welcome – english introduction
ensemble officium was
founded by Wilfried Rombach in 1999.
In the past few years, ensemble
officium has made an excellent name for itself with its interpretations
of Renaissance music and Gregorian chant and has become internationally
well-known. It usually consists of twelve singers.
ensemble officium carries out thorough research, performs scholarly interpretations of Renaissance vocal polyphony and pays close attention to the semiotics and nuance of Gregorian chant. The intense studies of the scores lead time and again to fascinating discoveries, such as “The Loreto Vespers” for 12 voices by Antonio Cifra (1629). By performing the music as authentically as possible, the ensemble creates a unique and absorbing atmosphere. Works of sacred music from the Middle Ages, based on liturgical texts and retaining original liturgical framework, are also part of the ensemble’s specialties. In this way, the close connection between early vocal polyphony and Gregorian chant can ably be demonstrated.
ensemble officium not only experimentswith integrating new music. Every so often, the group includes music of the Franco-Flemish School. Here, the focus lies in particular on Heinrich Isaac and his generation of composers.
The ensemble is regularly invited to renowned festivals throughout Germany as well as to other European countries. Its singers were guests not only at the Tage für Alte Musik (Days for Ancient Music) in Herne in the Rhur, the Rheingau Musikfestival, the MDR Musiksommer (Summer Music Festival of the Middle-German Broadcasting Company) and the Niedersächsische Musiktage (Days of Music in Lower Saxony) but also in Sweden (Early Music Stockholm), in Austria (Barocktage Stift Melk), in Sicily (Musica Antica Erice) and in Poland (Plock Music Festival).
The result of the efforts to revive the music of the Roman late Renaissance is reflected in the ensemble’s close contact with Italy and invitations of the Fondazione Palestrina as well as the Istituto Storico Germanico to Giovanni Pierluigi’s homes in Rom and Palestrina.
Held in highesteem, ensemble officium is frequently invited to take part in radio and television broadcasts and live recordings of concerts by SWR, DLF, WDR, NDR and the Swedish broadcasting company.
Wilfried Rombach is the conductor of ensemble officium, which he founded in 1999. He is one of Germany’s most accomplished experts in sacred music of the Renaissance and Early Baroque, as his publications and works (performed and recorded by ensemble officium) show. He is a trained singer, organist and conductor and currently is Director of Music at the ‘Catholic University and Parish Church
of
In addition, he works as a freelance singer in the Stuttgart vocal ensemble of the SWR (a south-west German broadcasting company) and also as a vocal teacher, leading different projects and holding lectures at various conservatoires throughout Germany.
Letzte Änderung: 11.04.2020
© ensemble officium
2001-2020
