Forthcoming Concerts

'THIT WAS TO THERE STUNDE' - medieval and contemporary music for a 13th century Frisian liberty song

This programme is based on an idea of Jankees Braaksma and connects medieval and contemporary music from the northern Netherlands.

Thit was to there stunde, tha thi kening Kerl riuchta bigunde; tha waster ande there Saxinna merik Liudingerus, en hera fele steric Hi welde him alsa waldlike tha tegethan bihalda tha kening Kerlis kairslica rike; ac welde hi ma duan, hi welda tha sterka Fresan vnder sinne tegatha tian.

It was at the time that king Charles (Charlemagne) began to rule. Then there was in the district of the Saxons Liudingerus, a very strong lord. He wanted to equip himself so strongly that he would get king Charles' empire. Also wanted he to do more; he wanted to bring the strong Frisians under his authority.

These are the beginning phrases of this oldest Frisian liberty song, written in the surroundings of Groningen, in the county called at the time Fivelingo. The first part of the poem tells of the successful war of independence against the Saxons during the reign of Charlemagne. The second part recounts the help offered by the Frisians to King Charlemagne, when he sought to subject the rebellious Romans. Charlemagne rewarded the Frisians and offered them gold and, most important: their independence. As a sign of their liberty the Frisians were allowed to let their hair grow long.

Aldus mugin hit alle liude forstan, thet thi kening Kerl thene Fresa vmbe kreftlike strid fri hewet gedan.

In this way all people may understand that king Charles the Frisians has made free because of that strong fight.

As in the 13th century freedom and indepence are still hihle valued by the present-day descendants of the ancient Frisians. It is the struggle to realize these values that forms the main theme in this new Super Librum programme.

For more information f.i. facsimile and transcription: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/6641/fresena.htm.

Jankees Braaksma is a specialist in medieval music and musical director of Super Librum. For this project three Dutch composers (Anke Brouwer, Douwe Eisenga, Arnold Veeman) and a poet (C.O. Jellema) were invited to create contemporary versions of a Frisian liberty song. For an authentic 'setting' of the text Jankees Braaksma used a contra fact of several trouvere melodies. The project has been coached by Dr. Oebele Vries in the pronunciation of the 13th century Frisian. For more information about Douwe Eisenga:http://douwe-eisenga.tk.

The 12th c. Theophilus organ, built by Winold van der Putten forms the musical centre of the production.

Marian van der Heide - soprano
Paul Gerhardt Adam - altus
Jonathan Talbott - fiddle
Ireen Thomas - lute
Jankees Braaksma - Theophilus organ, organetto and recorder