Rose & Flame: Medieval Music with Ensemble COMTESSA

Event Details

Event type: All Ages

Join us at Macaulay Church on September 4th from 6-8pm for an evening of Medieval Music performed by Montreal-based Ensemble COMTESSA. Featuring musicians Isabelle Douailly-Backman, Len Torrie and Maria Gajraj. Admission is by donation. Suggested donation $20. 

Rose and Flame Concert

Desire in the Courts from the Troubadours to Machaut

Love and desire lie at the heart of the music and poetry of the troubadours (Occitan), trouvères (Old French), and Minnesaenger (German). These medieval poet-musicians crafted refined and often idealized expression of love, intertwining passion with feudal and religious imagery. Their songs were primarily monophonic, allowing the poetic text to take center stage. The interplay between words and melody was essential - intricate verse forms and melodic contours deepened the emotional resonance of their works. Guillaume de Machaut later expanded and refined these traditions, becoming the master of courtly love in both poetry and music. Though known for his innovations in polyphony, his monophonic works - such as the lay Pour ce qu’on puit - retain the intimacy and emotional intensity of earlier traditions.

This program traces the monophonic legacy of of fin’amor courtois (courtly love) and desire from 11th to 14th centuries, spanning Occitane, France, and Germany. Through these timeless melodies and evocative texts, we explore the enduring legacy of medieval love poetry and its profound union with music.

Musicians:

Len Torrie : soprano

Maria Gajraj : organetto

Isabelle Douailly-Backman : direction, vielle

ABOUT COMETESSA

COMTESSA is a Montreal-based ensemble dedicated to performing and promoting music from before 1500. Rooted in both research and artistry, we bring this repertoire to life with creativity, authenticity, and a deep love for the music.

 
Montreal has long been a hub for early music performance and scholarship, but medieval music, some of the most vibrant and expressive music of the past, is still rarely heard here. COMTESSA seeks to change that. We’re building a space where female and non-binary musicians take the lead in exploring and sharing this extraordinary repertoire.

 
Through collaborations with specialists, scholars, and performers, we craft programs that highlight the depth, beauty, and relevance of medieval music today. Whether through concerts, educational initiatives, or interdisciplinary projects, we’re passionate about bringing this music to audiences in Montreal and across Canada.

At COMTESSA, we’re not just reviving the past, we’re reshaping the future of early music.