Piffarissimo - Instrumental music at the Council of Constance 1414-1418

In the years 1414-1418 the largest congress of the Middle Ages took place in Constance: the 16th Council for the election of a pope. It was also the only papal election in Germany. Constance was selected because it was episcopal residence, had sufficient accomodations and suitable buildings and rooms for the meetings. In the city, which numbered 6000 inhabitants, 72 000 guests stayed during the Council. The meetings were framed by church services and various celebrations that were naturally enriched with music. According to contemporary sources at least 365 instrumentalists stayed in the town. With ensembles consisting of shawm, sackbut/slide trumpet and trombone they emballished all occasions with festive music. Their representative function just took advantage of the more important rulers who brought their own chapels. The wind ensembles were supplemented by percussion or string instruments, as mentioned from a poem by Oswald von Wolkenstein. The South Tyrolean poet, knight and diplomat also stayed in Constance during the council. He is an indispensable witness. During the Holy Mass the help of the Holy Spirit was implored by the hymn "Veni creator spiritus" or the sequence "Veni sancte spiritus". The ensemble Capella della Torre has discovered these facts on his search and developed the idea of a musical retrospective of this important historical event. Since the sources never mentioned the names of composers, Capella delle Torre chose for the program the CD first anonymous works. According to the traditional style diversity during the Council also compositions of later masters were involved as well as two songs of Oswald von Wolkenstein. Dances, entertaining songs stand next to solemn or impressive ostentatious pieces. Spiritual melodies were arranged for the instrumental ensemble. 2014-2018, the Council of Constance marks the 600th Time. The city is celebrating this anniversary as an event with Europe-wide broadcasting. Lectures and exhibitions, scientific symposiums and festivals, a wide media presence and an international press work, the involvement of European partner cities and the invitation of high government officials and religious dignitaries move the council anniversary from 2014 for five years in the light of the international public.