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Capilla Flamenca is a prominent vocal and instrumental early music consort based in Leuven
Leuven

Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flanders, Belgium. It is located about 30 kilometers east of Brussels, with as other neighbouring cities Mechelen, Aarschot, Tienen, and Wavre....
, Belgium. The group specialises in 14th to 16th Century music from Flanders and takes its name from the choir of the court chapel of Emperor Charles V. When the emperor left Flanders in 1517, he took his best musicians with him to Spain to accompany him as "living polyphony".

Members
The core of the Capilla Flamenca consists of four male singers, currently Marnix De Cat (Countertenor
Countertenor

A countertenor is a male voice type whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or more rarely the normal or modal voice....
), Tore Tom Denys (Tenor
Tenor

The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....
, who succeeded Jan Caals in 2006), Lieven Termont (Baritone
Baritone

Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....
) and Dirk Snellings (Bass), the group’s artistic director, who is a well-known musicologist.

For each performance, the vocal core is enlarged either with complementary singers, an alta capella of wind instruments, a bassa capella of string instruments and/or an organ according to the needs of the genre.






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Capilla Flamenca is a prominent vocal and instrumental early music consort based in Leuven
Leuven

Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flanders, Belgium. It is located about 30 kilometers east of Brussels, with as other neighbouring cities Mechelen, Aarschot, Tienen, and Wavre....
, Belgium. The group specialises in 14th to 16th Century music from Flanders and takes its name from the choir of the court chapel of Emperor Charles V. When the emperor left Flanders in 1517, he took his best musicians with him to Spain to accompany him as "living polyphony".

Members


The core of the Capilla Flamenca consists of four male singers, currently Marnix De Cat (Countertenor
Countertenor

A countertenor is a male voice type whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or more rarely the normal or modal voice....
), Tore Tom Denys (Tenor
Tenor

The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....
, who succeeded Jan Caals in 2006), Lieven Termont (Baritone
Baritone

Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....
) and Dirk Snellings (Bass), the group’s artistic director, who is a well-known musicologist.

For each performance, the vocal core is enlarged either with complementary singers, an alta capella of wind instruments, a bassa capella of string instruments and/or an organ according to the needs of the genre. Among the singers, Psallentes (“the singers”) stand out, a Belgian vocal group specialising in plainsong
Plainsong

Plainsong is a body of traditional songs used in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. The liturgies of the Eastern Orthodox Church, though similar in many ways and probably older than the Roman tradition, are generally not classified as plainsong....
 and directed by Hendrik Vanden Abeele. The members of the windbands Oltremontano, directed by sackbut
Sackbut

Sackbut refers to a trombone from the Renaissance and Baroque Eras. 'Sackbut' is often used in recent times to differentiate a historic trombone from a modern one....
-player Wim Becu, and La Caccia, directed by Patrick Denecker (recorder
Recorder

The recorder is a woodwind instrument musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes — whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle and ocarina....
 and bagpipes
Bagpipes

Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones using enclosed reed fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes have historically been found throughout Europe, and into Northern Africa, the Persian...
) frequently perform the function of alta capella. Capilla Flamenca has also performed and made recordings with Philadelphia-based Piffaro
Piffaro

Piffaro may refer to:* Piffero, a musical instrument*Piffaro, The Renaissance Band , an early music ensemble in Philadelphia...
. The bassa capella consists of lute
Lute

Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
-player Jan van Outryve and viola da gamba-players Liam Fennelly, Thomas Baeté and Piet Stryckers. Joris Verdin is the group’s organ
Organ (music)

The organ is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard played either Manual or Pedal clavier. The organ is one of the oldest musical instruments in the European classical music....
 player.

Repertoire


Franco-Flemish Polyphony


Capilla Flamenca specialises in Franco-Flemish polyphony
Franco-Flemish School

In music, the Franco-Flemish School refers, somewhat imprecisely, to the style of polyphony vocal music composition in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries, and to the composers who wrote it....
, focusing on the music of around 1500. Multiple recordings and performances of religious and profane works by Pierre de la Rue
Pierre de La Rue

Pierre de La Rue , called Piersson, was a Dutch School composer and singer of the Renaissance music. A member of the same generation as Josquin des Prez, and a long associate of the Habsburg-Burgundian School musical chapel, he ranks with Alexander Agricola, Antoine Brumel, Loyset Comp?re, Heinrich Isaac, Jacob Obrecht, and Gaspar van...
, Josquin Desprez, Heinrich Isaac
Heinrich Isaac

Heinrich Isaac was a Franco-Flemish School composer of the Renaissance music, of south Netherlandish origin. He is regarded as one of the most significant contemporaries of Josquin des Prez, and had an especially large influence on the subsequent development of music in Germany....
, Johannes Prioris
Johannes Prioris

Johannes Prioris was a Dutch School composer of the Renaissance music. He was one of the first composers to write a polyphony setting of the Requiem mass....
, Jacob Obrecht
Jacob Obrecht

Jacob Obrecht was a Franco-Flemish School composer of the Renaissance music. He was the most famous composer of mass es in Europe in the late 15th century, being eclipsed by only Josquin Desprez after his death....
, to name just a few, have been executed since the ensemble’s formation in the 1980’s. Over the years, the group’s interest has expanded to include earlier music, most notably the so-called Ars Nova
Ars nova

Ars nova was a stylistic period in music of the Late Middle Ages, centered in France, which encompassed the period roughly from the preparation of the Roman de Fauvel until the death of Guillaume de Machaut ....
 and Ars Subtilior
Ars subtilior

Ars subtilior is a musical style characterized by rhythm and musical notation complexity, centered around Paris, Avignon in southern France, also in northern Spain at the end of the fourteenth century and England in the early fifteenth century....
 of the fourteenth century.

The group’s recordings and performances are characterised by thorough musicological research and by special attention to authentic performance. Capilla Flamenca's analysis is based on a careful study of the original sources, in co-operation with fellow musicologists . This includes solving the typical conondrums of early music, such as the use of musica ficta
Musica ficta

In European music prior to about 1600, musica ficta referred to chromaticism altered pitches, not notated in the music, which were to be supplied by performers....
, the problem of text-setting , the correct use of mensural proportions
Mensural notation

Mensural notation is the musical notation system which was used in European music from the later part of the 13th century until about 1600."Mensural" refers to the ability of this system to notate complex rhythms with great exactness and flexibility....
, the decoding of canons
Canon (music)

In music, a canon is a counterpoint composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration . The initial melody is called the leader , while the imitative melody is called the follower which is played in a different voice....
 and the authentic pronunciation of French, Flemish and Latin
Latin regional pronunciation

Latin spelling and pronunciation, both in the classical antiquity and post-classical age, has varied across different regions and different eras. Latin still in use today is often pronounced differently in various regions of the world....
 .

Cross-over


Capilla Flamenca has made several cross-over productions with artists from other artistic disciplines. Side by side with the dancers of Les Ballets C de la B, the Capilla toured the world with Foi, directed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and choreographed by Joanna Dudley . Between 2003 and 2005 the production was performed more than 100 times. In 2005, the ensemble confronted Jacob Obrecht’s music with video artist Walter Verdin’s view on the famous The Garden of Earthly Delights
The Garden of Earthly Delights

The Garden of Earthly Delights is a triptych painted by the Early Netherlandish painting master Hieronymus Bosch , housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid since 1939....
 by Hieronymus Bosch
Hieronymus Bosch

Hieronymus Bosch was an Early Netherlandish painting Painting of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The artist's work is well-known for the use of fantastic imagery to illustrate moral and religious concepts and narratives....
. More recently, in collaboration with contemporary music ensemble Het Collectief, the Capilla Flamenca created 12X12, a programme combining Karl-Heinz Stockhausen’s Tierkreis
Tierkreis (Stockhausen)

Tierkreis is a musical composition by the Germany composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. The title is the German word for Zodiac, and the composition consists of twelve melodies, each representing one sign of the zodiac....
  with Ars Nova
Ars nova

Ars nova was a stylistic period in music of the Late Middle Ages, centered in France, which encompassed the period roughly from the preparation of the Roman de Fauvel until the death of Guillaume de Machaut ....
 polyphony . In 2007, Joanna Dudley joined them again in the theatre and video production Who killed Cock Robin?.

Festivals & Concert Halls


Capilla Flamenca was a guest at numerous festivals, such as the Festival of Arezzo, the Holland Festival of Oude Muziek at Utrecht , Ferrara Musica , Festival de Saintes , Festival d’Ambronay and Cuenca Religious music Week . In 2005 they were ensemble in residence at the Laus Polyphoniae Festival in Antwerp .

The ensemble appeared on the stages of great concert halls, such as the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels
Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels

The Paleis voor Schone Kunsten or Palais des Beaux-Arts is cultural venue in Brussels, Belgium. Often referred to as "Bozar" or "PSK", construction was completed in 1928 and includes exhibition and conference rooms, movie theater and concert hall which serves as home to the National Orchestra of Belgium....
 , Concertgebouw Brugge , the Konzerthaus in Vienna
Konzerthaus, Vienna

The Konzerthaus in Vienna was opened 1913. It is situated in the third district just at the edge of the first district in Vienna. Since it was founded it has always tried to emphasise both tradition and innovative musical styles....
  and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Educational activities


In addition to recording and performing, the Capilla Flamenca have a commitment to education. In order to further the understanding of polyphonic music, Capilla Flamenca’s concerts are preceded by an introduction to the programme aimed at the general public. Capilla Flamenca and its individual members teach at various music conservatories. They often teach master class
Master class

A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also painting, drama, or any of the arts....
es and workshops, both for experienced amateurs and for young professionals. From 2005 to 2007, Marnix De Cat worked with a group of boys and girls (pueri) in order to introduce them to polyphony. Like the 15th- and 16th-century choristers, the young singers were instructed by the magister puerorum (master of the choristers) in the rules of music and the art of singing through simple songs and plainsong
Plainsong

Plainsong is a body of traditional songs used in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. The liturgies of the Eastern Orthodox Church, though similar in many ways and probably older than the Roman tradition, are generally not classified as plainsong....
. This resulted in a number of concerts and a CD . Through its educational efforts, Capilla Flamenca wishes to pass on its rich experience with polyphonic music to the next generations.

Awards

In 2003, Capilla Flamenca received the Premio Il Filarmonico at the festival of Arezzo. In 2005, they were awarded the Flanders Cultural Award (“Cultuurprijs Vlaanderen”) for music .

Discography

  • 1993 - Puer nobis. Christmas in the Renaissance. Eufoda 1147.
  • 1993 - Renaissance. Polyfonie in Brugge. The Songbook of Zeghere van Male. Eufoda 1155.
  • 1995 - Zingen en spelen in Vlaamse steden en begijnhoven. Music in Flemish Cities and Beguignages 1400-1500. Eufoda 1266.
  • 1996 - Pierre de la Rue
    Pierre de La Rue

    Pierre de La Rue , called Piersson, was a Dutch School composer and singer of the Renaissance music. A member of the same generation as Josquin des Prez, and a long associate of the Habsburg-Burgundian School musical chapel, he ranks with Alexander Agricola, Antoine Brumel, Loyset Comp?re, Heinrich Isaac, Jacob Obrecht, and Gaspar van...
    . Missa Alleluia. Music at the Burgundy Court.     Eufoda 1232.
  • 1996 - Oh Flanders Free. Music of the Flemish Renaissance: Ockeghem, Josquin, Susato, De la Rue
    Pierre de La Rue

    Pierre de La Rue , called Piersson, was a Dutch School composer and singer of the Renaissance music. A member of the same generation as Josquin des Prez, and a long associate of the Habsburg-Burgundian School musical chapel, he ranks with Alexander Agricola, Antoine Brumel, Loyset Comp?re, Heinrich Isaac, Jacob Obrecht, and Gaspar van...
    .     Alamire LUB 03, Naxos 8.554516.
  • 1996 - Sei Willekomen. Capilla Flamenca and Flanders Recorder Quartet
    Flanders Recorder Quartet

    File:Flandersrecorderquartet.JPGThe Flanders Recorder Quartet is a professional recorder group whose members, based in Holland and Belgium, are Bart Spanhove, Tom Beets, Joris van Goethem and Paul van Loey....
    . Eufoda 1256.
  • 1996 - Concentu melodiae. K.U.Leuven 96-01.
  • 1998 - Bassano: Viva L'Amore. Capilla Flamenca and Flanders Recorder Quartet
    Flanders Recorder Quartet

    File:Flandersrecorderquartet.JPGThe Flanders Recorder Quartet is a professional recorder group whose members, based in Holland and Belgium, are Bart Spanhove, Tom Beets, Joris van Goethem and Paul van Loey....
    . Opus 111 30-239.
  • 1998 - Margarete - Maximilian I. Musik um 1500. Capilla Flamenca with La Caccia, Schola Cantorum Cantate Domino Aalst, Schola Gregoriana Lovaniensis. ORF Shop CD 265 (2 CDs).
  • 1999 - The A-La-Mi-Re Manuscripts. Flemish Polyphonic Treasures for Charles V
    Charles V

    Charles V may refer to:* Charles V of France , called the Wise* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor , ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Spain and the Netherlands...
    : Josquin, De la Rue
    Pierre de La Rue

    Pierre de La Rue , called Piersson, was a Dutch School composer and singer of the Renaissance music. A member of the same generation as Josquin des Prez, and a long associate of the Habsburg-Burgundian School musical chapel, he ranks with Alexander Agricola, Antoine Brumel, Loyset Comp?re, Heinrich Isaac, Jacob Obrecht, and Gaspar van...
    , Willaert.     Naxos 8.554744.
  • 1999 - I Fiamminghi - V. Brassart
    Johannes Brassart

    Johannes Brassart was a Burgundian school composer of the early Renaissance music. Of his output, only sacred vocal music has survived, and it typifies early 15th century practice....
    : In festo Corporis Christi.     Ricercar 233362. .
  • 2000 - Jean de Castro: Polyphony in a European Perspective. Capilla Flamenca with More Maiorum, Piffaro
    Piffaro

    Piffaro may refer to:* Piffero, a musical instrument*Piffaro, The Renaissance Band , an early music ensemble in Philadelphia...
    , Trigon-Project, Wim Diepenhorst and Bart Demuyt. Passacaille 931.
  • 2001 - Resonanzen 2001. Viva España. Capilla Flamenca and others. ORF "Edition Alte Musik" CD 281.
  • 2001 - The Flemish Organ Heritage. Capilla Flamenca and A. van den Kerckhoven. Naxos 8.555809.
  • 2001 - Arnold de Lantins
    Arnold de Lantins

    Arnold de Lantins was a Dutch School composer of the late Medieval era and early Renaissance. He is one of a few composers who shows aspects of both medieval and Renaissance style, and was a contemporary of Guillaume Dufay during that composer's sojourn in Italy....
    : Missa Verbum Incarnatum.     Capilla Flamenca with Psallentes
    Psallentes

    Psallentes is a Gregorian Chant ensemble founded in 2000 and based in Leuven, Belgium....
     and Clari Cantuli. Ricercar 207.
  • 2002 - Pierre de la Rue
    Pierre de La Rue

    Pierre de La Rue , called Piersson, was a Dutch School composer and singer of the Renaissance music. A member of the same generation as Josquin des Prez, and a long associate of the Habsburg-Burgundian School musical chapel, he ranks with Alexander Agricola, Antoine Brumel, Loyset Comp?re, Heinrich Isaac, Jacob Obrecht, and Gaspar van...
    : Missa de septem doloribus.     Capilla Flamenca and Psallentes
    Psallentes

    Psallentes is a Gregorian Chant ensemble founded in 2000 and based in Leuven, Belgium....
    . Musique en Wallonie 0207. .
  • 2002 - Musica Reservata. Endangered Sounds. Capilla Flamenca and Psallentes
    Psallentes

    Psallentes is a Gregorian Chant ensemble founded in 2000 and based in Leuven, Belgium....
    . Alamire Foundation 2002.
  • 2002 - Vivanco
    Sebastián de Vivanco

    Sebasti?n de Vivanco was a Spain priest and composer of the Renaissance music....
    : Libro de Motetes (1610).     Capilla Flamenca and Oltremontano. LCD 9706.
  • 2002 - Prioris
    Johannes Prioris

    Johannes Prioris was a Dutch School composer of the Renaissance music. He was one of the first composers to write a polyphony setting of the Requiem mass....
    : Requiem.     Eufoda 1349 .
  • 2003 - Foi. Ars nova
    Ars nova

    Ars nova was a stylistic period in music of the Late Middle Ages, centered in France, which encompassed the period roughly from the preparation of the Roman de Fauvel until the death of Guillaume de Machaut ....
    , oral traditional music and more.     CAPI 2003 .
  • 2003 - Utendal / De Monte
    Philippe de Monte

    Philippe de Monte , sometimes known as Philippus de Monte, was a Flanders composer of the late Renaissance music. He was a member of the 3rd generation madrigalists and wrote more madrigal s than any other composer of the time....
    : Motets.     Capilla Flamenca and Oltremontanto. Passacaille 937.
  • 2003 - Canticum Canticorum. In Praise of Love: The Song of Songs
    Song of songs

    Song of Songs is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. It may also refer to:In music:*Song of songs , the debut album by David and the Giants...
     in the Renaissance.     Eufoda 1359.
  • 2004 - Zodiac. Ars Nova
    Ars nova

    Ars nova was a stylistic period in music of the Late Middle Ages, centered in France, which encompassed the period roughly from the preparation of the Roman de Fauvel until the death of Guillaume de Machaut ....
     and Ars Subtilior
    Ars subtilior

    Ars subtilior is a musical style characterized by rhythm and musical notation complexity, centered around Paris, Avignon in southern France, also in northern Spain at the end of the fourteenth century and England in the early fifteenth century....
     in the Low Countries and Europe.     Eufoda 1360.
  • 2004 - Obrecht
    Jacob Obrecht

    Jacob Obrecht was a Franco-Flemish School composer of the Renaissance music. He was the most famous composer of mass es in Europe in the late 15th century, being eclipsed by only Josquin Desprez after his death....
    : Chansons, Songs, Motets.     Capilla Flamenca and Piffaro
    Piffaro

    Piffaro may refer to:* Piffero, a musical instrument*Piffaro, The Renaissance Band , an early music ensemble in Philadelphia...
    . Eufoda 1361.
  • 2005 - Priest and Bon Vivant. Sounds of the City of Louvain from the 16th Century. Works by Clemens non Papa and his contemporaries. Capilla Flamenca, La Caccia and Jan van Outryve. Etc 1287.
  • 2005 - Dulcis Melancholia. Biographie musicale de Marguerite d'Autriche. MEW 525.
  • 2005 - Pierre de la Rue
    Pierre de La Rue

    Pierre de La Rue , called Piersson, was a Dutch School composer and singer of the Renaissance music. A member of the same generation as Josquin des Prez, and a long associate of the Habsburg-Burgundian School musical chapel, he ranks with Alexander Agricola, Antoine Brumel, Loyset Comp?re, Heinrich Isaac, Jacob Obrecht, and Gaspar van...
    : Missa Ave Maria, Vespers.     Capilla Flamenca and Psallentes
    Psallentes

    Psallentes is a Gregorian Chant ensemble founded in 2000 and based in Leuven, Belgium....
    . MEW 0633.
  • 2006 - Flemish and Walloon Organ Treasure, Volume 4. Capilla Flamenca and Joris Verdin. Vision-Air 2006/1.
  • 2006 - Lumina. Christmas Around The 1500s. Capilla Flamenca and Pueri. Eufoda 1366 .
  • 2007 - Désir D'aymer. Love Lyrics Around 1500: From Flanders To Italy. Capilla Flamenca. Eufoda 1369.
  • 2007 - Lambert de Sayve: Sacred Music. Capilla Flamenca and Oltremontano. KTC 4022.
  • 2007 - Salve Mater Salve Jesu. Chant and Polyphony From Bohemia Around 1500. Capilla Flamenca and Schola Gregoriana Pragensis, with Barbara Maria Willi. KTC 1346.


External links