Music band
A chapel is also understood to mean a musical ensemble , derived from the meaning of a sacred building . The meaning of the term has changed steadily since the early Middle Ages.
The original meaning of the word capella or cappella refers to sacred objects and buildings based on the relic of St. Martin ( diminutive from Latin cappa (coat)). Initially, this was the name given to the relics and sacred implements of the Franconian house marshals , then in the 8th and 9th centuries the meaning expanded to include the sacred spaces of the court and the churches that were owned by secular or spiritual landlords.
Since around the year 800, the people involved in the performance of the court worship services have also been referred to as the mostly clergy, the so-called capellani , whose task was partly also in the field of singing. With the development of polyphonic vocal music , especially in France, the term was transferred from the 14th century to the singers, who became increasingly important in court worship; The term was first used in this meaning in 1335 for the French singing group of Pope Benedict XII. detected in Avignon .
Since the Renaissance , the term has increasingly shifted from Italy to instrumental musicians; Initially, the cappella ensembles of singers and instrumental musicians are referred to, whereby church music is still in the foreground here. Later, from around the 17th century, pure instrumental ensembles were also referred to as chapels, especially the court music colleges that were used for both church music and secular performances such as B. table music were used (court orchestras). Since the second half of the 18th century, the terms Capelle and, derived from them, Capellmeister have emphasized the professionalism of the musicians and the character of what is presented as art.
Since the 19th century, the term has been used generally in German-speaking countries for the musicians of an orchestra (cf. today the term Staatskapelle ), but at the same time there was a certain devaluation; today a smaller music ensemble is often meant, e.g. B. for march, dance and light music such. B. Lander band or brass band .
See also
swell
- Concise dictionary of musical terminology (HmT, Academy of Sciences and Literature, Mainz, editors: Hans Heinrich Eggebrecht, Albrecht Riethmüller, first Wiesbaden, now Stuttgart, since 1972), contribution to Cappella / Chapel by Sabine Ehrmann-Herfort, 2003 ( PDF ; 28 kB )
