There is hardly any better training imaginable for a plainchant performer than a detailed experience of different forms of recitation. The art of recitation is at the heart of instruction and creative development. As described earlier, various rhetorical elements (as basic as the beginning and end of a sentence) and their translation into musical formulae,... Continue Reading →
Psallentes 2013-2016
De Vlaamse regering heeft vandaag beslist dat Chant Group Psallentes ook in de periode 2013-2016 structureel ondersteund wordt, met een bijna verdriedubbeling van de middelen. Wij zijn daar uiteraard heel erg blij mee! We zullen meer dan ooit ons best doen om ons publiek krachtige en intense ervaringen aan te bieden, altijd vertrekkende vanuit laatmiddeleeuwse... Continue Reading →
[ENG] Recitations and Reconsiderations [12/15] Belief
And so, from the recitation of Erasmus’ paraphrases on the Gospel according to John (using them as an evocation of an old tradition of commentary) to the use of more modern sources commenting on religious issues in general, or maybe even on life in general, that is a logical next step for a present-day performer.... Continue Reading →
[ENG] Recitations and Reconsiderations [11/15] Recitations
The Christian practice of liturgical recitation of sacred texts (also known in other religions, and notably in the context of the Jewish synagogue, from which the Christian tradition most probably originated) has a long and interesting history, that has been described elsewhere. A text was chanted to simple formulae based on a reciting tone with... Continue Reading →
[ENG] Recitations and Reconsiderations [10/15] Alpha and Omega
The song that we sing has neither beginning nor end. It is the story of Alpha and Omega, of the Word incarnate, of life and death, of life after death. Our beginning of this tale comes out of nothing and our song will die away into nothing. It is insignificant and small and, what is... Continue Reading →
[ENG] Recitations and Reconsiderations [9/15] Obstacles and opportunities
Today’s chant singer researching a performance practice for late medieval chant is faced with many questions. These include questions concerning language and vocal techniques, such as the proper pronunciation of Latin, use of the voice and pitch; performance practice issues such as rhythm, meter, tempo and phrasing; contextual considerations such as the number and composition... Continue Reading →
Psallentes Oude Muziek 