brandan
A Contemporary Voyage Into The Early Middle Ages
Legend has it that Saint Brendan (The Voyager; also: Brandan), an Irish monk, sailed the Atlantic
in the 6th century to find the ‘Land of Promise’. There is dispute among scholars today whether he
found it or not, or if it exists at all: Some think it might be one of the Channel Islands; others
suggest Brendan’s small boat must have landed on Madeira, and there are those who actually believe
that Brendan was the first to discover the Americas. Medieval cartographers were positive about the
existence of St. Brendan’s Isle somewhere west of Erie (Ireland) and busily marked it on their maps.
* * *
Late in the summer of 2005, six musicians in Leipzig, Germany, got together under the name of
BRANDAN to set sail and explore new waters. The voyage had been prepared well, and the solid
vessel now carrying them over the seven musical seas consists of texts from early medieval Europe
in languages such as Old High German, Middle High German, Old Icelandic, Old Irish, Old English,
and others. Some originate from manuscripts of the epics of our culture area, including the
Nibelungenlied, Edda, or Beowulf, and may be considered the first lyrical works of the European
Middle Ages. In addition, there are texts and compositions with a Christian-spiritual background,
such as extracts from the ‘Cantigas da Santa Maria’, and presumably the only surviving original
composition by a great female figure of the German Middle Ages, Hildegard von Bingen. Add to this
minute poems about nature which monks, almost bashfully, scribbled on the margins of their
manuscripts, and, of course, tales of love and joy, or sorrow.
The musical waters BRANDAN explore are as diverse and contemporary as the individual musical
experiences of the crew would suggest. With very few exceptions, BRANDAN’s repertoire consists
of original compositions by band members, incorporating elements of medieval music, but never
aiming to imitate ‘authentic’ (if there is any such thing) period musical practice. Quite on
the contrary the ensemble deliberately introduces modern elements and instruments, combining
folk with classical music, jazz improvisation with minimal music, roots with rock elements,
cello with drumset, bouzouki with saxophone, … A Latin hymn sung by two voices may well fade
into a saxophone improvisation, and Wotan, the venerable Germanic god, finds his ride through
Nordic woods accompanied by a bluegrass fiddle.
A daring undertaking? In certain ways it may be considered almost as daring and disputable as
Brandan’s voyage – and certainly exciting. But you will have to listen for yourself to know how
well it succeeded.
The Crew:
Juliane Weinelt - lead vocals, flute
Juliane Rotter - cello
Jan Oelmann - violin, guitar, bouzouki, backing vocals
Jens Lübeck - saxophones, flute, clarinet, backing vocals
Kerstin Braun - drums, percussion, backing vocals
Reiner Bolik - double bass
Contact:
c/o Kerstin Braun
Gräfestraße 25
04129 Leipzig
Germany
FonFax: ++49 (0) 341-9124920
Mobill: ++49 (0)175-4506486
E-Mail:
kontakt@brandan-band.de
Home:
www.brandan-band.de
English Version
