Sacred music originated around the year 1500. This year the Trigonale opens. Then as now, the world was in upheaval: between the creation of Antoine Brumel’s “Missa Et ecce terrae motus” (earthquake fair in German) (around 1500) and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “Mass for the Endangered” (2018) may well and willingly Half a millennium ago, the works are nevertheless perfectly suited to be performed together as part of a concert: Then as now, the earth “trembled”, was in the midst of upheaval and faced seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Art and crisis shake hands once more
Festival director Stefan Schweiger: “The story behind this year’s season is crises and special events that moved people centuries ago and found their way into the works then as now.” That’s why this year’s trigonale doesn’t start with a secular one as usual , but with a sacred concert, “in which two monumental works – one from around 1500 and one from the present, the year 2018 – are performed, which also address the crises of their time.”
When no stone was left unturned
When Brumel created his monumental setting of the Mass, the new continent had only just been discovered; just under two decades later, Martin Luther’s theses ensured that no stone was left unturned in Europe.
Snider’s no less impressive composition – a hymn for the voiceless and forgotten, a requiem for those who have not yet died – should also be understood as a prayer for nature and the living beings of our planet, which calls for compassion and wants to protect us from an indifferent way of thinking. In the light of climate change, the corona crisis and the Ukraine war, it is regrettably more relevant than ever.
Musical director Gabriel Crouch says of this music: “This piece has only three chords. But within these chords it gets very complicated. These three chords are in a relationship that seems perfect and divine.”
Serene director at the start of the festival
The musicians rehearse on site for days. But that’s not the only thing that characterizes the Trigonale. After 15 years as artistic director, Stefan Schweiger is relaxed regarding the forthcoming start of the festival: “I’m very relaxed because over the last two days I’ve already experienced how concentrated and constructive the work is here. The joy with which the artists involved in the individual projects are involved and then there is actually nothing bad to fear.”
Henry Purcell in the Arndorf Church. There is a lot of darkness in this music, but in the end it becomes light and bright once more. Mark Tatlow says: “This music has a depth. But, and this is very important, a general feeling of joy and fun.”
Festival until September 11th
People’s feelings and fears have not changed. Then as now, music can bring some light into the darkness of everyday life. Stefan Schweiger: “Music was always a means for composers to process the impressions of their time and music certainly helped people to be able to edify themselves – it was the same then as it is today.” The Trigonale – the festival of early music – takes place until September 11th.
