MEDIEVAL MUSIC DAYS 2026 - 12th EDITION!
THE BOX OFFICE WILL BE LAUNCHED SOON – STAY TUNED!:
Reverdies Montréal presents
The Codex Buranus and the Minnesänger
October 16-18 2026
Concerts/worshop/banquet/masterclass
The “Carmina Burana” was made famous by Carol Orff’s 1930’s masterpiece setting 24 poems from an extraordinary early 13th-century collection. Today scholars know it as the Codex Buranus, a rather unique medieval manuscript of over 200 works mostly in Latin, but many of which also have sections in vernacular languages, mostly Middle High German. This includes several religious plays and shorter sacred works, while the majority are on a variety of secular themes, including politics, morality, satire, love (both courtly and erotic) and the occasional drinking song. The works were clearly all meant to be performed, but musical notation is included for only about one quarter of them. Most of the repertoire is monophonic, but several works for two and three voices are included, and it is likely that some of the pieces without extant musical notation were also sung polyphonically.
The exact origins of the Codex remain unclear, but it was likely produced in South Tyrol (today in Western Austria/North-Eastern Italy). As to the authors/composers, most remain anonymous; although much has been made in the public imagination of so-called goliards, vagabond students or de-frocked clerics, this theory has mostly been debunked by a huge corpus of research in recent decades which has emphasized the great significance and complexity of the Codex.
We dedicate the 2026 edition of our Medieval Music Days in part to this fascinating and rich manuscript. As the Codex Buranus contains some of the earliest notation for German-language poetry, our other theme this year will be the repertoire of the minnesänger. This group of poet-composers were the German-speaking corollary of the troubadours of 12th-13th-century Occitania. Though the minnesänger were greatly influenced by the troubadours’ courtly love poetry, the German repertoire had its own trajectory and distinctive poetic and musical style which continued to evolve into the early Renaissance. This important repertoire has been largely absent from the music scene in Québec, and we are excited to finally introduce some of it to our audiences and workshop participants this year.
Westmount Park United Church Quebec
4695 de Maisonneuve blvd.Quebec
Westmount, Quebec
An immersive weekend in the fascinating musical world of long ago! Concerts and workshops, led by passionate and renowned musicians, gifted in
transmitting the breadth of their expertise with generosity and enthusiasm.
An experience for music-lovers and musicians and singers of all levels,
for those who wish to participate actively or simply to listen and discover
the beauty and lively spirit of medieval music
Friday October 16, 7:30 PM
Concert with ensemble Reverdies Montréal
Saturday October 17 - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Workshop for singers and instrumentalists
Saturday October 17 - 5:30 PM: Concert with invited young ensemble
Saturday October 17 - 7:00 PM: The concert will be followed by a Banquet, featuring medieval recipes. Places are limited, please book early.
Saturday October 17 - 8:30 PM: Medieval jam session and dancing
Sunday October 18 - Masterclass by Reverdies Montréal for professionals and music students (venue & time tbd)
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