les cornets noirs

Gebhard David (cornet)

Bork-Frithjof Smith (cornet)

Amandine Beyer (baroque violin)

Cosimo Stawiarski (baroque violin)

Patrick Sepec (baroque cello)

Johannes Strobl (organ/harpsichord)

The ensemble "Les Cornets Noirs" is made up of young musicians who came together during their studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The primary group consists of two cornets, two violins, violoncello and organ and may also, at times, include singers and other instrumentalists. The principal interest of the group is to present repertoire which features the cornet, hence the name of the ensemble. The "black cornet" gained its name due to the fact that leather was wrapped around the wooden instrument; it became a favoured solo and ensemble instrument from the middle of the sixteenth to the end of the seventeenth century, especially in Italy and Germany.

The repertoire played by "Les Cornets Noirs" is drawn largely from Italian and German composers of the seventeenth century, including Heinrich Schuetz and Claudio Monteverdi, and also music by lesser known composers such as Niccolo Corradini, Dario Castello, Johann Vierdanck and Johann Staden. The aim of the group is to present this repertoire with a lively interpretation, developed through a thorough knowledge of the important source material of that time including treatises on ornamentation, continuo playing and other performance-practise issues. The group is particularly interested - as a result of their own research in discovering and presenting hitherto unknown repertoire from this period in order to provide a more comprehensive view of the characteristics of seventeenth century ensemble music.

"Les Cornets Noirs" were prize-winners in the "Concours musiqua antiqua" at the "Festival van Vlaanderen Bruges 2000".

Gebhard David - cornet

Gebhard David, born in ErIangen/Germany in 1973, first studied the viola da gamba and recorder and, from the age of twelve, began to play the cornet. In 1993 he entered the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis as a cornet student in the class of Bruce Dickey and, in 1997, completed his diploma. In 1997 he founded, with Bork-Frithjof Smith, the ensemble "Les Cornets Noirs", and since that time this ensemble has performed in several European festivals. He also works regularly with ensembles such as "Concerto Palatino", "La Fenice", "Concerto Vocale" and "Academia" and has played under the direction of René Jacobs, Jordi Savall, Gabriel Garrido, Eric van Nevel and Helmuth Rilling. He has appeared in festivals in Utrecht, Ambronay, Antwerp, Oslo, Danzig and New York.

Bork-Frithjof Smith - cornet

Bork-Frithjof Smith, born in Hanover/Germany in 1973, first studied the violoncello, recorder and trumpet, and from the age of twelve, began to play the cornet. In 1994 he entered the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis as a cornet student in the class of Bruce Dickey and, in 1999, completed his diploma. In 1997 he founded, with Gebhard David, the ensemble "Les Cornets Noirs" and since that time this ensemble has performed in several European festivals. He also works regularly with ensembles such as "Concerto Palatino", La Fenice", "Concerto Vocale", "Academia" and "Huelgas" and has played under the direction of René Jacobs, Gabriel Garrido and Paul van Nevel. He has appeared in festivals in Utrecht, Ambronay, Antwerp, Oslo, Saintes, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires and New York.

Amandine Beyer - baroque violin

Amandine Beyer, born in Aix-en Provence/France in 1974, began at an early age to study the violin and recorder at the conservatorium of her home city and later continued her violin studies at the "Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique" in Paris where, in 1994, she was awarded the "premier prix" at the conclusion of her diploma in modem violin. One year later she began her study of the baroque violin at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in the class of Chiara Banchini, along with studies in musicology. In 1997 she completed her musicology degree and in 1998 she received the "Certificat d'aptitude de musique ancienne". In 1999 she completed her studies at the Schola Cantorum with the diploma and since then she has worked with ensembles such as "415", "Mala punica", "La Capella Reial de Catalunya", "La Fenice" and "L'Assemblé des Honnestes Curieux" which, in 1998, won the "Premio Bonporti in Rovereto.

Cosimo Stawiarski - baroque violin

Cosimo Stawiarksi, born in Coperino/Italy in 1974, studied the baroque violin at the Academy of Arts in Bremen and later musicology at the Christian Albrecht University in Kiel. He is currently furthering his studies in baroque violin as a student of Chiara Banchinj at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The focus of his work is to research and perform music from north and middle Germany of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. He has worked with ensembles such as "Lautten Compagney Berlin", "Leipziger Barockorchester", "Johann-Rosenmueller-Ensemble'' and "Ensemble fuer Alte Musik Dresden" and has played under the direction of Hermann Max, Frieder Bernius, Paul Goodwin and Howard Arman.

Johannes Strobl - organ

Johannes Strobl, born in Villach/Austria in 1969, is a graduate of the "Mozarteum" in Salzburg where he completed his teaching, concert and church music diploma with honours in the class of Heribert Metzger. He then entered the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and studied the organ with Jean-Claude Zehnder, harpsichord with Joerg-Andreas Boetticher and continuo playing with Jesper Christensen. He has appeared both as a soloist and continuo player in various early music ensembles and in the Camerata Academica Salzburg and has performed in many European countries as well as Israel, Japan and Argentina. He has worked with many famous directors including Sir Roger Norrington, Michel Corboz, Giovanni Antonini and Peter Schreier. In 1998 he was the second prize winner at the Paul Hofhaimer Organ Competition in Innsbruck. He is currently completing his musicology studies at die University of Salzburg, writing a thesis about the origins of continuo playing in Italyand Germany.

Patrick Sepec - baroque cello

Patrick Sepec, born in Frankfurt am Main/Germany in 1969, studied from 1990 until 1994 with Thomas Demenga at the Music Academy of Basle. After completing his teaching diploma he continued his studies with Reinhard Latzko and completed his concert diploma in 1997. From 1997 until 1999 he studied baroque cello at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in the class of Christophe Coin. His particular interests include both contemporary music and early music. He plays in "Duo Divertito" and in the "Freiburger Barockorchester" and has appeared in the festivals of Tanglewood and Ravinia.

How to contact us:

1) Mail: Les Cornets Noirs, c/o Frithjof Smith, Hardstr. 69, CH 4052 Basel

              Les Cornets Noirs, c/o Gebhard David, Hardstr. 32, D 79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen

2) Telephone: +41 61 482 2366 Cell-phone: +41 79 372 2823

                         +49 173 673 7260

3) Fax: +41 61 482 2366

4) e-mail

5) contact form

6) guestbook

	Gebhard David (cornet) Bork-Frithjof Smith (cornet) Amandine Beyer (baroque violin) Cosimo Stawiarski (baroque violin) Patrick Sepec (baroque cello) Johannes Strobl (organ/harpsichord) The ensemble "Les Cornets Noirs" is made up of young musicians who came together during their studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The primary group consists of two cornets, two violins, violoncello and organ and may also, at times, include singers and other instrumentalists. The principal interest of the group is to present repertoire which features the cornet, hence the name of the ensemble. The "black cornet" gained its name due to the fact that leather was wrapped around the wooden instrument; it became a favoured solo and ensemble instrument from the middle of the sixteenth to the end of the seventeenth century, especially in Italy and Germany. The repertoire played by "Les Cornets Noirs" is drawn largely from Italian and German composers of the seventeenth century, including Heinrich Schuetz and Claudio Monteverdi, and also music by lesser known composers such as Niccolo Corradini, Dario Castello, Johann Vierdanck and Johann Staden. The aim of the group is to present this repertoire with a lively interpretation, developed through a thorough knowledge of the important source material of that time including treatises on ornamentation, continuo playing and other performance-practise issues. The group is particularly interested - as a result of their own research in discovering and presenting hitherto unknown repertoire from this period in order to provide a more comprehensive view of the characteristics of seventeenth century ensemble music. "Les Cornets Noirs" were prize-winners in the "Concours musiqua antiqua" at the "Festival van Vlaanderen Bruges 2000". Gebhard David - cornet Gebhard David, born in ErIangen/Germany in 1973, first studied the viola da gamba and recorder and, from the age of twelve, began to play the cornet. In 1993 he entered the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis as a cornet student in the class of Bruce Dickey and, in 1997, completed his diploma. In 1997 he founded, with Bork-Frithjof Smith, the ensemble "Les Cornets Noirs", and since that time this ensemble has performed in several European festivals. He also works regularly with ensembles such as "Concerto Palatino", "La Fenice", "Concerto Vocale" and "Academia" and has played under the direction of René Jacobs, Jordi Savall, Gabriel Garrido, Eric van Nevel and Helmuth Rilling. He has appeared in festivals in Utrecht, Ambronay, Antwerp, Oslo, Danzig and New York. Bork-Frithjof Smith - cornet Bork-Frithjof Smith, born in Hanover/Germany in 1973, first studied the violoncello, recorder and trumpet, and from the age of twelve, began to play the cornet. In 1994 he entered the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis as a cornet student in the class of Bruce Dickey and, in 1999, completed his diploma. In 1997 he founded, with Gebhard David, the ensemble "Les Cornets Noirs" and since that time this ensemble has performed in several European festivals. He also works regularly with ensembles such as "Concerto Palatino", La Fenice", "Concerto Vocale", "Academia" and "Huelgas" and has played under the direction of René Jacobs, Gabriel Garrido and Paul van Nevel. He has appeared in festivals in Utrecht, Ambronay, Antwerp, Oslo, Saintes, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires and New York. Amandine Beyer - baroque violin Amandine Beyer, born in Aix-en Provence/France in 1974, began at an early age to study the violin and recorder at the conservatorium of her home city and later continued her violin studies at the "Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique" in Paris where, in 1994, she was awarded the "premier prix" at the conclusion of her diploma in modem violin. One year later she began her study of the baroque violin at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in the class of Chiara Banchini, along with studies in musicology. In 1997 she completed her musicology degree and in 1998 she received the "Certificat d'aptitude de musique ancienne". In 1999 she completed her studies at the Schola Cantorum with the diploma and since then she has worked with ensembles such as "415", "Mala punica", "La Capella Reial de Catalunya", "La Fenice" and "L'Assemblé des Honnestes Curieux" which, in 1998, won the "Premio Bonporti in Rovereto. Cosimo Stawiarski - baroque violin Cosimo Stawiarksi, born in Coperino/Italy in 1974, studied the baroque violin at the Academy of Arts in Bremen and later musicology at the Christian Albrecht University in Kiel. He is currently furthering his studies in baroque violin as a student of Chiara Banchinj at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The focus of his work is to research and perform music from north and middle Germany of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. He has worked with ensembles such as "Lautten Compagney Berlin", "Leipziger Barockorchester", "Johann-Rosenmueller-Ensemble'' and "Ensemble fuer Alte Musik Dresden" and has played under the direction of Hermann Max, Frieder Bernius, Paul Goodwin and Howard Arman. Johannes Strobl - organ Johannes Strobl, born in Villach/Austria in 1969, is a graduate of the "Mozarteum" in Salzburg where he completed his teaching, concert and church music diploma with honours in the class of Heribert Metzger. He then entered the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and studied the organ with Jean-Claude Zehnder, harpsichord with Joerg-Andreas Boetticher and continuo playing with Jesper Christensen. He has appeared both as a soloist and continuo player in various early music ensembles and in the Camerata Academica Salzburg and has performed in many European countries as well as Israel, Japan and Argentina. He has worked with many famous directors including Sir Roger Norrington, Michel Corboz, Giovanni Antonini and Peter Schreier. In 1998 he was the second prize winner at the Paul Hofhaimer Organ Competition in Innsbruck. He is currently completing his musicology studies at die University of Salzburg, writing a thesis about the origins of continuo playing in Italyand Germany. Patrick Sepec - baroque cello Patrick Sepec, born in Frankfurt am Main/Germany in 1969, studied from 1990 until 1994 with Thomas Demenga at the Music Academy of Basle. After completing his teaching diploma he continued his studies with Reinhard Latzko and completed his concert diploma in 1997. From 1997 until 1999 he studied baroque cello at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in the class of Christophe Coin. His particular interests include both contemporary music and early music. He plays in "Duo Divertito" and in the "Freiburger Barockorchester" and has appeared in the festivals of Tanglewood and Ravinia. How to contact us: 1) Mail: Les Cornets Noirs, c/o Frithjof Smith, Hardstr. 69, CH 4052 Basel Les Cornets Noirs, c/o Gebhard David, Hardstr. 32, D 79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen 2) Telephone: +41 61 482 2366 Cell-phone: +41 79 372 2823 +49 173 673 7260 3) Fax: +41 61 482 2366 4) e-mail 5) contact form 6) guestbook