Organized with the seminar “Music and Violence in the Renaissance” by Prof. Dr. Klaus Pietschmann and Deanna Pellerano.

Abstract: Recalling Alexander the Great, Emperor Maximilian I credits his domination in battle to the flutes and drums which “uplifted not only the hearts of men, but their sound filled the air besides.” These instruments provided an important, characteristic soundtrack for the Landsknechte, playing marching improvisations to keep troops moving and giving crucial signals for attacks and pike formations, thus standing together with the flag-bearer as a triadic military symbol of power. Iconographical and written records reveal a flute-and-drum ensemble which was active both on the battlefields and off-duty with dance and leisure music. An analysis of written repertoire provides examples of how marching improvisations sounded, and certain polyphonic sixteenth-century art songs – whether referencing religious crusade against the Turks or the Landsknechte themselves – are used to propose monophonic music that could have been enjoyed in soldiers’ camps and hailed by Maximilian as the reason for his martial success. Musical examples of military, dance, and leisure flute-and-drum music of the Landsknechte will be performed on historical reconstructions of Renaissance instruments. Holly Scarborough, accompanied by Philipp Wingeier.