Maximilian’s Songs

Triumph 1; Ensemble Leones
Fri 22.09.23 (18:00) (18:45) Concert 19:30

Barfüsserkirche
Historical Museum Basel

Graz edition

Maximilian's Songs

I

n 1517, the printer Peter Schöffer published his masterpiece: a collection of partbooks of 36 German songs, worthy of Petrucci in their careful attention to detail and beauty and with a precise text underlay of all stanzas in all voices. For centuries this print was lost, until the discantus partbook reappeared in the 19th century. It was not until 1984 that individual pages of the tenor partbook surprisingly appeared in the cover of another work from Maximilian’s propaganda projects. Finally, in September 2020, the two missing partbooks (altus and bassus) were handed over to the Munich State Library: in one fell swoop, 13 of the previously incomplete songs could be reconstructed, including 6 unica, previously completely unknown pieces.

Ensemble Leones presents this long-lost music with singers and instruments, representing the pinnacle of the art of song at the court of Emperor Maximilian. Their program includes works by great names such as court organist Paul Hofhaimer and the young Ludwig Senfl as well as anonymous compositions of the highest quality from the court chapel.

 

Tessa Roos, Ivo Haun, Raitis Grigalis, Jacob Lawrence and Jan Kuhar – voice

Baptiste Romain – fiddle, rebec

Caroline Ritchie, Elizabeth Rumsey – Renaissance gamba

Marc Lewon – lute, Renaissance gamba; direction

18:00 Historical Sword Play (Wandrille Duchemin & David Trunz) accompanied by Renaissance flute and drum (Holly Scarborough & Philipp Wingeier)
Fasnachtsgasse (at the Barfüsserkirche)

18:45 Background lecture with Dr. Nicole Schwindt: “World premieres: New song settings from Maximilian’s last years of life” (in German)
Barfüsserkirche

Link Festival Overview

Video

Konzert 1 Festival

Maximilians Lieder; Festival 2023 «Musik und Macht» Barfüsserkirche HMB, Basel, 22.9.2023
(Thumbnail nach Triumphzug, 1515, koloriert 1726; Universitätsbibliothek Graz)
Mit Dank an Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Stadt; Sulger-Stiftung; Fondation Philanthropique Famille Sandoz; WaliDad-Stiftung; Fondazione Willy Brauchli; Sophie und Karl Binding Stiftung

Audio

2026

February

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Papiermühle – St. Alban-Kirche – Gasthof zum Goldenen Stern

March

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Sat 28.03.26 Sun 29.03.26 18:15 Concert

Sat Stadtkirche Liestal
Sun Barfüsserkirche, HMB

April

Regola Rubertina

Ganassis virtuosic Viols
Sat 25.04.26 Sun 26.04.26 18:15 Concert

Sat Kirche Reigoldswil
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May

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Song & Dance in Attaingnant's Prints
Sat 30.05.26 Sun 31.05.26 18:15 Concert

Sat Klosterkirche Dornach
Sun Barfüsserkirche Basel

June

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Sat 27.06.26 Su 28.06.2026 18:15 Concert

Sa Nydeggkirche, Bern
Su Barfüsserkirche, Historisches Museum Basel

September

Quodlibet

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Sat 26.09.26 Sun 27.09.26 18:15 Concert

Kirche Reigoldswil &
Barfüsserkirche Basel

October

The Queen’s Singers

The extravagant court chapel of the Tudors
Sun 25.10.26 18:15 Concert

Martinskirche
Basel

November

Byrd & the Baron

A secret Christmas
Sun 29.11.26 18:15 Concert

Barfüsserkirche
Historisches Museum Basel