Musica Instrumentalis:
Musical Instruments, the Voice, and Instrumental Music (11th-14th centuries)
In 2019 the medieval music course of Besalú will focus on medieval musical instruments and specialized medieval singing.
- The study of instruments will include techniques for instrumental accompaniment of vocal monophonic music, the performance of extant instrumental pieces from the original notation, the reconstruction of a larger instrumental repertoire developed from vocal compositions, and musical instrument making (guitterns, vielles, psalteries, and lutes) lead by our master luthiers.
- For the voice, the course will also feature two specialized medieval singing workshops on troubadour music with Benjamin Bagby from Sequentia, and on liturgical solo singing and early polyphony with Katarina Livljanić from the Ensemble Dialogos.
Manuscript to Performance
Instruments, Song Accompaniment, and Extant Instrumental Music
(July 8-12 / 30 hours)
A multidisciplinary study of musical instruments and their practice including voice accompaniment, instrumental music performance, ornamentation, musical functions, and symbolic meaning. For singers and instrumentalists.
Voices & Instruments Course
De instrumentis medii aevi
Performing with Medieval Instruments
(July 15-20 / 30 hours)
Musical instrument lessons, hands-on performance of extant instrumental music, singing to the accompaniment of musical instruments, and expanding the medieval instrumental repertoire from vocal models.
Medieval Singing Workshop I
Troubadours in Northern Italy / Benjamin Bagby
(July 6-8 / 15 hours)
Study and performance of troubadour songs contained in manuscript G (Milan, Bibl. Ambrosiana R71 sup.). Open to advanced singers and instrumentalists.
Special Workshop
Estampies Royales – Manuscrit du Roi (13th c.)
(July 6-7 / 12 hours)
Study and performance of the French Instrumental Compositions (estampies, ductias) contained in the Manuscrit du Roi (13th century). Open to instrumentalists.
Instrument Making Workshop I
Guittern and Romanesque Vielle
(July 6-8 / 20 hours)
Construction of a guittern (Gothic) or a 3-string Romanesque vielle guided by the master luthier Asier de Benito.
Medieval Singing Workshop II
The Art of the Medieval Cantor / Katarina Livljanić
(July 13-15 / 15 hours)
Study of virtuoso liturgical chant and early polyphony (9th-11th c.) for soloists and a group of singers. Open to advanced singers.
Special Workshop
Istampitte and Saltarelli -London, BL 29987 (14th c.)
(July 13-14 /12 hours)
Study and performance of the Italian instrumental pieces from the Ms London, B. L. Add 29987 (14th century). Open to instrumentalists.
Instrument Making Workshop II
Psaltery, Romanesque Lute and Vielle
(July 13-15 / 20 hours)
Construction of Romanesque Psaltery, Lute, or Vielle guided by the master luthier Gonzalo Pieters.
Medieval Music Besalú: An Immersion Course on Medieval Music Performance in a Medieval Town Setting.
The medieval town of Besalú from the air.
Voices & Instruments Course.
Manuscript to Performance course.
Faculty Besalú (Magister Petrus), Flavit Auster flatu Levi.
What students say about the course.
Highlights from the 2014 course.
Interviews and performances from the 2013 International Course on Medieval Music Performance in Besalú.
Medieval Music Course of Besalú: Interviews and performances on JLTV (Los Angeles).
Faculty
Dr. Mauricio Molina is a historical musicologist and ...
After receiving the master diplomas on piano, medieval ...
Trained as a vocalist and harper, Benjamin Bagby is the ...
Katarina Livljanić, singer and musicologist, is one of ...
Martí Beltrán is an early music performer, ...
Raúl Lacilla Crespo is a virtuoso bagpipe player with ...
Octavio Beltrán studied composition at the ...
Gonzalo Pieters studied at the prestigious Cremonese ...
Asier de Benito began making instruments by himself, ...
