Pierre Hamon & Norbert Rodenkirchen

Medieval instrumental music in the form of double verses, as described by Johannes de Grocheo in 13^th century Paris as stantipes (estampie) and ductia, had already existed in oral tradition for centuries. A formally uniform instrumental music of the Middle Ages had developed over the course of several centuries in parallel with certain vocal forms. Along the lines of sequence, planctus, lai, nota, the estempida had developed. The first notated examples of purely instrumental music from the 13^th century are therefore not first attempts, but rather the results of a long creative tradition in a continuous context. The two flutists Pierre Hamon and Norbert Rodenkirchen have developed a duo program that traces the genre of the estampie, both dance-like and contemplative, from its earliest stages to the well-documented period of the 13^th and 14^th century. A program with new "up to date" transcriptions and reconstructions of medieval instrumental music, complemented by original compositions and improvisations of the two friends. 

New CD, released end of 2021. "Candens Lilium" with singer Sabine Lutzenberger, fiddler Albrecht Maurer, drummer and singer Philipp Lamprecht and me invited the Alta Capella "Les Haulz et les Bas" with Gesine Bänfer, Hanna Geisel and Ian Harrison to create this fascinating new approach to the medieval Carmina Burana together. The repertoire is - except for a Bamberg Hoquetus - all from the original manuscript in the Munich Staatsbibliothek. The versions are based on Norbert Rodenkirchen´s own transcriptions and reconstructions. The project was kindly supported by Kunststiftung NRW! To order please just write to "Contact", or purchase via bandcamp! The physical CD comes as a nicely designed Digipack - using pictures of some old Etruscian stones, photographed by our friend, the jazzdrummer Christoph Hillmann - with some additional info inside. Translations of the song lyrics in German are presented here as an extra PDF plus the liner notes and the sources in German as well. For English you also find just the liner notes here as a separate PDF.  The live program can also be booked here : a very nice festival format with 6 musicians.

Brandnew:  Hameln Anno 1284, Live / nemu records 2022.

The new album at nemu records as a 30min short CD also available on bandcamp and on all streaming platforms. A live recording with the highlights of a performance in Koncertkirken Copenhagen in August 2021. More info below, downloadable in the Booklet PDF.

(Please also check the former studio album: Hameln anno 1284 - Medieval Flute Music, On the Trail of the Pied Piper / note1, Christophorus 2012!)

Medieval Echoes

Contemplative flute music:

medieval, modern, archaic!

I premiered this meditative program live at Early Music Vancouver a few years ago and developed it further for a CD release by composing 5 pieces called "labyrinths of sound". At a few spots I additionally inserted some modern sound excursions to counterpart the archaic medieval tunes in double versicles which follow the line of early instrumental improvisation forms from the sequela of the 11th century to the estampie and ductia of the 13th century. Additionally Middle Eastern repercussions with very rare tunes show the fluidity of modal melodic interchange around the Mediterranean areas. A program very close to my heart. The physical CD comes with a fantastic liner notes text by Brooklyn based music philosopher and musician David Grubbs. 

In vergessenen Tönen Die Sangsprüche Meister Frauenlobs - with Sabine Lutzenberger & Norbert Rodenkirchen as a duo / marc aurel edition 2014 (In Forgotten Tones) // in July 2021 available first time online on Bandcamp, where you can stream audio, or purchase downloads and order physical CDs. This CD doesn´t appear on Spotify, Youtubemusic etc.. It´s only online presence is on Bandcamp! You may also order "In vergessenen Toenen" directly through Norbert Rodenkirchen`s contact page below.

CDs with participation of Norbert Rodenkirchen: 

Aquitania / Sony

Hildegard von Bingen, Ordo Virtutum / Sony

Edda, The Curse of the Rhinegold / marc aurel edition

Lost Songs of a Rhineland Harper / Sony

Endzeit Fragmente / Raumklang

Hildegard von Bingen, Celestial Hierarchies / Sony

Boethius, Songs of Consolation

CDs / DVDs / CD with participation of Norbert Rodenkirchen:

Judith / DVD Alpha, Outhere 2010

Barlaam & Josafat / interactive CD, Arcana, Outhere 2017

Hidden Fresco / nemu records 2005

Loplop´s Call / nemu records 2012

Opalescence  (experimental trio, recorded in Brooklyn)/  Telegraph Harp 2018

Ozzo / Cleanfeed Records

Seven Deserts / American Records, 2020