Five unaccompanied women’s voices

Formed in 1998 by its artistic director Laurence Brisset, the De Caelis Ensemble specialises in the performance of unaccompanied vocal works of the Middle Ages. The Ensemble’s passion for this little-known repertoire has resulted in a body of work that is based upon knowledge of original sources, of systems of notation and of the context of the works concerned. The quality of De Caelis’ original and lively performances is recognised not only by specialists but also by audiences in general.

An experience in sound

De Caelis provides a place for experimentation and for research into timbre, ornamentation and improvisation. The soloists of De Caelis form a stable nucleus at the heart of the ensemble and have done so since its inception: this artistic complicity gives the ensemble its unusual vocal colourings. The range of the female voice is used to its fullest extent, from the dark depths of the chest voice to the brilliant top notes provided by voices that are naturally high and light. The quality and the complementary nature of the singers’ timbres shed new light on this repertoire.

Past and Present:
from mediaeval music to
contemporary music

De Caelis explores sacred and secular vocal repertoire from the 11th century to the dawn of the Renaissance. Our research into concepts linked with the musical originality of this early repertoire has led us to work with musicologists, linguists and historians as well as with composers of today. De Caelis is also committed to the creation and performance of contemporary works and presents them in programmes intended to create resonances between two periods of great creative innovation: the Middle Ages and the present day.