Oblivio: Concert and Recording

Following its debut in August 2024, the Belgian vocal ensemble Vetus Carmina embarks on its second concert cycle, Oblivio, scheduled for May 3 and 4, 2025, in Antwerp and Mechelen.

Both performances will be recorded.

The program delves into the profound artistic connections between Spain, Flanders, and northern France during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Oblivio

The cultural axis formed between Flanders, northern France, Germany, and Spain during the early-to-mid Renaissance gave rise to an artistic style that bridged the somber and visceral devotional universe of the late Middle Ages and the emerging expressiveness and passion of the Italian Quattrocento.

Dolorism reached its zenith in Northern Europe during the late 15th century. Many Flemish painters excelled in stark and brutal depictions of the Saints’ martyrdoms, the Passion of Christ, and the Final Judgment. The latter progressively acquired a more violent and individual-centered quality, as it was shaped by a culture filled with guilt and fear.

The Music

As for music, composers like Johannes Ockeghem (c.1410-1497), Antoine Busnoys (c.1430-1492), Nicolas Gombert (c.1495-c.1565) and Cristóbal de Morales (c.1500-1553), all included in the program, played a pivotal role in expanding its expressive possibilities.

Through their innovative use of imitation counterpoint, their nuanced handling of musical tension and resolution, and their bold and unrestrained treatment of dissonance —at times so striking that it can still unsettle modern listeners— they transformed their works into powerful vehicles for exploring the human condition and the intellectual currents of their time.

In particular, they contributed to establish a distinctive understanding of the relationship between humanity and the divine.

The Concert

To illustrate the musical continuum linking 15th- and 16th-century polyphony, particularly the fluid artistic exchange between Flanders, northern France, and Spain, we have curated a program of eight masterworks by different composers.

This selection comprises some of the most representative compositions from each generation, offering a clear perspective on the musical innovations introduced by successive composers, from Guillaume Dufay (1397–1474) to Tomás Luis de Victoria (c.1548–1611).

The pieces, based upon biblical texts and integral to liturgical practices, provide a sense of the spirituality, the violence, the moral restraint and the torturous devotion of the time.

As a group committed to bridging past and present, our aim for these concerts is to revive and share the human experiences embedded in these musical manifestations. Much like liturgical rites, religious iconography and other venerated objects, these compositions served as vessels for collective emotion, devotion, and identity.

By bringing them to life, we restore not only their sound but also the voices, histories, and cultural landscapes they carry with them.

Unlock Exclusive Rewards

Our rewards offer a range of exclusive benefits:

• Digital content: Supporters who download the digital album will receive a high-quality audio recording of a full concert performance.

• Physical CD: Includes program notes, original texts, and translations of the performed pieces.

• Priority Seating: While both concerts are free to attend, this contribution guarantees a seat in the front rows.

• Access to the general rehearsal: Experience the creative process firsthand by attending our general rehearsal, held at Ignatius Chapel, Prinsstraat 13a, Antwerp, on May 2, 2025, from 11:00 to 13:00.

• Masterclass: A 60-minute session with the conductor Arturo Moscoso, exploring the works featured in the program. Open to all levels —no prior musical knowledge required. Available online or in person (Madrid or Antwerp). The date and location will be arranged individually with the conductor.

Who Are We

Vetus Carmina is a professional vocal ensemble dedicated to the exploration and revitalization of 15th- and 16th-century music. Under the direction of the Spanish conductor Arturo Moscoso, the group is composed of elite singers, each with extensive experience in Belgium’s leading professional choirs and a deep passion for early polyphony.

Based in Antwerp, Vetus Carmina is committed to rediscovering and breathing new life into Renaissance sacred polyphony, with a particular focus on Flemish and Spanish repertoires.

How Your Contributions Will Be Used

Your support will help to cover recording and post-production costs, CD production, and accommodation and transportation expenses. Additionally, it will contribute to partially covering the singers' compensation.

Project Timeline

• May 2, 2025: General rehearsal – Ignatius Chapel, Prinsstraat 13a, 2000 Antwerp. (11:00–13:00).

• May 3, 2025: First concert – Heilige-Drievuldigheidskerk, Wapenstilstandlaan 55, 2600 Antwerp (11:00).

• May 4, 2025: Second concert – Begijnhofkerk, Nonnenstraat 28, 2800 Mechelen (19:00).

• August 2025: Digital album release & shipping of physical CDs.

+ Info

• For full details on our concerts and upcoming events, visit our website.

• Follow us on YouTube!