Choir uses movie screen as lectern
Vocal ensemble Psallentes present a unique project about notation at the Concertgebouw festival in Bruges
Settling old scores
“As an ensemble using mostly sources from the 15th and 16th centuries – we wanted to extend this idea to a contemporary context,” says Hendrik Vanden Abeele, Psallentes’ musical director. “So instead of using a score book, we decided to produce a film that would deliver a similar service to our singers.”
The big advantage is that the audience can watch the score along with the choir and thus witness the music’s medieval origins. The film, called Liquescens, is based on the historical manuscript known as “B-Gu Ms 15”. It contains 621 pages, was made in the 15th century in Sint-Baaf’s Abbey in Ghent and is now kept in the local university library.
As a prominent antiphonary, or liturgical choir book, “B-Gu Ms 15” is protected by the Flemish Community’s topstukkendecreet, a decree stipulating that cultural heritage of exceptional importance has to be conserved in Flanders.
“An antiphonary contains liturgical chants to sing at times of prayer,” explains Vanden Abeele (pictured, far right). “But this is such a captivating piece of heritage, I want to share my love for it with the whole world.”
How serious he is about that is clear if you watch his Antiphonary Walkthrough on YouTube, in which he comments on the content, the significance and the sheer beauty of the manuscript. “In each video I describe one of the 621 pages. I’m at page 64 now… It’s a hobby that has got slightly out of hand.”
An artist at work
The original manuscript – 60 x 40 centimetres – is very heavy and exists in a twin version, one for the left half of the choir, one for the right half. Psallentes asked calligrapher Brody Neuenschwander, who has also worked with British film director Peter Greenaway, to recreate and illustrate the medieval manuscript on film.
This is such a captivating piece of heritage I want to share my love for it with the world
“We asked him to rebuild the manuscript,” says Vanden Abeele. “He is specialised in old documents, and with his background assisting Peter Greenaway, for instance in the film Prospero’s Books, we knew he was especially grounded in suggesting gestures and movement.
“In Liquescens, the development of the writings is as important as the final product. Being bound not just to notes, he could also give the singers instructions through an image or a movement. He really could let his creativity flow, using not only ink but also scissors and stamps. So the audience will watch an artist sitting behind his work table, making his own tinkering part of the film.”
The 86-minute movie is divided into four parts, focusing on religious themes such as the Holy Trinity or the lives of saints, expanding its horizon widely from notes and staves. “You can see Brody improvising on the life of Saint Lieven, whose tongue was cut off,” says Vanden Abeele. “While drawing branches with leaves being gradually squared off, he is freewheeling and constantly making associations, while the singers stick to the story.”
Since Neuenschwander’s notes are not always clear, the ensemble decided to compromise a bit. Singers will sporadically gather around a lectern, so the audience will be able to see their faces. “Reconstruction is always a starting point for Psallentes, but we don’t want to become slaves to it. The manuscript is only a means to introduce the audience to our world.”
The power of the crowd
This world is partially financed by crowdfunding: The ensemble is trying to raise €3,350 to make a Liquescens CD and DVD. At the time of writing, 74% of the amount had been collected. “This only covers the costs for the audio recording of the singers, which is a minor part of the total production process,” Vanden Abeele explains. “Despite the fact this is a co-production with Concertgebouw and we receive an €80,000 annual subsidy from the Flemish government, we can always use help. The more we collect, the more projects we can initiate.”
In future, the group would like to invest in more pioneering recordings; a CD of religious music by Liszt and other plans concerning Flemish heritage are being finalised. Psallentes also intend to prolong one of their most popular projects, evoking the music of the beguines. And they hope to bring another local antiphonary to life by trying to get the audience to sing with them.
28 February, 20.00
Concertgebouw, ’t Zand 34, Bruges
www.psallentes.be
www.concertgebouw.be
