Le Diamant et la Marguerite

Music history is generally navigated and recorded as a succession of styles, composers and musicians. However, it is also important to recognise the crucial role of patrons in the creation of works of art, compositions and manuscripts that have made it to the list of absolute masterpieces today.

One of the most important patrons of the 16th century was Margaret of Austria, daughter of Maximilian I of Habsburg and governess of the Low Countries from 1506 until her death in 1530. Her library testifies to a broad interest and passion for art, literature and music, as well as a special feeling for aesthetics.

Her collection, which she kept in her palace in Mechelen, included several beautiful choir and songbooks containing Franco-Flemish polyphony. Her inventory also mentions a special title: Item, ung aultre, couvert de cuyr, qui se somme le traité du diamant et de la marguerite. Today, the content of this lost old treatise is anyone's guess. However, Ensemble Phaedrus takes up this telling title as a reflection of the music that resounded at the Habsburg-Burgundian court.

With music by anonymous composers and celebrated polyphonists like Agricola, Ockeghem and Josquin from the Augsburger Liederbuch and her renowned basse danse manuscript, the Phaedrus Ensemble creates a soundtrack of Margaretha's love of music and illuminates the early repertoires of the Renaissance transverse flute consort.

Music by Pierre de La Rue, Johannes Ockeghem, Josquin des Prez and others.

Introduction 

Introduction by Stratton Bull

• 19.45 h
• Park Abbey Church
• only for ticket holders

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This concert is part of Voices of Passion 2026

Leuven and polyphony have been intertwined for years and years. Together with the Alamire Foundation, 30CC puts this tradition under the spotlight, using current knowledge and performance practice, during this Passion of Voices festival.

In this edition of Passion of Voices we draw a musical line through time. Five generations of composers shaped the polyphonic music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and also put the Low Countries unmistakably on the map as the home of polyphony.

More info

www.ensemblephaedrus.com/

artistic direction Mara Winter with Miriam Trevisan (voice) Massimiliano Dragoni (percussion) Bor Zuljan (lute) Mara Winter (traverso), Charlotte Schneider (traverso), Liane Sadler (traverso) en Luis Martinez Pueyo (traverso) photo Phaedrus