ConTAKT 2024

5.10.23

An instrumental detective story
On the identification of a harpsichord by the Innsbruck court organ maker Daniel Herz

Instrumental research often resembles a detective's search for clues. Andreas Holzmann has succeeded in convincingly attributing a precious 17th century harpsichord in the Bavarian National Museum in Munich to the famous Innsbruck instrument maker Daniel Herz on the basis of numerous clues. We talk to Andreas Holzmann about Daniel Herz and his circle, about the Munich harpsichord and about the multi-faceted detective work that led to the identification of the instrument. We also play harpsichord music from Tyrol from the 17th century.

8.11.23

Of timpani and all kinds of drums
Percussion in early music

Guests include Tobias Steinberger, percussionist, and Josef Niederbacher, timpani restorer

Percussion instruments have been around since man has been making music. In early music, they offer players a great deal of freedom because their part is usually not notated and it is usually not even specified exactly which instruments should be used. However, pictorial sources show that they are frequently used. The timpani, which originated in a military context, are an exception in that we know a lot about their use - usually in combination with trumpets - and because their part was usually written out. Tyrolean percussionist Tobias Steinberger, who is not only at home in early music, explains how to deal with creative freedom and historical sources. Trained blacksmith Josef Niederbacher, who has already restored a number of historical timpani and studied this instrument in detail, tells us about the construction and special features of historical timpani.

10.1.24

The Monk of Salzburg - a musical journey into the Middle Ages
Guests: Anne-Suse Enßle (recorders) and Philipp Lamprecht (percussion)

The secular and sacred songs of the "Monk of Salzburg", who cannot be identified by name, are among the most important musical testimonies to the song poetry of the late Middle Ages. The recorder player Anne-Suse Enßle and the percussionist Philipp Lamprecht have been working intensively on these songs: The project they initiated to perform all the works of the "Monk of Salzburg" is the focus of this event. We talk to the two musicians about the fascination of this repertoire and the overall project. The duo will also give sound samples, with Anne-Suse Enßle not only playing the flute but also the medieval harp. Philipp Lamprecht will also be playing his voice and, in addition to percussion, the hurdy-gurdy.

28.2.24

The music of the Tyrolean Franciscans
Guests include: Wilfried Rogl (tenor), Simon Brandlechner (organ)

We provide insights into a very exciting and rich musical tradition of the order: in keeping with their ideal of poverty, the Franciscans cultivated music that differed from the music of other orders in terms of instrumentation and repertoire. Even the performance practice was a speciality. This "Musica franciscana" flourished in the Tyrolean province of the order. We present Franciscan composers and their works - and perform selected compositions.
ConTakt sees itself as a platform for the early music scene in Tyrol and as an open forum for musicians, organisers and interested listeners. It offers a broad spectrum of different formats, ranging from discussions and lectures by musicians and instrument makers to dialogue concerts and workshops with a didactic approach to presentations of instruments and collections. Ilse Strauß and Franz Gratl are responsible for the idea, concept and moderation. The event is organised by the House of Music Innsbruck and the Innsbruck Tourist Board and its holiday villages and is supported and co-sponsored by the Tyrolean State Museums.

13.3.24

Extremely pleasant and lovely - the viola d'amore
Idea, concept & moderation: Ilse Strauß & Franz Gratl
Guests: Annegret Siedel (viola d'amore) and Brett Leighton (organ)

The renowned German baroque violinist Annegret Siedel will introduce the viola d'amore: it originated around 1680 in the circle of Biber and developed into a fashionable instrument - especially in the period of Empfindsamkeit, people loved the lovely silver sound, which was initially produced by the nature of the strings, but later by resonating strings. Annegret Siedel presents three different sizes of the viola d'amore family and also talks about the viola d'amore revival in the 20th century. You can hear viole d'amore by Antony Posch, Vienna (five-string, without resonance strings), Leonhard Maussiell, Nuremberg (six-string, without resonance strings) and Paulus Alletsee, Munich (six-string, with resonance strings) as well as works by Vivaldi, Telemann and Biber with Annegret Siedel (viola d'amore) and Brett Leighton (organ positive).

Following the ConTakt event at the Haus der Musik Innsbruck, the Tiroler Landesmuseen invite you to a short concert (approx. 21:00-21:30) in the Hofkirche: Works by Frank Martin and Henry Casadesus with Annegret Siedel (viola d'amore) and Brett Leighton (Mauracher organ, 1900).