Cora Schmeiser, Birds and Flowers of Ventadorn and Veldeke, troubadour Bernart de Ventadorn, Occitan, Tant ai mo cor ple de joya [i, vi & vii], Cant l’erba fresq’ e.l fuelh apar, Can vei la lauzeta mover / Minnesänger Heinrich von Veldeke, Middle High German, Swer ze der minne ist sô vruot, In dem aberellen, Manigem herzen tet der kalte winter leide, Ez sint guotiu niuwe maere, Tristran muose sunder sînen danc, Arnold Schalks

'Birds and Flowers of Ventadorn and Veldeke' is a guided tour past the seasons of the amorous heart based on the Occitan poetry of troubadour Bernart de Ventadorn (c. 1135-1200) and the Minnesänger Heinrich von Veldeke (c. 1128-1190). Both employed the typical medieval stylistic device 'Natureingang': their poems start with a description of budding nature as an allegory for budding love. Changes in nature mirror the mood swings of the protagonist: How exuberant and promising the poetic soul turns, when the green grass appears and the nightingale starts to sing its clear and happy song! But what happens to the lover when the birds become silent and the bright colours of the flowers begin to fade? What can the unfortunate one do, whose heart is melting with despair? Cora Schmeiser knows a few answers and guides you on your journey through the unstable seasons of the mind. She accompanies herself on hurdy gurdy and singing bowl.

Strictly speaking, music is the 'displacement of air'. Analogous to this principle, Arnold Schalks decided to base his stage design on the 'displacement of light'. His circular light design reduces the seasons of the amorous heart to one solar day. Step by step the light orbits the singer: from low cool light in the 'morning' for budding love, via high warm light - as if the sun reached its zenith - to its fulfillment, to cool low light for resignation at 'nightfall'. Arnold Schalks uses a spark ball and cloud wheels for the illumination.

The circle is the foundation of the performance, visible by the simultaneous circular motion of playing the singing bowl or the hurdy gurdy and the cycle of light. These devices serve as a metaphor to enforce the timeless perpetuum mobile of passion that the poets once sung about.

'Birds and Flowers of Ventadorn and Veldeke' was performed in OCW, stage for small scale events, Rotterdam / on the 'Dag Oude Muziek' in Alden Biesen (B)

PROGRAM