Bernward

Agostino Steffani (1654-1728) was the most important composer ever to be appointed by the Duchy of Hannover. At the end of the 17th century this noble family embarked on a cultural offensive with the objective of having Duke Ernst August become a prince elector. To this end, the Welph dynasty obtained the services of Steffani, a master choice in itself as his works are still performed to this day in the majestic gardens of Princess Caroline of Monaco and her husband, the current Ernst August of Hannover.

Bernward Koch is a German composer, pianist and keyboardist. Additionally, he plays percussion, bass, and guitar. His music mainly evokes a soothing and calming style, with a clearly recognizable melody from the piano, enriched with keyboards, flute, guitar and percussion.

There are melodies that accompany us for a lifetime. You twist and turn them, they can inspire, give hope or comfort. For Johann Sebastian Bach [1685-1750] it was a simple hymn: O head full of blood and wounds. He used this melody again and again, in various settings, in some of his greatest works such as the Christmas Oratorio or the St Matthew Passion. It runs through his life as a red thread, like this concept album: Ebenbild is a continuous narrative in which the boundaries between musical genres and between music and language are blurred.

Musica Alta Ripa was founded in 1984. The recorder player Danya Segal, two violinists Anne Röhrig and Ursula Bundies, cellist Juris Teichmanis, and harpsichordist Bernward Lohr, all outstanding, sought-after musicians in their fields, joined forces to form an ensemble that owes its special aura to the commingling of their individual personalities.