Ars Choralis Coeln
The schola "Ars Choralis Coeln" (ACC) was founded in 2004 on the initiative of the Archbishopric of Cologne and IFM (Initiativgruppe für freie Musik, Cologne). The female ensemble of the school is directed by Maria Jonas. In her work with the ensemble, she brings in her experience gained with Sequentia, especially in cooperation with Barbara Thornton, with Diphona and from her professional experience as a teacher.
The emphasis of ACC’s work lies in the Gregorian Chant and early medieval music which has gained considerable popularity over the last few years and on continuous development and consolidation of this type of music performing with young female singers. A particular area of focus in the ensemble’s work is researching the medieval repertoire of handwritten pieces available in Cologne itself in order to make these available for practical performance and to present them in the Roman churches of Cologne.
In the "Romanische Nacht" 2004, ACC gave its debut concert. In that year, invitations followed to the Schnütgen Museum, to the Bonn exhibition centre (Bundeskunsthalle), Essen cathedral and to Montalbane (DLF live recording) and the German Festival of Medieval Music with the programme "Rose van Jhericho - The song book of Anna of Cologne". There was an additional invitation to the "Romanische Nacht" 2005 in Cologne as well as to other festivals throughout Germany and abroad. Recently the ensemble was invited to the easter festival PSALM in Graz, to the Trigonale in Carinthia, to Rheinvokal (SWR), the Uckermärkische Musikwochen, the Fest Alter Musik in Erzgebirge and the Festival Voix et Route Romane.
ACC is closely related to ensembles SEQUENTIA and ONI WYTARS. The ensemble worked with ONI WYTARS on a Laude programme; and under the direction of Benjamin Bagby and his ensemble SEQUENTIA the CD "Krone und Schleier - Musik aus mittelalterlichen Frauen-klöstern" ["Crown and Veil – Music from Medieval Convents"] (a coproduction with WDR 3) could be produced.
2007 two further CDs were published: "Letare Germania", an hommage to the 800th birthday of Elisabeth von Thüringen (music from a Cologne antiphonar, 13th century), and "Die Rose von Jericho" (see above), which got two prizes: CHOC du Monde de la Musique and 5 Diapason. The current CD project is a scenic confrontation with the music and world of Hildegard of Bingen ("Hildegard von Bingen - Marienvesper"). In this context, the ensemble has been invited by the American director Robert Wilson to his "think-tank" in Watermill (NY, USA).
