Bois de Cologne - Early Music for Recorders and Harp (2004)

Historical harps, recorders, serpent, portative, fiddle and violin, not a common instrumentation - and a very vital one. Old-time music is not mimicked here, but lived: atmosphere, density without fuss. In the center the music itself: Music from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Early Baroque.
Bois de Cologne's music-making is characterized by a love of improvisation and experimentation: many of the old melodies not only require a careful, source-critical arrengement, but also an imaginative interpretation. To empathize with the music of bygone eras and to be inspired by it - these are important aspects of Bois de Cologne's work.
The instruments are excellent replicas of historical models. The Harp plays melody or continuo; the recorders, from the tiny sopranino to the (externally) edgy headhigh sub-bass, are air spirits, voices, tongue art and breath. The fidel, bordun-colored, gently in viola position. Bois de cologne, a wood that bears special fruits.
The ensemble consists of a core that can expand depending on the project. From the duo recorder / harp to the quartet, different constellations are possible. The trio variant with gothic fiddle / violin is particularly specialized in medival music, the trio with two recorders and harp plays programs from early to high baroque.