Early Music and Historical Performance Practice
Inernational Days of Early Music
200 YEARS OF MUSIC AT ST. THOMAS CHURCH
21. - 24. January 2026
Lecturers
Mikayel Balyan, Hammerklavier
Emma Black, Barockoboe
Anne Marie Dragosits, Cembalo
Miriam Feuersinger, Gesang
Marcello Gatti, Traversflöte
Anna Januj, Blockflöte
Franz Landlinger, Wolfgang Gaisböck, Barocktrompete
Balázs Máté, Barockcello, Orchester
Christoph Urbanetz, Viola da Gamba
Elisabeth Wiesbauer, Barockvioline/Barockviola
Gastvortragender: Prof. Dr. Michael Maul
From Johann Hermann Schein to Johann Sebastian Bach to Eberhard Müller – the Cantors of St. Thomas and Musical Life in Leipzig from 1616 to 1817
For centuries, the office of the Cantor of St. Thomas has played a central role in the musical and spiritual life of Leipzig. Cantors of St. Thomas were not only responsible for music at St. Thomas Church, but also for training the Thomanerchor boys' choir and directing it. Their duties included composition, rehearsal direction, teaching music and Latin, and organizing church music in Leipzig's main churches. Cantors such as Johann Hermann Schein, Johann Kuhnau, and above all Johann Sebastian Bach had a lasting impact on Protestant church mu-sic and influenced the development of music throughout Europe. Former members of the St. Thomas Choir such as Reinhard Keiser, Christoph Graupner, and Johann David Heinichen be-came first-class musicians and composers. Even after Bach's death, the position remained one of the most prestigious musical posts in Germany.
The International Days of Early Music offer a combination of practical musical work with ABU teachers in the form of individual and chamber music lessons and in-depth theoretical lectures. Renowned Musicologist and director of the Leipzig Bach Festival, Prof. Dr. Michael Maul, has been secured as a guest lecturer.
The following larger ensemble works are planned to be rehearsed:
Sebastian Knüpfer: ”Ach Herr, strafe mich nicht” (440 Hz)
Johann Sebastian Bach: Cantata BWV 180 ”Schmücke dich, oh liebe Seele” (415 Hz)
Suggestions for further chamber music and solo literature
Works by Cantors of St. Thomas/applicants/candidates for this office: Johann Hermann Schein, Tobias Michael, Sebastian Knüpfer, Johann Rosenmüller, Adam Krieger, Johann Theile, Johann Schelle, Johann Kuhnau, Georg Philipp Telemann, Johann Friedrich Fasch, Christoph Graupner, Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Adam Hiller, Eberhard Müller, ...
Lecturers
Mikayel Balyan, pianoforte | Emma Black, baroque oboe | Anne Marie Dragosits, harpsichord | Miriam Feuersinger, voice | Marcello Gatti, traverso | Anna Januj, recorder | Balázs Máté, baroque cello, orchestra | Franz Landlinger, Wolfgang Gaisböck, baroque trumpet | Christoph Urbanetz, viola da gamba | Elisabeth Wiesbauer, baroque violin/viola
Guest lecturer: Prof. Dr. Michael Maul
The course is aimed at students and graduates of Early Music.
The closing date for applications is December 5th 2025.
Pitch of keyboard instruments:
harpsichords, organ 415 Hz/440 Hz; pianoforte 415 Hz/430 Hz
SALE OF MUSIC NOTES Edition Walhall (www.edition-walhall.de)
Registration at https://register.bruckneruni.at/event/20/
International Days of Early Music
Every year, the ABU Linz hosts the “International Days for Early Music” as a forum for in-depth work on a topic relevant to historical performance practice. The course is aimed at students from Austria and abroad and is designed to promote education, exchange, and networking. A top-class team of international guest lecturers and lecturers from the Anton Bruckner Private University supervise the participants. Depending on the thematic focus, work is carried out in individual and ensemble lessons and in the ITAM Orchestra Academy. The supporting program of lecturer concerts, lectures, and a final participant concert enables a holistic immersion in a particular national style or era.
Guest lecturers and speakers in previous years have included Clive Brown, Anne Pustlauk, Els Biesemans, Miriam Feuersinger, Monika Mauch, Ulrike Hofbauer, Anne Smith, Susanne Scholz, Anselm Hartinger, David Bergmüller, Eugène Michelangeli, Peter Schleuning, Silke Leopold, Hans Georg Niklaus, Lars-Edvard Laubhold, and others.
