Description
This enterprising and innovative album by the specialist ensemble Capella de la Torre under its director Katharina Bäuml includes a selection of pieces representative of music that might have been performed at the Great Council of Constance between the years 1414 and 1418. 2014 marks the 600th anniversary of the start of this major historical event.
In the years 1414-1418 the largest congress of the Middle Ages took place in Constance, Germany for the election of a pope. The council was set up to end the "Three-Popes Controversy", by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining Papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V. The meetings were framed by church services and various celebrations that were naturally enriched with music. According to contemporary sources at least 365 instrumentalists stayed in the town during this period. However, as these sources never mention the names of specific composers whose music was performed at the Council, the programme chosen for this CD consists of a selection of sacred music, dance and popular song of the time, some of which are anonymous and others by leading musical figures. The years 2014-2018 mark the 600th anniversary of the Council of Constance, and the city is celebrating this with Europe-wide broadcasting, lectures, exhibitions, and festivals.
The ensemble Capella de la Torre gathers together musicians who have made a name internationally as specialists in historically informed performance. Capella de la Torre's aim is to perform the rich and hitherto insufficiently appreciated music from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance on authentic instruments. The group's first album for Challenge Classics, 'Vinum et Musica', was released in 2012, and earlier in 2014 it was followed by 'Luther's Wedding Day'.
Personnel: Capella de la Torre, Katharina Bäuml (shawms and direction), Birgit Bahr (shawms), Hildegard Wippermann (shawm), Falko Munkwitz (sackbut and slide trumpet), Keal Couper (sackbut, slide trumpet and cowhorn), Johannes Vogt (lute), Peter A. Bauer (percussion)
