Day 360 Sequentia-"Words of Power: Charms, Riddles and Elegies of Medieval Northlands"-Sounds and Musical Expression of an Ancient World- Chatham Baroque & Renaissance Baroque Concert Series

The opportunity to experience Medieval music of the 8^th to 11^th centuries is rare because few can accurately reconstruct this music that was seldom written down. Sequentia is an ensemble committed to researching and performing the ancient sounds of this Medieval period.  They were recently brought to Pittsburgh as part of the Chatham Baroque & Renaissance Baroque series to preform "Words of Power:Charms, Riddles and Elegies of Medieval Northlands." This was a unique night to experience the sounds and musical expression of an ancient world.

Show was preformed in the intimate new Pittsburgh Playhouse Theater

Reflection

the members of Sequentia are not only musicians and vocalists, but they are also scholars of Medieval history. Their show was a window into the Medieval life in the north where pagans, recently Christianized, merged Christian references with the pagan god, Odin, in their music, poems and spells.  

The program was performed in Old English, Old  High German and Old Icelandic languages with subtitles. These ancient languages gave the performance authenticity. We were transported back to the early centuries of Iceland. The 90 minute show was divided into four acts  and each act contained: an instrumental piece, a spoken Anglo-Saxon riddle, an Anglo-Saxon elegy and charms and spells used to bless and heal ailments. It was like a historical variety show.

This  music was mystical and memorizing. Sequentia opened with the soft melody of the flute and with vocalists, Hanna Marti and Stef Conner, facing each as if they were  engaged in a high pitched vocal battle (Incantations for Valkyries and a wounded battle-seed). The melodies often reminded me of the opening music from the History Channel show, Vikings. The soprano vocals contained unfamiliar patterns and rhythms that became less foreign  by the show’s fourth act.  

 The instruments (harps, wooden and bone flutes and percussion) produced relaxing soft and sleepy  melodies. The riddles with their double entendre solutions added punches of humor. The elegies injected  poetic lamentations and reflections of  this ancient life and its struggles, battles, and women- warriors. Ending each act with spells and charms reminded all that these northern lands were entrenched in a history of practicing magic.

Sequentia brought their own artistic palette to produce a colorful picture of Medieval music and life. It  was a unique experience that transported  the audience back to this ancient time through music, song, riddles and spells and laughter.  

(The Chatham Baroque & Renaissance Baroque  brings unique period musical experiences to the stage. For more information on upcoming concerts go here. )    

Other Sources

https://chathambaroque.org/event/sequentia/

https://chathambaroque.org/pnc-theatre-at-point-park-universitys-pittsburgh-playhouse/

https://www.sequentia.org/

https://chathambaroque.org/series-concerts-at-a-glance/