Period

:

Medieval

 

 

Renaissance

 

 

Baroque

Genre

:

Choral

 

The Niederaltaicher Scholaren is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in performing medieval and Renaissance music. The ensemble was founded in 1980 by Konrad Ruhland, a German conductor and musicologist, who aimed to revive the music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and bring it to a wider audience. The ensemble's name is derived from the town of Niederaltaich, located in Bavaria, Germany, where Ruhland was the director of the choir of the Benedictine Abbey. The Scholaren part of the name refers to the ensemble's members, who are all scholars of early music and experts in the performance of medieval and Renaissance music. The Niederaltaicher Scholaren's main members are a group of vocalists and instrumentalists who perform together in various combinations depending on the repertoire. The ensemble's core members include sopranos Monika Mauch and Sabine Lutzenberger, tenors Wilfried Jochens and Gerhard Hölzle, baritone Klaus Wenk, and basses Raimund Nolte and Markus Flaig. The instrumentalists include players of the lute, viola da gamba, recorder, and other period instruments. The ensemble's repertoire includes music from the 12th to the 17th centuries, with a particular focus on the music of the Ars Nova and Ars Subtilior periods. The ensemble's performances are characterized by their authenticity and attention to detail, with the members using period instruments and performing in historically informed styles. The Niederaltaicher Scholaren have performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and have received numerous awards and accolades for their performances. In 1982, the ensemble won the prestigious Deutscher Schallplattenpreis (German Record Award) for their recording of the music of Guillaume de Machaut. They have also been awarded the Echo Klassik award, the Diapason d'Or, and the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was their 1999 concert at the Vatican, where they performed for Pope John Paul II. The concert, which included music by Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut, and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, was broadcast live on television and radio throughout Europe. The Niederaltaicher Scholaren have also collaborated with other renowned early music ensembles, including the Huelgas Ensemble and the Hilliard Ensemble. In 2005, they performed with the Hilliard Ensemble at the Edinburgh International Festival, where they received critical acclaim for their performance of the music of Johannes Ockeghem. In addition to their performances, the Niederaltaicher Scholaren have also recorded extensively, with over 30 recordings to their name. Their recordings include music by Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut, Johannes Ockeghem, and many other composers of the medieval and Renaissance periods. Overall, the Niederaltaicher Scholaren have made a significant contribution to the revival and appreciation of early music. Their authentic performances and recordings have helped to bring the music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to a wider audience, and their dedication to historical accuracy and authenticity has set a high standard for other early music ensembles to follow.

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