„Ausflug in die Welt der Basler Musikhandschriften” or ‘Excursion into the world of Basel music manuscripts’

Participative workshop, Angélique Greuter
Presentation, Iris Lindenmann and Monika Studer
Concert, Ensemble Olla Vogala

Where ? Universitätsbibliothek Basel, Vortragssaal (1. Floor) Schönbeinstrasse 18-20, 4056 Basel

A participatory workshop will kick off the festival. On Friday evening, Basel University Library invites the public to its lecture theatre on the first floor and offers attendees the unique opportunity to see Basel music manuscripts from the Middle Ages with their own eyes and to immerse themselves musically in this fascinating period under expert guidance.

After a presentation of these treasures from the Kleinbasel Charterhouse by Iris Lindenmann, musicology specialist at the University of Basel, the workshop led by Angélique Greuter will be a moment of sound: the simple beauty of some of the selected songs will allow everyone to sing along under her guidance and discover the world of sacred monodies from the Middle Ages with her.

No special previous knowledge is required. The melodies are mainly learnt by ear and the projection of the manuscripts on the wall allows participants to discover the joy of the peculiarity of old notation at the same time.

In a subsequent musical performance, the Ensemble Olla Vogala (Caroline Sordia, Annelise Ellars and Aurore Gontard, students from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis), and Iris Lindenmann will present a further selection of monodies and polyphonies from medieval and Renaissance Basel manuscripts, showing the audience just how diverse the sources of Swiss music are.

The workshop and concert will last around two and a half hours with a short break.