CONCENTUS ANGELORUM
Sacred Polyphony from Northern Europe, 1400-1500

Watch a fragment of this programme on YouTube!

Summary

Angels making music are a common motive in visual arts of the Late Middle Ages. Intended for the divine persons of Christianity, their music remains hidden to mortal ears. Sometimes, however, the painter puts in the hands of an angel a real piece of music, as if - in his opinion - it was a true music of the spheres... Though this cannot be proven, fifteenth-century music theorist Johannes Tinctoris admits that, "at this very time, whether it be due to the virtue of some heavenly influence or to a zeal of constant application I do not know, there flourish, in addition to many singers who perform most beautifully, an infinite number of composers (...) Almost all these men's work exhale such sweetness, that, in my opinion, they should be considered most worthy, not only for men and heroes, but even for the immortal gods". Evoking associations with visual arts of the time, this programme celebrates one of the most fascinating developments in the history of European music - the moment of transition for the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

Repertoire

Mass movements and motets by Dunstaple, Dufay, Binchois, Frye, Ockeghem, Josquin and others; instrumental music from Buxheimer Orgelbuch

Performers

8 musicians (4 vocalists, 4 instrumentalists)

Most suitable venue

medium to large church

Detailed programme can be obtained at the time of programme brochure printing

FEE ON APPLICATION

[return to the Concert Presenter's area]

IN THE UPPER-RIGHT CORNER: detail from the ivory diptych of the Lactating Virgin, before 1350 (Paris, Musée du Louvre)