Projects

Men’s Voices

In the mid-1980’s, Sequentia began to undertake large-scale projects involving an ensemble of 3-9 men’s voices, directed by Benjamin Bagby, for the performance of chant, music drama, liturgical polyphony and monophonic sacred repertoires. By the late 1980’s the men’s ensemble of Sequentia was a renowned trans-Atlantic collegium (many of the singers came from Boston) which performed and recorded widely in North America and Europe, sometimes under the name ‘Sons of Thunder’. More recently, the ensemble has toured with programs such as ‘Pilgrims to the Apocalypse’ (2000) and in 2004 joined with the men’s ensemble of the ensemble Dialogos (dir. Katarina Livljanic) for the project Chant Wars, which toured in Europe, North and South America, and continues to be performed. The Boston men’s ensemble premiered a new program in 2008: Carmina Burana (with the Boston Symphony Orchestra), and in 2009 a new ensemble of Sequentia’s men’s voices was founded in Paris (see Programs: Voices from the Island Sanctuary).

Past and present concert programs

Voices from the Island Sanctuary (2009-2010)
The Original ‘Carmina Burana’ (2008)
Chant Wars (with Dialogos, 2004-2010)
The New Voices of Notre Dame de Paris (2002)
Pilgrims to the Apocalypse (2000)
Liber Sancti Jacobi – Codex Calixtinus (1999)
Hildegard von Bingen Project (multiple programs, 1995-99)
Christmas Music from Aquitanian Cloisters (1996)
Singing Stones (1987-88)
Frauenlob (1987-1990)
Music-drama (multiple projects,1985-92)

Sequentia recordings featuring the men’s vocal ensemble

• Chant Wars
  The Carolingian ‘Globalization’ of Medieval Liturgical Chant
  A collaboration with the ensemble Dialogos, directed by Katarina Livljanic
• Frauenlob (Heinrich von Meissen, ca. 1260-1318)
  The Celestial Woman / Frauenlobs Leich, oder der Guldin Fluegel, zu latin: Cantica Canticorum
• Hildegard von Bingen: Saints
• O Hildegard von Bingen: Jerusalem
• Aquitania
  Christmas Music from Aquitanian Monasteries (12th c.)
• Shining Light
  Christmas Music from Aquitanian Monasteries (12th c.)
• Visions from the Book
  Vocal music inspired by Bible stories (12-14th c.)
• Bordesholmer Marienklage (ca. 1475)
• Vox Iberica I: Sons of Thunder / Donnersöhne
  Music for St. James the Apostle (12th century)
• Vox Iberica II: Codex Las Huelgas
  Music from the Royal Convent Las Huelgas de Burgos (13th -14th centuries)
• Vox Iberica III: El Sabio
  Songs for King Alfonso X of Castile and Léon (1221-1284)
• Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361)
  Motets and Chansons
• Philippe le Chancelier (ca. 1165-1236)
  Conductus, Lai, Sequence, Rondellus / ‘School of Notre Dame’

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