Super Librum

The name of the ensemble has been chosen with care: playing 'super librum' (literally 'above the book') was the traditional manner of performance during the Middle Ages. Instead of playing from a score, musicians would improvise on the basis of musical patterns previously agreed on. Indeed, medieval musicians often could not read music at all but grew up in a centuries-old oral tradition.

They would be acquainted with any number of standard melodies, but in (polyphonic) performance they would exhibit the improvisatory skills acquired through long years of training under the guidance of a master musician. Super Librum is one of the few ensembles to incorporate this playing practice in its performances.

Super Librum is directed by Jankees Braaksma, who plays the recorder, the organetto and the Theophilus organ. As the performance of this kind of music is very demanding, Super Librum often cooperates with specialists educated at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, the only College of Music in Europe to have a specialised course in medieval music on its curriculum.

In its programmes Super Librum pays attention to troubadours, trouvères, Minnesänger, famous musicians and composers, European centres of music, and manuscripts. In conceiving and developing the programmes the knowledge of linguists, medievalists, musicologists, instrument makers, translators and choreagraphers is drawn upon to ensure the highest standards of excellence.

In 1986, Super Librum was awarded the first prize at the 'Competition for Ensembles of Early Music' (now known as 'Van Wassenaer Competition') and in 1987 gained a distinction as one of the finalists at the Musica Antiqua Competition at Bruges, Belgium.