Biography

Psallentes was founded by Hendrik Vanden Abeele in 2000 to investigate the essence of Gregorian chant at various stages of history, using trained voices. Especial attention is paid to Gregorian chant from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.

CDs have been recorded of the music of Johannes Brassart (2000), Arnold de Lantins (2001) and Pierre de la Rue (2002 and 2006, awarded the Diapason d’Or prize). The ensemble also provided the chant for two CDs by the Spanish group Capilla Principe de Viana. Three more CDs appeared in 2006: one in collaboration with Capilla Flamenca (based on the Marian music of Obrecht – Musique en Wallonie), a project with the French ensemble Millenarium (Messe des Fous - Ricercar) and lastly the fifteenth century Ghent version of the tenth century Liège office for the Holy Trinity (Ricercar). In 2007 came a new CD with Millenarium based on the Spanish Llibre Vermell de Montserrat. In 2008 a new CD appeared in collaboration with Capilla Flamenca on the theme Bellum and Pax.

Psallentes has performed at countless festivals, large and small, in Flanders and across Europe.

Since 2004 Hendrik Vanden Abeele has been reading for a doctorate in Arts at the University of Leiden (and following the doctoral course docARTES at the Orpheus University in Ghent). As part of this he has been taking part in a research project investigating the performance practice of Gregorian chant in the Southern Netherlands between 1250 and 1550.

The current line-up of Psallentes’ principal singers is: Conor Biggs, Pieter Coene, Paul Schils, Philippe Souvagie and Hendrik Vanden Abeele.