Role

:

Ensemble

 

Psallentes is a Belgian vocal ensemble that specializes in the performance of medieval and Renaissance music. The group was founded in 2000 by Hendrik Vanden Abeele, who serves as its artistic director and conductor. Since its inception, Psallentes has gained a reputation for its innovative and historically informed interpretations of early music, as well as its commitment to exploring the spiritual and emotional dimensions of the repertoire. Hendrik Vanden Abeele was born in Bruges, Belgium in 1976. He began his musical training as a boy chorister at the Sint-Salvatorskathedraal in Bruges, where he developed a deep love for the music of the medieval and Renaissance periods. He went on to study musicology at the University of Leuven, where he focused on the history and performance practice of early music. During this time, he also began to experiment with vocal ensemble singing, drawing inspiration from the work of pioneering early music groups such as the Hilliard Ensemble and Sequentia. In 2000, Vanden Abeele founded Psallentes with a group of like-minded musicians who shared his passion for early music. The ensemble's name is derived from the Latin word "psallere," which means "to sing" or "to play an instrument." From the beginning, Psallentes set out to explore the rich and varied repertoire of medieval and Renaissance music, with a particular emphasis on the sacred music of the Catholic Church. One of the hallmarks of Psallentes' approach to early music is its commitment to historical authenticity. The group's members spend countless hours researching the historical context and performance practice of the music they perform, using original sources and historical treatises to inform their interpretations. They also use period instruments and strive to recreate the vocal techniques and styles of the time, in order to give audiences a sense of what the music would have sounded like in its original context. Over the years, Psallentes has gained a reputation as one of the leading vocal ensembles in the field of early music. The group has performed at major festivals and concert halls throughout Europe, including the Festival Oude Muziek in Utrecht, the Festival de Saintes in France, and the Early Music Festival in Bruges. They have also collaborated with other leading early music ensembles, such as the Huelgas Ensemble and the Capilla Flamenca. One of the highlights of Psallentes' career was their performance of the complete Gregorian chant repertoire for the liturgical year, which they undertook in 2010. This ambitious project involved performing all of the chants associated with the Catholic Church's liturgical calendar, from Advent to Pentecost. The performances were spread out over the course of a year, and took place in various churches and concert halls throughout Belgium and the Netherlands. The project was widely praised for its musical and spiritual depth, and cemented Psallentes' reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of Gregorian chant. In addition to their live performances, Psallentes has also released several critically acclaimed recordings. Their debut album, "Missa L'homme armé," was released in 2004 and featured music by the 15th-century composer Guillaume Dufay. The album was praised for its clarity and precision, as well as its sensitive interpretation of the music.

More....