Doron Schleifer, countertenor
Corina Marti, clavisimbalum and recorders
Italian polyphonic music in the fourteenth century has been likened to a “dazzling meteor,” flaming into existence then disappearing abruptly with fireworks spent.
One of the most important towns in medieval Italy is republican Florence which rose to prominence in the middle of the 14th century. With its distinct style of music and text, (Boccaccio, Soldanieri and others), compositions of Francesco Landini, Gherardello da Firenze, Don Paolo da Firenze, Laurentius da Firenze, and Jacopo da Bologna stand out as jewels of the repertoire.
Beyond this sparkling body of polyphony and song was a shadow world of many Jewish musicians and dance-masters who lived in Italy at the time. Alongside the elaborate polyphonic music and flashy dances they would play, sing, dance and teach, they composed hauntingly beautiful music for the synagogue.
Some of the most beautiful piyutim, from Achot Ketanah for the High Holidays to Maoz Tzur for Hanukkah reappear in the secular music of the same era and continue to be sung in services today.
Please join us in welcoming two Basel-based guest artists – Doron Schleifer of Profeti della Quinta and Corina Marti of La Morra – for this special ecumenical concert of stunning late-Medieval repertoire.