As a Tribute, That Glorious Medieval Music Festival in Assisi

In early August for four days, medieval music starred in Assisi in a rich array of exhibitions, concerts, lectures and in musical performances. Medieval instruments were on sale, too, for this event was a mostra mercato (show/market).

The events of the medieval music festival, De Music Assisi, appropriately took place in Assisi’s medieval palazzi on the main square of the town, Palazzo del Comune.

De Musica Assisi included 25 events using la lingua volgare (the vulgate) of music between the 13th and 15th centuries, most appropriately in this year of 2025 in which we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the first poem in the Italian vulgate, “il Cantico delle Creature” (“Canticle of the Creatures”), composed by St. Francis of Assisi in 1225.

For 3 days of the event, medieval instruments were displayed – and on sale – in a medieval palazzo on Piazza del Comune. This mostra mercato di liuteria antica (“show/market of antique stringed instruments”) drew in both those wishing to purchase an artisanal instrument and those – like me – interested in learning more about the instruments I would hear played at a performance of medieval music that afternoon.

Here are some of the wonders:

One musical instrument artisan even played for me his salterio (psaltery):

In a nearby vaulted ambience, la Sala delle Volte (“the room of the vaults”),, ……

…….musicians joined to perform medieval music as a tribute to Vincenzo Cipriani, celebrating “cinquant’anni dal primo strumento costruito dal maestro liutaio Vincenzo Cipriani” (“fifty years since the first instrument was made by master luthier Vincenzo Cipriani”).

The public was attentive…enthralled….

…..and included Vincenzo Cipriani, too,…

Maestro Cipriani applauded with fervor and at the conclusion.of the performance, he was asked to join the musicians on the stage; after all, he had made the medieval instruments for more than one of those musicians…