Cantus Modalis is devoted to the practice and promotion of modal music: the chant and polyphony of the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance, sung and played as living music.
Essay by Dr. Rebecca Stewart
A Modal Mentality for Modal Music
What makes music modal, and how should modal music be sung and played? Rebecca Stewart describes ten basic principles, drawn from the living oral chant traditions of the world, from vibration and overtones to pulsation and the use of air.
The Center Cantus Modalis uses the principles of the living oral modal traditions of the non-Western world as a way into the written modal traditions of the West. Singers and instrumentalists work from the original notation and learn the singing techniques this music asks for. This brings out many aspects of the music that were lost in the later, tonal approach that is now considered normal. Courses are given by Dr. Rebecca Stewart and other teachers in the Netherlands, Germany and the Czech Republic, and the Ensemble Cantus Modalis gives concerts.
Courses
- Project Weeks: a week of study of one repertoire, sung from facsimiles of the original sources and ending in concerts. For (semi-)professional singers and instrumentalists.
- Modus Days: exploring the great living chant traditions (Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish) and the modal principles they share.
- Modal Technique Days: a practical course in the techniques of singing modal music, also open to musicians who are new to it.
Fees, locations and registration: see the practical course information.
Activities
Upcoming workshops and concerts are listed under Activities; earlier projects can be found in the archive. Would you like to hear about new courses? Subscribe to the newsletter.
