Formed in 2001, Die Irrlichter ("Irrlicht" being a
German expression for
Will-o'-the-wisp) is a German band performing medieval folk and fantasy music at concerts, festivals,
renaissance fairs, medieval banquets, and similar events in Germany and other European countries.
They have been an
all-female band An all-female band is a musical group in popular music that is exclusively composed of female musicians. This is distinct from a girl group, in which the female members are solely vocalists, though this terminology is not universally followed. While ...
since 2004.
History
The band was originally formed as
troubadours for a
live action role-playing game, but quickly expanded beyond that niche. The young band played their first concert as a support band for
Saltatio Mortis
Saltatio Mortis is a German medieval metal group. The Latin name means "dance of death". It is an allusion to the Danse Macabre, and a motto of the band is: "He who dances does not die."
Members Current
* Alea der Bescheidene - vocals, b ...
(then already a well-known up-and-coming act) in
Cologne in early 2001. They found a producer in Roland Kempen of
Die Streuner, with whom they would produce their first four albums over the next five years. During this time, several members dropped out to pursue or concentrate on academic or professional careers as the band gradually evolved from a mere hobby venture into an increasingly professional music project.
Between 2006 and 2008 the band was reorganized around longtime members Brigitta Jaroschek and Stephanie Keup. They started their own production firm which has been producing the group's albums ever since the fifth.
Typically a quintet, Die Irrlichter have performed with any number of musicians between two and six, and have increasingly been performing as a trio since 2013, with different lineups from a core group of regulars.
Personnel
*Brigitta Jaroschek (née Karin) - Founding member, sings and plays various string instruments including harp, guitar, cister, bass lute, and mandolin. She is a
M.A. graduate in Scandinavian Sciences and currently works as a researcher and old Norse teacher at the
University of Bonn.
*Stephanie Keup-Büser - A core member who joined the band shortly after its inception, she sings and plays several instruments including most notably the nyckelharpa, recorders, and shawm. She originally came to the medieval scene not as a musician but as a participant in
jousting tournaments, as she is a riding sports and vaulting trainer and
paramedic.
*Daniela Heiderich - Became a full member in 2007 while she studied
psychology at the University of Bonn. After graduation she decided to move to
France to study traditional harp and bagpipes (
Cornemuse du Centre) at the
Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Poitiers
The Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Poitiers is a school of higher education for music, drama, and dance located in Poitiers, France. The institution is a charter school of France's Ministry of Culture and is operated by the Direction rà ...
. After graduating there she now works as a professional musician and teacher, and is also an accomplished dancer.
*Annika Thoma - Initially a fan, then a guest (including contributions on
cello to the 2015 album, ''Zaubergarten'') and finally a full member after 2015. She sings and primarily plays shawm, recorders, and
bagpipes
Bagpipes are a woodwind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. The Great Highland bagpipes are well known, but people have played bagpipes for centuries throughout large parts of Europe, No ...
. In her day job she is a trained
nurse and nurse teacher.
Many former band members still do perform with the band occasionally, including
*Anna Karin - Founding member, full member until 2007. Sings and plays various instruments including lute, guitar and percussion.
*Jutta Simon-Alt - A guest for some time, and a full member from 2007 to 2015. Sings and plays recorders, shawm, bagpipes, and
oboe.
*Jutta Tiedge - Member from 2008 to 2013. Percussionist and
belly dancer.
Discography
*Koboldtanz, 2002 ("
Kobold's Dance")
*Elfenhain, 2004 ("Elven Glade")
*Angelus ad Virginem, 2005 (medieval winter and
Christmas tunes, named after the song ''
Angelus ad virginem "" (Latin for "The angel came to the virgin", also known by its English title, "Gabriel, from Heven King Was to the Maide Sende") is a medieval carol whose text is a poetic version of the Hail Mary and the Annunciation by the archangel Gabriel to th ...
'')
*Aventiure, 2006 (from medieval ''Âventiure'', which roughly translates as Quest, adventure, or tale thereof)
*Goldstück, 2008 ("Gold Coin")
*Rauhnächte, 2010 (another concept album of winter and Christmas tunes, named for the magical
Rauhnächte period between Christmas and the new year)
*Zaubergarten, 2015 ("Magic Garden")
{{Authority control
German musical groups
Musical groups established in 2001