Estampie

Estampie takes you into the world of the Middle Ages. Archaic dances meet longing love poetry, hypnotic rhythms merge with medieval and exotic instruments. A foundation full of grandeur and power, over which the multi-faceted voice of the singer rises.

Estampie has earned a place among the world's greats of early music. Nowhere else does medieval music sound as stirring and at the same time as delicate as with this Munich-based ensemble.

Concerts 2025

Do 5. Juni 2025 - 19 Uhr
Niedernhall bei Künzelsau (Laurentiuskirche)

PROGRAMS

Concert impressions from the programme "The distant mirror"

Mystical sounds from ancient India, distant Mongolia and the European Middle Ages are woven into a web of sound, accompanied by intense instrumental arrangements. The view into the distant mirror opens up songs from Mongolia that sing about life in the vast landscape and about historical events, meditative Indian ragas and polyphonic songs from Germany, Italy and Spain such as the Cantigas de Santa Maria, which made church halls resound in the Middle Ages. Again and again, this leads to unique musical combinations and lively exchanges between overtone chants and horse-headed violins, Persian santur, powerful drum rhythms, mystically ecstatic female chants and songs of monks and troubadours.

Estampie knows how to use these different "building blocks" to create an oscillating, contemporary coexistence between mysticism and world music.

Amor Lontano – Multiculturalism at the court of the Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II

Here we are travelling to the Sicilian court of Emperor Frederick II, who is said to have been a lover and connoisseur of Arabic poetry. It was therefore an obvious choice to bring in the Moroccan musicians Iman Kandoussi (vocals) and Aziz Samsaoui (qanun) to present a programme that follows in the footsteps of the music that may have been heard at the court of the great Hohenstaufen king.

The distant mirror of the Middle Ages tells us of our beloved homeland, of happiness, of loss and the melancholy of exile and of the everlasting possibility of building bridges through music and incorporating new things into our own world.

"The song Elegia, for example, shows how marvellous multicultural cooperation can sound, in which Middle High German texts are sung and blended with the mystical magic of the Orient, creating a surprisingly harmonious unity between the Orient and the Occident. Surprising? Not really, because Estampie have managed the difficult balancing act between old and new, tradition and modernity seemingly effortlessly for over 30 years." – Orkus

Secrets of the North – Scandinavian ballads of the Middle Ages

This programme takes listeners on a journey to fascinating northern soundscapes. The Nordic ballads tell of knights, trolls, mountain kings, enchanted nightingales, magical horses and dancing bears. ESTAMPIE takes us into the timeless Nordic world of love, betrayal and longing, weaves silver musical threads and teaches us to wonder and marvel once again. The fascinating voices of the singers, who slip into different roles in the bizarre fairytale world, lead us through this world of melodies in a multi-faceted way, interweaving and sounding as if they have just been invented. This is accompanied by a richly arranged instrumentarium, groovy, rousing, wild dances and sensitive interludes allow the virtuoso instrumentalists to take centre stage.

"Between glistening midsummer night and wintry darkness. Music full of exciting facets." – Peter Heymann, Sonic Seducer

"Estampie not only rediscover the secret magic of Scandinavia – they recreate it. Fabulous in both senses of the word!" – Christoph Kutzer, Miroque

Marco Polo – The sounds of the Silk Road

Together with musicians from the Orient, ESTAMPIE is searching for common roots in a contemporary crossover project.Their musical journey along the Silk Road is a voyage of discovery like that of Marco Polo, a research project into the original similarities and resonances between the European Middle Ages and oriental musical traditions.

In this programme, the ESTAMPIE ensemble meets musicians from Persia, India and Mongolia as if on a journey; together they travel on musically, songs from different cultures interweave and create a new language of sound; a slide show with impressive pictures by Asia expert Bruno Baumann provides an intense visual framework.

"Brilliant voices, brilliant percussion, excellent skills on medieval and oriental instruments combine with the image projections to create a total work of art." - Deutschland Radio

Ondas – Medieval songs around the Mediterranean

For several centuries, the Mediterranean region was THE cultural melting pot par excellence, whose influence extended far beyond the directly neighbouring countries (Spain, France, Italy) to Central and Northern Europe. The influence of the superior Arab culture brought unprecedented innovations in all areas of art and science. In the field of music, new instruments, a comprehensive music theory and new musical forms (troubadour and minstrel poetry) were developed.

Estampie presents this music from the Mediterranean region in the ONDAS programme. In this programme, European and oriental soundscapes meet and merge into a fascinating soundscape. The lyricism of the troubadours and trouvères, the famous miracle songs Cantigas de Santa Maria, Italian laude as well as Arabic and Jewish instrumental music combine to create a fascinating kaleidoscope of foreign musical cultures.

"A moving homage to life and love, carried by the dynamics and rhythmic drive of the instrumentalists, who ignite a dazzling fire of sound.An elysian experience of early "world music" from the old days."- Mittelbayrische Zeitung

Gaude gloriosa – Sacred and polyphonic music of the Middle Ages

A special (church) programme with mystical vocal arrangements, rousing pilgrim songs from the Middle Ages and rarely heard instruments such as the Indian dilruba.

The widely travelled musicians of Estampie incorporate the respective church space into their performance and have worked out an optional vocal extension for this concert with the Munich chamber choir Vox lunaris or with local vocal ensembles. The audience can expect a fascinating variety of sounds, from monophonic chorales to rousing polyphonic arrangements of songs from Spain and Italy, as well as the usual rhythmically accentuated instrumental dances of the Middle Ages such as the Saltarello.

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DISCOGRAPHY

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In Amor Lontano, the distant love, the distant mirror of the Middle Ages tells us of the beloved homeland, of happiness, of loss and the melancholy of exile and of the everlasting possibility of building bridges through music, of absorbing new things into one's own world.

Por Amor
Abdata Li Nassi
Elegia
Morgana
Dolze La Morte
Estampie IX
Amor Lontano
Ascoltate Bona Gente
Gharnati
Saltarello
San Francisco

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Estampie goes North... a journey into fascinating northern worlds of sound. The Nordic ballads tell of knights, trolls, mountain kings, enchanted nightingales, magical horses and dancing bears. Enchanting beings such as elves and mermaids intervene in human destiny. Estampie takes us into the timeless Nordic world of love, betrayal and longing, spinning silver musical threads and teaching us to wonder and marvel once again.

Linden so grön
Marmorstener
Harpans Kraft
Frau Silver
Ungersven
Ramunder
Konvulsionslaten
Aurora
Den Bergtagna
Hakan Hök
Orepolska

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The ESTAMPIE best-of album for the 20th anniversary of the ensemble. Listening to the 18 pieces from 20 years, it becomes clear why Estampie has been one of the most important modern interpreters of medieval music since its foundation.

Disse mi
Chanterai por mon corage
Imperator rex Graecorum
Quantos me creveren
Palästinalied
Blumenrot
Gol (Live-Aufnahme)
Estampie V
Voi ch'amate
Al jorn
A voi gente
Qui sunt hi /O antiqui sancti /Aer enim volat
O Fortuna
Fin amor
Reis glorios
Numquid Dari
Heu heu heu
Summerwunne

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Together with musicians from Iran, Mongolia and India, ESTAMPIE is searching for common roots in a contemporary cross-over project. Their musical journey along the Silk Road is a voyage of discovery like that of Marco Polo, a research project into the original similarities and resonances between the European Middle Ages and oriental musical traditions. "Estampie and the Sounds of the Silk Road" brings together European medieval music and traditional Middle Eastern and Central Asian music.

Je vivrois liement
Navoi
Morgh e schab /A chantar
Tsenherlen haragdah
Morin Tovorgoon
Mahabahdi
Khöömii
Mariam matrem / Chilygin / Sheikh Ahmad-e-Jam
Bayati Kurd
Hodilo
I vo bene
Gol

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Thematically, SIGNUM is dedicated to two central points of medieval existence: the transience of love and individual life and the finiteness of earthly existence in a religious sense. Musically, ESTAMPIE once again impresses with its versatility, ingenuity and imagination in the arrangement of medieval melodies. On the one hand energetic and powerful, on the other calm and meditative, but in any case incredibly forceful and expressive, ESTAMPIE plays medieval music at the highest level. In addition to Galician-Portuguese Cantigas de Santa Maria and Italian laude, ESTAMPIE also performs German vagantes and minstrel songs (Carmina Burana), old French and Provençal troubadour music and sibylline songs from Spain.

Al jorn - Alonso
A voi gente
Trotto
Audite
Alle Psallite
Razon
Owe war sint verswunden
Sine nomine
Al jorn – Carceres
Non e gran cousa
Cry de la mort
Quen na virgen
Estampie VIII
Non devemos
Bona condit

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Inspired by Celtic love poetry and Breton dances, the musicians continue their characteristically lively interpretation of medieval music. Estampie presents itself with an unmistakable sound language that ranges from lyrical, yearning love songs to powerful and complex instrumental pieces. Thanks to their sound background knowledge, it is easy for the musicians to continue the tradition of troubadours and minstrels. In "fin amor", the ensemble combines Celtic archetypes and music from other cultures with their own compositions for medieval music of the 21st century.

Fol é desmesura
Hanter dro
Bluomenrot
Summerwunne
Sancte sator
Floret silva
Swa tac
Exiit diluculo
A la fontana
Fraeunlobs
Estampie VI
Fin amor
Wessobrunner Gebet

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For several centuries, the Mediterranean region was the cultural melting pot par excellence, whose influence extended far beyond the directly neighboring countries (Spain, France, Italy) to Central and Northern Europe. The influence of the superior Arab culture brought unprecedented innovations in all areas of art and science. In the field of music, new instruments, a comprehensive music theory and new musical forms (troubadour and minstrel poetry) were developed. These innovations were soon combined with the already existing Christian melodies and texts to form what we now call "music of the Middle Ages". The Estampie ensemble presents this music from the Mediterranean region in its ONDAS program. European and oriental soundscapes meet and merge to create a fascinating soundscape. Gregorian chorales, the lyricism of troubadours and trouvères, as well as Arabic and Jewish instrumental music combine to create a fascinating kaleidoscope of foreign musical cultures.

Reis Glorios
Disse mi
Quantos sabedes
O Fortuna
Estampie V
Voi ch'amate
Nel mio parlar
Ben e crudele
Non sofre Santa Maria
Quantos me creveren
Aquestas noytes

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With a homage to Hildegard von Bingen, the Munich-based ensemble Estampie is taking a completely unexpected step in a new direction in the interpretation of early music with MATERIA MYSTICA, entering uncharted territory in this way. New ideas are combined with medieval thinking, music with visual fascination. With astonishing ease, the musicians build a bridge from Hildegard von Bingen's theory of the elements to modern music theater.

Ego sum dulcis conspectrix / O vivens vita
Qui sunt hi / O antiqui sancti / Aer enim volat / Kyrie
Blinded (Gevers)
O quam amara / O laudabilis mater
O ignis spiritus
Become as a child
Ego caritas / O dilectissime flos
O clarissima mater
Tears
Pearls
I, the highest fiery power / Ego victoria

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On CRUSADERS, Estampie takes the risk of combining medieval crusade poetry with pop music elements. A musical adventure through the distant, foreign land of Minne, a medieval version of modern relationship tragedies, characterized by "departure" and "letting go". The innovative symbiosis between tradition and modernity, with all its dreamy beauty, aims to seduce the listener into more than just enjoyment.

Allelujah
Seigneurs sachiez
Chanterai por mon corage
Maugréz toutz sainz
Imperator rex Graecorum
Crux fidelis
Quant amors trobet partit
Ich han nach lieben friunde
Ahi amors
Lamento di Tristano / Rotta
Palästinalied
Gaudens in domino

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LUDUS DANIELIS is a medieval mystery play that revolves around the biblical story of the prophet Daniel at the Babylonian court. In addition to captivating solo scenes, rousing songs by the festive court are the musical focus. The visually powerful realization opens up a completely new, haunting view of the medieval mystery theater. Estampie's LUDUS DANIELIS stands out far beyond other recordings of the mystery play and has already made interpretational history - released in 1994.

Ad honorem tui Christi
Jubilemus
Vocate mathematicos
Cum doctorum et magorum
Ut scribentis noscas ingenium
Vox Danielem quaerite
Multum miror
Hic versus dei famulus
Rex tua nolo munera
Solvitur in libro Salomonis
Regis vasa
Ecce rex Darius
Audite principes
Congaudentes celebremus
Decreverunt in tua curia
Numquid Dari observari
Heu heu heu
Abacuc
Ecce venit
Nuntium vobis

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AVE MARIS STELLA deals with the multi-layered aspects of the Marian cult in musical form. Melodies from various medieval codices can be heard as well as from contemporary composers such as Hildegard von Bingen and Oswald von Wolkenstein.

Ave maris stella
Ave generosa
Vocate mathematicos
Ave mater, o Maria
Stabat juxta Christi crucem
Ave donna santissima
Dansse real
Regenbogen tagewise
Saltarello
Humils, forfaitz, repres e penedens
Vos qui admiramini - Gaude gloriosa
Ave gloriosa, mater salvatoris
Santa Maria, strela do dia
Da que deus mamou
Ave maris stella
Stella splendens

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Songs of the Womens-Minne are songs of love and passion, the central themes of medieval troubadour art. Cheeky tales are just as much a part of this recording as the high minne, which was the troubadour's highest goal. A CHANTAR is Estampie's successful debut album, which brings the emotions of bygone times tangibly into the present. Released in 1990

Under der linden tree
I was a chint so well done
La tierche Estampie royale
Los frow und hör
Ondas do mar
Mia yrmana fremosa
A chantar
Dame merci
Istampitta Isabella
Bele Ysabiauz
Por coi me bait mes maris
Lasse come oublieray
Istampitta Ghaetta
Moult sui de bonne heure nee

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In 2004, Estampie composed the live music together with Thomas Neuhaus for the staged performance and filming of the work adapted by Theater der Klaenge. The elaborately produced DVD, which was created at the time and has now been digitized, was released in 2012. The film tells the story of Gregorius, which is based on the medieval tale "Gregorius the Poor Sinner" by Hartmann von Aue and was later adapted by Thomas Mann into the novel "The Chosen One".

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ENSEMBLE

Sigi Hausen

Vocals, flutes

"Working together in an ensemble for a long time is a fortunate experience in our changing times; the constant curiosity, the musical desire to travel to distant times, atmospheres and regions always gives rise to new sounds and opens the ears and hearts of our listeners. As a singer, it is particularly important to me to transform these seemingly old melodies into the present day through a natural and at the same time intense interpretation. My favourite poet J. L. Borges writes: I want to say thanks for the music, mysterious figure of time."

Michael Popp

Bouzouki, Ud, Dilruba, Tar, Organistrum, Lavta, Santur, Fidel, Saz, Vocals

"Who would have guessed back then, when this group was founded on a snowy November night during a walk through Munich's forest cemetery, that it would last for decades. It does so because it sets new impulses, is extraordinarily creative and thus not only breathes new life into itself, but also into the entire spectrum of early music."

Ernst Schwindl

Hurdy-gurdy, portative, harmonium, nyckelharpa, vocals

"We've been making music together for more than 25 years now - but even if we've had the odd creative break in the meantime, I'm always thrilled when we record a new CD in the studio or create that special atmosphere at a concert. For me, Estampie always means searching for the highest possible musical quality regardless of current fashions and trends."

Sascha Gotowtschikow

Percussion

"Every new Estampie project is always a highly unconventional and exciting musical challenge for me as an old hand, which I accept with enthusiasm. As the rhythmic motor of the band, it gives me the opportunity to enrich the music with my world percussion grooves and raise it to a more intense level. May there be many more creative endeavours along the way."

Naranbaatar Purevdorj

Morin Hur, Vocals

"ESTAMPIE is always trying to develop further and is constantly gathering new ideas. This is a lot of fun for me and I always feel very comfortable in this group. I'm glad that I've been able to play with these musicians for more than a decade."

Iman Kandoussi

Vocals

Iman Kandoussi, born in Tetuan, comes from a family that has long been associated with traditional Moroccan music. At the age of 10, she began her studies of Andalusian singing and Ud at the Tetuan Conservatory. She can be heard as a soloist at important festivals of Andalusian music and won the most important singing competition for Andalusian music, "Nujum wa nujum" (Star of Stars).

Aziz Samsaoui

Qanun, Ud, Percussion

Aziz Samsaoui, born in Marrakech, received his musical training at the Conservatory of Andalusian Music in Tetuan, where he studied Ud and violin. He currently performs with various ensembles alongside his career as a solo artist. He masters a wide range of styles from medieval to flamenco.

The history of Estampie

2023 World premiere of "Hear the voice of the bard" at the Mechelen City Theatre in Belgium as part of the International Festival van Vlaanderen.

2022 The multimedia project "Hear the voice of the bard" based on the Indian Mahabharata with musicians, dancers, actors from Europe, India and Mongolia and an innovative lighting design is created as part of the German Music Council's "Neustart Kultur" funding programme.

2016 Release of the 10th CD "Amor Lontano" with the two Arabic guest musicians Iman Kandoussi and Aziz Samsaoui.

2014 The third album of the Al Andaluz Project "Salam" is released. The Al Andaluz Project performs at two World Music Festivals in Algeria.

2013 Release of the 9th CD "Secrets of the north".

2012 The feature film GREGORIUS AUF DEM STEIN by the Theater der Klaenge with the soundtrack by Estampie premieres in Düsseldorf.

2012 The live DVD "Abuab al Andalus" by the Al Andaluz Project is released. This is followed by an extensive tour through Germany, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. The Al Andaluz Project is awarded the international folk prize "Ruth". Award-winning concert at the TFF Rudolstadt. The feature film GREGORIUS AUF DEM STEIN by the Theater der Klaenge with the soundtrack by Estampie premieres in Düsseldorf.

2010 The next album of the Al Andaluz Project is released "Al Maraya"

2007 Release of the CD "Deus et Diabolus" by the Al Andaluz Project

2006 Start of the next intercultural project together with musicians from Spain and Morocco - Al Andaluz Project. World première at the Landshut Court Music Days in the historic town hall. Over the next few years, this collaboration resulted in 3 CDs and a live DVD as well as numerous concerts in Europe. Release of the CD "Best of Estampie 1986 to 2006" - a compilation of pieces from all previously released CDs.

2005 Release of the live DVD Marco Polo.

2004 sees a further collaboration with the "Theatre of Sounds" with the production GREGORIUS AUF DEM STEIN (based on the novel by Thomas Mann), which is premiered in Düsseldorf. At the same time, Estampie is developing the project "Estampie and the Sounds of the Silk Road" together with guest musicians from India, Persia and Mongolia. Framed by elaborate image and light projections, the journey of Marco Polo along the Silk Road will be traced. Premiere at the Weltbeat Festival in Hanover with a DVD recording. Release of the 8th CD Signum

2003 Estampie contributes a track to the Hollywood production "Kingdom of Heaven" directed by Ridley Scott.

2002 Seventh CD Fin amor.

2001 With "Ondas", Estampie go on their longest tour of Germany to date and also perform in other European countries, including the Festival del Camino de Santiago Huesca, Musica Sacra International and the Schleswig Holstein Festival.

2000 Sixth CD Ondas. Estampie composed and

1998 The fifth CD Materia Mystica is released. First performance of the multimedia concert "Materia Mystica" in homage to Hildegard von Bingen in the Munich Reithalle, which was sold out several times.

1997 Performance of "Ludus Danielis" for the Thessaloniki Capital of Culture celebrations. Estampie produces a programme for ARD about the origins of Easter.

1996 Extensive tour of Germany with "Crusaders".

1995 The fourth CD Crusaders is released. Estampie composes and performs the theatre music for the successful play "Krabat" with over 50 performances in Munich's Prinzregententheater. "Ludus Danielis" is performed more than 20 times in collaboration with the "Theater der Klänge" in Munich's Prinzregententheater and in Düsseldorf.

1994 The third CD "Ludus Danielis - das Danielsspiel" - is released.

1991 The second CD Ave maris stella is released. Music to the "Ordo Virtutum" by Hildegard von Bingen, a production with music, dance and language. Over 30 performances throughout the German-speaking world.

1990 The first CD "A chantar" is released.

1987 Estampie wins the international competition for early music in Amersfoort (Netherlands).

1985 Foundation of Estampie.

PRESS REVIEWS ABOUT ESTAMPIE

"Anyone with an appreciation for melancholy medieval tunes will fall for Estampie after the first listen." Süddeutsche Zeitung

"A moving homage to life and love, carried by the dynamics and rhythmic drive of the instrumentalists, who ignite a dazzling fire of sound. An elysian experience of early "world music" from the old days." Mittelbayrische Zeitung

"... the musicians spin a dazzling web of sound in which melancholy and formal rigour miraculously go hand in hand with a rousing rhythm and subtle passion." Nürnberger Nachrichten

"Sigrid Hausen sings a ballad of which one can say that one has not heard anything so beautiful for a long time - perhaps not for 800 years?" Music and theatre

Estampie

Concerts 2025

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2022

PROGRAMS

Concert impressions from the programme "The distant mirror"

Amor Lontano – Multiculturalism at the court of the Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II

Secrets of the North – Scandinavian ballads of the Middle Ages

Marco Polo – The sounds of the Silk Road

Ondas – Medieval songs around the Mediterranean

Gaude gloriosa – Sacred and polyphonic music of the Middle Ages

DISCOGRAPHY

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ENSEMBLE

Sigi Hausen

Vocals, flutes

Michael Popp

Bouzouki, Ud, Dilruba, Tar, Organistrum, Lavta, Santur, Fidel, Saz, Vocals

Ernst Schwindl

Hurdy-gurdy, portative, harmonium, nyckelharpa, vocals

Sascha Gotowtschikow

Percussion

Naranbaatar Purevdorj

Morin Hur, Vocals

Iman Kandoussi

Vocals

Aziz Samsaoui

Qanun, Ud, Percussion

The history of Estampie

PRESS REVIEWS ABOUT ESTAMPIE

Estampie

Qntal

Vocame

Al Andaluz Project

Karma Projekt