Programs

Voices from the Island Sanctuary:
Ecclesiastical Singers in Paris (1180-1230)

Ave, gloriosa virginum regina

Philippe le Chancelier (d. 1236)

At the intersection of courtly secular and ecclesiastical song, this Latin lai in praise of Maria is a quintessential 12th-century musical and poetical structure: constant repetition of themes set within an ever-varying form. This lai melody is found in later medieval sources with French texts and was obviously widely popular throughout the period in both secular and sacred contexts. Philippe -- the illegitimate son of an archdeacon and a noblewoman, born and educated within the close of Notre-Dame – was a brilliant church politician, writer, poet and administrator. He was a legend in his time, fought for justice for the students of Paris, and left behind at least 70 magnificent Latin songs.

Text

Hail, glorious queen of virgins, noble vine, elixir of life, resin of mercy! Hail, abundant pool of grace, clean us of our filthy flesh in the basin of purification. Morning star, radiant in brightness…through you the Divine Law illuminates with its teaching. O rose blooming with loveliness, without a thorn of sin, with inward love incline your ear to us and save us from destruction…

Program Archive

Lost Songs of a Rhineland Harper

Upcoming Concerts

28 October 2011
Early Music In Columbus, USA
Chant Wars

13, 14, 15 January 2012
Musée National du Moyen Âge, Paris, France
Frankish Phantoms

25, 26 February 2012
Da Camera of Houston, USA
Fragments for the End of Time

See full concert schedule

News

Between Music and Story-telling

In the context of a performance by Sequentia of The Rheingold Curse at the Radovljica Early Music Festival (Slovenia) in August, 2011, Benjamin Bagby spoke with Katarina Šter. Read the English original version of the interview here

Bagby and Rodenkirchen on WDR3

In June, 2011, Benjamin Bagby and Norbert Rodenkirchen were interviewed by journalist Anna Austrup for a Sequentia 'Portrait' broadcast in the West German Radio's prestigious 3rd program, in conjunction with a live broadcast concert in Cologne's 'Romanesque Summer' concerts series.
Listen to the recorded interview (in German)

2011 Thornton Scholarship

Laura Osterlund is the recipient of the 2011 Barbara Thornton Memorial Scholarship.
Read more

Benjamin Bagby on WQXR

On January 23, 2011, Bagby joined host David Garland at New York's classical music station, WQXR, to share his insights on the challenges and pleasures of bringing medieval music to life, and to present recordings by Sequentia.
Listen to the recorded interview

Beowulf on DVD

Benjamin Bagby’s legendary performance of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf (part I) recorded live in Helsingborg, Sweden.
Visit the Beowulf website