Ensemble Laude Novella

Swedish folk music group that has have specialized in performing medieval and early renaissance music: music from the Ars Nova period but also from the 15th century: the period when the new sweet sounds became more and more popular. Since it foundation 1991, with Per Mattsson coming home from Schola Cantorum in Basel, ELN has regularly performed diverse programs in lots of different contexts: concerts in Cathedrals and churches; concerts in castle ruins; in festivals for medieval music in Sweden and other countries; in TV and radio. ELN performs for 5-year-old English speaking schoolchildren as well as for old people in hospitals. In other words, ELN performs both sacred and vernacular music for listeners of all age and in the most surprising places. ELN has also been busy travelling in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, Morocco. In its most compact form, ELN consists of two musicians, Ute Goedecke (chant, recorders and gothic harp), and Per Mattsson (medieval fiddle and lira da braccio). Depending on the program, the number of musicians can be augmented. The repertoire is mostly continental since there are not many sources of Swedish medieval music, though the ensemble tries to include some music with Scandinavian connections in the programs, such as songs from the song book Piae Cantiones, printed in 1582, with musical roots going back to the middle ages. ELN performances have a great variation of sound, which is appreciated by the public. The members of Laude Novella have taught on early music courses for many years.