Polyphonia Augustana

Venetian Musical Splendor in the City of the Fuggers – by the end of the Renaissance, Augsburg had developed into one of the world’s most important commercial and economic centers. Under the patronage of the powerful Fugger merchant family, a rich musical life flourished. At its center were outstanding composers such as Hans Leo Hassler and Christian Erbach. His “Modi sacri” showcase the full range of musical diversity, extending to ten-part motets. By 1616 at the latest, the practice of multi-choir music-making based on the Venetian model was firmly established at Augsburg Cathedral. Just a decade later, in October 1627, the cathedral chapter even decided that in the future “music should be performed in four parts, or choirs.” Christian Erbach’s significance extends far beyond his own work: as the teacher of a large number of students, he founded an influential South German school of organists. With works by Erbach, his students, and contemporaries, the ensembles AUXantiqua and I Fedeli bring to life the rich musical landscape of Augsburg at the beginning of the 17th century. A magnificent opening concert of the MURI BAROCK! festival.

AUXantiqua

Jessica Jans, Maria Deger – soprano
Stefan Steinemann – alto and conductor
Julian Romanowsky – alto
Matthias Deger, Johannes Ganser – tenor
Jan Kuhar, Joel Frederiksen – bass

I Fedeli
Josué Meléndez – cornetto and conductor
Catherine Motuz – trombone and conductor
Simen van Mechelen, Maximilien Brisson – trombone
Anaïs Chen – violin
Martin Jantzen, Caroline Ritchie – viola da gamba
Rüdiger Kurz – violone
Maria Morozova-Meléndez – organ