- country:Germany
- style(s):Celtic, Ethnic
- label:warner classic & jaz
- artist posted by:Kultur in der Landschaft
BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AGES AND MODERNITY
Umberto Eco, theoretician of semiotics and novelist, depicts astounding parallels between modern times and the middle ages. Like today, in these seemingly dark ages contradictions were apparent side by side; like today, all those issues which we usually only associate with contemporary times played a role: the interface of different cultures, the withering away of traditional social systems, the feeling of the end of times and simultaneously entertaining ideas of utopias.
The music of ESTAMPIE mirrors these interconnections. Its roots reach into the multifaceted music and complex world of medieval ideas; its inspiration, however, is drawn from all forms of contemporary musical expressions. ESTAMPIE does not avoid influences of modern styles such as Minimal Music or non-European music reaching as far as World Music or Pop. To the contrary, ESTAMPIE actively seeks the encounter with and immersion of other musical styles, for this crossover only reinforces the unique beauty and power embedded in medieval music.
The ensemble’s unique style is not only represented through its characteristic voices, but furthermore establishes its distinctive sound in exclusively performing on medieval, i.e. acoustic, instruments such as fiddle, hurdy-gurdy, lute, shawm or Portativ. Thus, its musical performance allows ESTAMPIE to introduce new accents. Put differently: the old instruments do sometimes play modern music.
ESTAMPIE defies simply labels. Rather, it dares the experiment to rethink the Middle Ages in its manifold aspects, to re-imagine this era as a contemporary possibility. This group does not follow orders nor the directives of Pop or the demands of the Ancient-music cults of historical replication. ESTAMPIE’S performance is a musical fantasy of that chimera also known as Middle ages.
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