La Fonte Musica’s starting point for a colourful programme including rare songs about death from the Italian Trecento as well as lots of exciting music on the theme of love and lust in the time of Boccaccio.

16.00 PRESENTATION FOLLOWING THE MUSIC HOLIDAY FOR CHILDREN | St.-Andrieskerk Pentamerone

Concluding performance by the children aged between 6 and 16 years old who participated in the music holiday, in partnership with Musica, Impulse Centre for Music.

20.00 CAPPELLA MARIANA – O Mors, Hope in eternity … | AMUZWar and disease meant that death was a constant presence in mediaeval lives. Music offered comfort and hope. Cappella Mariana sings subdued, understated works by Machaut and composers who opened the way to the 15th century.

22.15 TASTO SOLO – Faenza Codex | ElzenveldTasto Solo presents music from the Faenza Codex, giving the musicians the chance to look back on their selection for the International Young Artists’ Presentation (IYAP) ten years ago. The codex contains one of the oldest collections of keyboard music, with exciting adaptations of sacred and profane vocal music in the ars nova style.

SATURDAY 27 AUG

11.00 MUSICALMENTE – Concertos para Bebés | HetPaleisConcertos para Bebés gives babies, toddlers and young children up to the age of five an interactive introduction to classical music. In line with the theme of the festival, the musicians will present music from the 14th century.

16.00 MUSICALMENTE – Concertos para Bebés | HetPaleis

20.00 ENSEMBLE ORGANUM – Missa Gotica. Avignon, Toulouse, Barcelona, Apt | St.-Andrieskerk The establishment of the Avignon Papacy (1309-1377) led to contact between singers from northern and southern Europe, which resulted in an entirely new repertoire. Marcel Pérès presents the premiere of a new polyphonic mass with parts taken from manuscripts from Toulouse, Barcelona and Apt, the way it might have sounded in Avignon.

22.15 PSALLENTES | AMUZ Champmol 1399. The Crucifix Retable by De Baerze and Broederlam

An immersive experience with images and live music takes you on an exploration of the tiniest details of the retable by the Flemish sculptor Jacob De Baerze. Psallentes complements the programme with mediaeval music suited to the scenes from the life of Christ that are sensitively depicted on the retable.

LAUS POLYPHONIAE EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL 19-28 AUGUST 2016

SUNDAY 28 AUG

FRIDAY 19 AUG

SATURDAY 20 AUG

SUNDAY 21 AUG

TUESDAY 23 AUG

WEDNESDAY 24 AUG

THURSDAY 25 AUG

MONDAY 22 AUG

FRIDAY 26 AUG

SATURDAY 27 AUG

SUNDAY 28 AUG

FRIDAY 19 AUG

SATURDAY 20 AUG

SUNDAY 21 AUG

TUESDAY 23 AUG

WEDNESDAY 24 AUG

THURSDAY 25 AUG

MONDAY 22 AUG

FRIDAY 26 AUG

SATURDAY 27 AUG

THE BLACK DEATH

FESTIVAL MEALS

EDUCATION

SUMMER SCHOOL

FOR CHILDREN

TICKETS AND INFO

GROENPLAATS

OUDAAN

VLEMIN

CKVELD

ELZENVELD

BROUWERSVLIET

LONDENBRUG

PAARDENMARKT

FALCONRUIFALC

PAARDENMARKT

ITALIËLEI

BRITSE LEI

AMERIKALEI

LANGE NIEUW STRAAT

WAASLANDTUNNEL

SCHELDE

SCHELDESTRAAT

DE GERLA

CHEKAAI

KATHEDRAAL

H. CONSCIENCEPLEIN

REYNDERSSTRAATOPERA

SINT-JACOBSMARKT

KIPDORP

WOLSTRAAT

KAASRUISUIKERRUI

KEIZERSTRAAT

LANGE NIEUWSTRAAT

JODENSTRAAT

MEIR MEIR

DERBRO

STRAAT

GODEFRIDUSKAAI

T: +32 (0)3 202 46 69F: +32 (0)3 202 46 64

[email protected]

laus polyphoniae 2016 | mors. the century of the black death

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