The coronation of Emperor Matthias and Empress Anna of Tyrol in Frankfurt
Polychoral music by the imperial court conductor Lambert de Sayve
Co-operation with Murikultur, Muri (Switzerland)
In 1612, Archduke Matthias ascended the imperial throne as successor to his brother Rudolph. The coronation was preceded by years of conflict, which went down in literary history through Franz Grillparzer’s drama “A Fraternal Quarrel in the House of Habsburg”. The election of the German king and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire traditionally took place in Frankfurt. It was associated with magnificent ceremonies and solemn church services in St Bartholomew’s Cathedral. At the celebrations in 1612, a separate grand coronation ceremony was also held for the first time for the empress – Anne of Tyrol, a daughter of Archduke Ferdinand II from his marriage to Anna Caterina Gonzaga. Thanks to the coronation diaries, we know how the festivities unfolded. As far as the music is concerned, we are in the rare position of being able to identify the works that were performed – namely the twelve-part festive motet “Regna triumphalem” and the sixteen-part Missa super “Dominus regnavit” for four four-part choirs. These magnificent works for the coronation of the emperor and empress were written by the Franco-Flemish master Lambert de Sayve, who had served Archduke Matthias as Kapellmeister since 1582. His magnificent sacred compositions for the coronation celebrations of 1612 are at the centre of a concert that is literally expansive in the truest sense of the word.
BONUS: 6.15 pm introductory talk