programs

The Queen's Masque -
Metamorphoses of Power

 

lineup recorderconsort (à 4), percussion ad libitum, soprano, lute, contemporary dance

repertoire:  english consort music of the 16th century with contemporary dance

 

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"The most important fact about Elizabeth I," writes Jean Wilson, author and expert in English early modern history, "was her sex." Although female rulers had appeared in history from time to time, they were not envisaged within the existing structures. The concept of a king was inherently masculine and did not align with the societal perception of women in the 16th century, which ascribed virtues such as passivity, obedience, and silence to women. 

The young recorder ensemble feuervogel from Freiburg engages with precisely this theme in its performance project. To do so, they have invited guests. Soprano Carine Tinney and lutenist Ziv Braha complement the musical ensemble, and contemporary dance artists and choreographers Kirill Berezovski and Amelia Eisen enrich the production with the element of movement. The artists not only explore how the issue of gender roles was addressed under Queen Elizabeth but also question these historical attempts at resolution and attempt to create a new, modern societal concept. English Renaissance music from the court of Elizabeth I intersects with contemporary dance, creating a perspective that spans time and offers a refreshing view on societal structures and gender roles.

This project is funded by:

Elizabethan England -
A musical miniature

 

lineup: recoderconsort (à 4), percussion ad libitum

repertoireenglish Renaissance music of the 16th century

 

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In diesem Konzertprogramm bezieht sich „ensemble feuervogel“ auf die Kunst of the English portrait and miniature painter Nicholas Hilliard. 

On behalf of Queen Elizabeth I, his work is characterized by great emotional sensitivity and an enormous level of detail on a small scale. The ensemble incorporates these qualities in the concert, highlighting the smallest independent musical moments, allowing them to merge into a cohesive whole. Like Hilliard, the ensemble creates miniature portraits of the time. Works by W. Byrd, T. Morley, or J. Dowland, as well as compositions by lesser-known composers such as R. White, J. Harding, or H. Ashton, will be featured

Besides the portraits of composers, the musicians also delve into specific genres that distinguished the music of that era in England and set it apart from other European music due to their prevalence.

Thus, the ensemble interprets various 'In Nomine' settings, courtly dance music, and popular songs and melodies of the time. The Elizabethan era is portrayed through sound

If I were a little bird...
...or a bear?

 

lineup: recorder, percussion, voice

repertoireA family concert for interactive participation, suitable for children aged 5-9.

 

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In the flute forest, today is a special day: Enchantment Day!

The radiant Firebird can transform all people into birds once a year with its feathers. Today is the day. And the best part is, with these magic feathers, you can even fly! But, of course, that needs practice, just like bird singing and nest-building. But beware of the wild animals! Fortunately, the bear, the best friend of the Firebird, is also joining the adventure.

The recorder ensemble feuervogel not only takes the visitors into the enchanted forest of birds but also into the Renaissance era and the modern compositions of the ornithologist and composer John Luther Adams.

Together, there will be drumming, chirping, flying, and listening.

SongBirdSong

lineup: recorder, percussion, voice

repertoireContemporary music and music from the 16th/17th centuries.

The birds, with their songs, have always been close companions of the recorder. Even during the Renaissance, one finds compositions that mimic bird twittering and thus sound surprisingly modern. William Byrd, Heinrich Schütz, and Tarquinio Merula are just a few of the composers who gave musical voice to birds in the 16th and 17th centuries.

John Luther Adams, with his musical cycle SongBirdSong, also invites you to listen to the chirping of birds, the rustling of streams, and the wind. His composition series has been translated to recorders and percussion by ensemble feuervogel. The entire ensemble incorporates percussion instruments, making the exuberant joy of spring not only audible but tangible as well.

The combination of Adams' music with madrigals and chansons opens up new sonic perspectives on both medieval music and the everyday sounds of our environment. The program plays with spatial parameters such as proximity and distance, as well as surround effects and the dissolution of the spatial boundary between the audience and performers. Depending on spatial conditions, it is also suitable as a family concert.

Medieval Nights

 

lineup recorderconsort (à 4), percussion ad libitum

repertoire: contemporary music and music from the 14th century.

 

Medieval music has something mysterious. The sounds often appear unusually foreign to modern ears, just like the historical instruments. When it comes to performance practice, one quickly encounters the limits of musicological research because many aspects cannot be clarified due to the temporal difference. In addition, there is a relatively limited amount of surviving material. The notation, like other written literature of the time, was transcribed by hand for a long time, making it very precious, and today, it is only preserved in sometimes fragmentary manuscripts. A large part of the music is no longer accessible today because it was transmitted solely orally.


The very mysterious, unknown, and incomplete nature of medieval music has, in modern times, inspired many composers, including ensemble feuervogel, to continue working with the material. It is precisely the gaps in transmission that create space for individual interpretations and experimental exploration.


'Medieval Nights' presents a selection of historically transmitted musical pieces in unique arrangements, as well as modern compositions that incorporate musical material from the Middle Ages. The result is an atmospheric, surprising program with a trance-like character.

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