LA MORRA, named after Heinrich Isaac's famous instrumental piece, performs European music of the period roughly defined by the dates 1300 and 1500 (traditionally referred to as 'late Medieval' and / or 'early Renaissance') with occasional escapades outside this time frame (such as the works written for LA MORRA by Boris Yoffe). The ensemble pays particular attention to the secular art song, sacred para-liturgical genres and instrumental music.

Soon after its formation in 2000, LA MORRA took the stages of Europe's most prestigious early music festivals and concert series by storm, performing in such events as Festival van Vlaanderen (Belgium), Netwerk Oude Muziek and Holland Festival Oude Muziek (The Netherlands), Rencontres de Musique Médiévale du Thoronet (France), Freunde alter Musik Basel (Switzerland) and Autunno Musicale (Italy). Concert tours have also taken the ensemble to Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom. Numerous live performances, broadcasts and the four CD productions released to date by Ramée, Et'Cetera, Raumklang and Musiques Suisses (the fifth CD production, Complete Secular Works by Johannes Ciconia, will be released in 2011 from the label Ricercar) contributed to establishing LA MORRA as one of the leading formations in the field. The ensemble is reputed for evocative, thoroughly researched concert programming and interpretations that are 'skillful', 'elegant' (Early Music), 'virtuoso', 'seductive', 'plausible' (Diapason), 'in a word: delightful' (Goldberg Magazine).

LA MORRA makes its home in Basle, the cultural capital of Switzerland. In Basle, the ensemble enjoys close proximity of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (where the performance of 'early music' has been taught for over 75 years), the town's University, and their rich resources for pre-1500 music. The ensemble (usually up to 10 vocalists and instrumentalists working under the joint artistic leadership of Corina Marti and Michal Gondko) re-defines itself according to the requirements of concert or recording projects it undertakes.

[download as PDF]

IN THE UPPER-RIGHT CORNER: A cut-out from the superius part of Isaac's La Morra - as found in the manuscript Firenze, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, Magl. XIX. 107bis (written in Florence after 1503). The entire folio can be viewed here.