Qntal
When they brought out their debut album in 1992, their first recording left… Read Full Bio ↴When they brought out their debut album in 1992, their first recording left no doubt that QNTAL were an act who would leave their mark on the music landscape. Their double best-of release "Purpurea" sees the trio present a wonderful retrospective, in premium packaging and full to the brim with all the highlights and remixes of their career to date. Combatants of the scene, journalists and fans bow to a band who have changed a lot and have become the spearheads of a musical movement. It's almost touching to read the comments that renowned musicians have made on the subject of QNTAL:
"Qntal invite you to dream, dance and party. May Dame Fortune always be with them." Castus & Jordan (Corvus Corax)
"Their demanding compositional standards, use of ancient languages and not least their brilliant female vocalist always make listening to their music an experience." Asis Nasseri (Haggard)
"To me one of the most convincing approaches of combining old and new music. It's a shame that our predecessors from the Middle Ages can't hear this music, they would have loved it - just like I do." Birgit Muggenthaler (Schandmaul / Sava)
"You can leave everyday life behind, follow Syrah's beguiling voice with fascination, feeling free and secure, able to let go and lose yourself totally in the sound. Musicians who achieve this effect are true magicians …" Sonja Kraußhofer (L'âme Immortelle / Persephone)
Transporting modern times to the middle ages and the middle ages to modern times – this approach has marked QNTAL's work since Michael Popp and Syrah, both alumni of the Mozarteum University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Salzburg, Austria, founded the band together with Ernst Horn in 1991. Both had delved deeply into old music during their studies. Michael Popp subsequently worked for the Burgtheater in Vienna and the Kammerspiele in Munich as a freelance theatre musician and composer. In both venues and on the independent theatre scene, he was involved in a number of productions, and – alongside Ernst Horn – played as a live guitarist and medieval instrumentalist with DEINE LAKAIEN. Together with Syrah and ESTAMPIE, Popp worked on his own interpretation of medieval music.
And now there is QNTAL. An arc between history and avant-garde. It did not take long for the band's first success to arrive, "Ad Mortem Festinamus" from their debut album, "QNTAL I", being their first club hit. "QNTAL II" went one step further with Walter von der Vogelweide's "Palästinalied". The trio were not satisfied with simply pepping up medieval sounds with contemporary beats. QNTAL transport worlds of emotion and thoughts that apply to the 12th just as much as to the 21st century: love, mourning, longing, beauty, transcendence. Like those glass ornaments in Gothic architecture, QNTAL's music forms a focus with great suggestive power. In the end, stepping out of everyday life is just as easy for the listener as a reflection of their own reality. Together with producer and keyboardist Philipp Groth, who has joined the band to replace Ernst Horn, QNTAL devoted themselves to the group of sagas surrounding Tristan and Iseult in 2003. An increase in sonic detail and the consolidation of the individual songs in a concept album set new standards – also in terms of commercial success: "QNTAL III" made no. 2 in the German alternative charts. The magic of QNTAL's live shows was captured on their first DVD release, featuring footage from the Leipzig Playhouse.
"QNTAL IV – Ozymandias" saw the band expand the temporal horizon of their musical universe, setting to music a poem by the English romantic poet, Percy Shelley, including the renaissance with the lute song, "Flow", and the baroque era with Henry Purcell's aria, "Remember Me". The heart of QNTAL's style, however, has remained unaffected. Innovations have been accompanied by a refinement of old strengths, with the result that the single, "Cupido" went to no. 1 in the German alternative charts.
"QNTAL V – Silver Swan", finally, was an epic journey through another reality. A movie score without a movie, unless you count the atmospheric "Von den Elben" video clip. QNTAL have come very close to their target of newly created old music. But the other, the electronic side, always remains but a shoulder check away. In terms of graphic design, QNTAL also opted for another path and collaborated with the globally renowned fantasy artist, Brian Froud.
"QNTAL VI – Translucida", by contrast, brings past and present together in two respects: in terms of the band's history as well as their biography. They have turned their backs on the world of pixies. Clear-as-bells sounds allow their roots to come to light again on "Translucida". Instead of great gestures, classy elegance prevails. Translucent arrangements focus the listeners' attention on Syrah's multi-faceted vocals, which are not supported by choral passages this time.
QNTAL VII - adds the gorgeous Mariko to the mix, who adds violin and vocals to the Qntal sound, often taking lead vocals to great success. Always staying true to the historical integrity of the writings and figures that are referenced, this album features the work of the infamous Lord Byron, Meister Eckhart, William Blake, and more. Noted as romantic works of literature, this album’s music goes hand in hand with the romantic era, an intellectual movement that originated in Europe around the 1800s. Before we get to the music itself, it is worth noting that the artwork on the album perfectly embodies the sound within. A painting done by Ricarda Djemili, which features four muses with soft features and an earthy palette, sets the mood for this album. An almost ethereal scene, much like the melodies present within. The opening track “Flaming Drake” opens with a moody melody, and leads directly into beautifully soft vocals. The singing style goes hand in hand with traditional celtic tunes. The lyrics are cited to an anonymous source from the 17th century, and take us back in time with the writing style. Like the opening track, “Tenacious Love” is also sourced to the 17th century, but has an instant hook in the melody, drawing you in immediately.
Significantly more pop-like, track three, “Tyger”, is an audible interpretation of William Blake’s poem of the same name. William Blake was a mystic, a poet, an artist. A profound staple in history, Blake was influenced by the divine, and the world around him. As such, the melody of the song perfectly encompasses the man himself, and brings his character to light. Continuing with the theme of the previous song, the following track, “By The Light of the Moon”, takes the words right out of Lord Byron’s poem So We’ll Go No More a Roving, and makes the poem more… tangible, so to speak, as the words are now accompanied by a melody that completely and utterly provides the atmospheric presence the words needed
The next track takes us further back to the 15th century, and features a more fluid symphonic sound. All of the songs thereafter are no longer sung in English, which brings an otherworldly feel to this album. The lyrics find themselves influenced by texts such as the Carmina Burana (translated: Songs from Benediktbeuern). A variety of new instruments are introduced in the final collection of songs, sounds that would make any Renaissance Faire patron shiver with joy, as well as the addition of male vocals, turning some of the songs into duets. A pop factor was added to tracks such as “In Dem Begyn”, making this cd both noteworthy to listen to AND dance to. Overall, this album features a pleasant variety that ties in graciously with the cited influences. Music that travels through time, jumping from various centuries and landing into our current period, QNTAL is certainly worth a listen- even if just to expand your understanding of music, or your knowledge of our literary history.
"Qntal" is a made-up word that appeared in one of Syrah's dreams. Its pronunciation varies among different sources.
Official website: www.qntal.de
"Qntal invite you to dream, dance and party. May Dame Fortune always be with them." Castus & Jordan (Corvus Corax)
"Their demanding compositional standards, use of ancient languages and not least their brilliant female vocalist always make listening to their music an experience." Asis Nasseri (Haggard)
"To me one of the most convincing approaches of combining old and new music. It's a shame that our predecessors from the Middle Ages can't hear this music, they would have loved it - just like I do." Birgit Muggenthaler (Schandmaul / Sava)
"You can leave everyday life behind, follow Syrah's beguiling voice with fascination, feeling free and secure, able to let go and lose yourself totally in the sound. Musicians who achieve this effect are true magicians …" Sonja Kraußhofer (L'âme Immortelle / Persephone)
Transporting modern times to the middle ages and the middle ages to modern times – this approach has marked QNTAL's work since Michael Popp and Syrah, both alumni of the Mozarteum University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Salzburg, Austria, founded the band together with Ernst Horn in 1991. Both had delved deeply into old music during their studies. Michael Popp subsequently worked for the Burgtheater in Vienna and the Kammerspiele in Munich as a freelance theatre musician and composer. In both venues and on the independent theatre scene, he was involved in a number of productions, and – alongside Ernst Horn – played as a live guitarist and medieval instrumentalist with DEINE LAKAIEN. Together with Syrah and ESTAMPIE, Popp worked on his own interpretation of medieval music.
And now there is QNTAL. An arc between history and avant-garde. It did not take long for the band's first success to arrive, "Ad Mortem Festinamus" from their debut album, "QNTAL I", being their first club hit. "QNTAL II" went one step further with Walter von der Vogelweide's "Palästinalied". The trio were not satisfied with simply pepping up medieval sounds with contemporary beats. QNTAL transport worlds of emotion and thoughts that apply to the 12th just as much as to the 21st century: love, mourning, longing, beauty, transcendence. Like those glass ornaments in Gothic architecture, QNTAL's music forms a focus with great suggestive power. In the end, stepping out of everyday life is just as easy for the listener as a reflection of their own reality. Together with producer and keyboardist Philipp Groth, who has joined the band to replace Ernst Horn, QNTAL devoted themselves to the group of sagas surrounding Tristan and Iseult in 2003. An increase in sonic detail and the consolidation of the individual songs in a concept album set new standards – also in terms of commercial success: "QNTAL III" made no. 2 in the German alternative charts. The magic of QNTAL's live shows was captured on their first DVD release, featuring footage from the Leipzig Playhouse.
"QNTAL IV – Ozymandias" saw the band expand the temporal horizon of their musical universe, setting to music a poem by the English romantic poet, Percy Shelley, including the renaissance with the lute song, "Flow", and the baroque era with Henry Purcell's aria, "Remember Me". The heart of QNTAL's style, however, has remained unaffected. Innovations have been accompanied by a refinement of old strengths, with the result that the single, "Cupido" went to no. 1 in the German alternative charts.
"QNTAL V – Silver Swan", finally, was an epic journey through another reality. A movie score without a movie, unless you count the atmospheric "Von den Elben" video clip. QNTAL have come very close to their target of newly created old music. But the other, the electronic side, always remains but a shoulder check away. In terms of graphic design, QNTAL also opted for another path and collaborated with the globally renowned fantasy artist, Brian Froud.
"QNTAL VI – Translucida", by contrast, brings past and present together in two respects: in terms of the band's history as well as their biography. They have turned their backs on the world of pixies. Clear-as-bells sounds allow their roots to come to light again on "Translucida". Instead of great gestures, classy elegance prevails. Translucent arrangements focus the listeners' attention on Syrah's multi-faceted vocals, which are not supported by choral passages this time.
QNTAL VII - adds the gorgeous Mariko to the mix, who adds violin and vocals to the Qntal sound, often taking lead vocals to great success. Always staying true to the historical integrity of the writings and figures that are referenced, this album features the work of the infamous Lord Byron, Meister Eckhart, William Blake, and more. Noted as romantic works of literature, this album’s music goes hand in hand with the romantic era, an intellectual movement that originated in Europe around the 1800s. Before we get to the music itself, it is worth noting that the artwork on the album perfectly embodies the sound within. A painting done by Ricarda Djemili, which features four muses with soft features and an earthy palette, sets the mood for this album. An almost ethereal scene, much like the melodies present within. The opening track “Flaming Drake” opens with a moody melody, and leads directly into beautifully soft vocals. The singing style goes hand in hand with traditional celtic tunes. The lyrics are cited to an anonymous source from the 17th century, and take us back in time with the writing style. Like the opening track, “Tenacious Love” is also sourced to the 17th century, but has an instant hook in the melody, drawing you in immediately.
Significantly more pop-like, track three, “Tyger”, is an audible interpretation of William Blake’s poem of the same name. William Blake was a mystic, a poet, an artist. A profound staple in history, Blake was influenced by the divine, and the world around him. As such, the melody of the song perfectly encompasses the man himself, and brings his character to light. Continuing with the theme of the previous song, the following track, “By The Light of the Moon”, takes the words right out of Lord Byron’s poem So We’ll Go No More a Roving, and makes the poem more… tangible, so to speak, as the words are now accompanied by a melody that completely and utterly provides the atmospheric presence the words needed
The next track takes us further back to the 15th century, and features a more fluid symphonic sound. All of the songs thereafter are no longer sung in English, which brings an otherworldly feel to this album. The lyrics find themselves influenced by texts such as the Carmina Burana (translated: Songs from Benediktbeuern). A variety of new instruments are introduced in the final collection of songs, sounds that would make any Renaissance Faire patron shiver with joy, as well as the addition of male vocals, turning some of the songs into duets. A pop factor was added to tracks such as “In Dem Begyn”, making this cd both noteworthy to listen to AND dance to. Overall, this album features a pleasant variety that ties in graciously with the cited influences. Music that travels through time, jumping from various centuries and landing into our current period, QNTAL is certainly worth a listen- even if just to expand your understanding of music, or your knowledge of our literary history.
"Qntal" is a made-up word that appeared in one of Syrah's dreams. Its pronunciation varies among different sources.
Official website: www.qntal.de
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Qntal Lyrics
02-Ecce Gratum Ecce gratum et optatum ver reducit gaudia: purpuratum flor…
03 Tempus est ioundum, o virgines modo congaudete, vos iuvenes…
04-Hymni Nocturnales (Abaelard {1079-1142}) In ortum mundi sensibilis Zum Aufgang…
05 Stetit puella rufa tunica; si quis eam tetigit, tunica crep…
292 Muito demostra a Virgen, a Sennor esperital, Sa lealdad' a a…
Ab Vox d Ab votz d'angel, Lengu'espena, non bleza, Ab motz sotils, Pl…
Abaelard Quibusdam quasi saltibus Superni patris filius Ad terrena Ve…
Ad Mortem Festinamus Scribere proposui de contemptu mundano Ut degentes seculi n…
All For One I must go walk the woods so wild, and wander here…
Altas Undaz Altas undas que venez suz la mar, que fay lo vent…
Am Morgen Frou Sô die bluomen ûz dem grase dringent Same si lachen gegen…
Amis Raynaut Quant vient en mai, que l'on dit as lons jors, Que…
Amor Volat Amor volat undique; captus est libidine. iuvenes iuvencule q…
Amorous desir Mout m'abelist quant je voi revenir Yver, gresill et gelee a…
Anc non lo vi Anc non lo vi e am lo fort, anc no n'aic…
Atlas Undaz Altas undas que venez suz la mar, que fay lo vent…
Blac Blac is a colour that is good, so say I and…
Black Death No sai quora'm suy endurmitz ni quora'm velh, s'om no m'o …
Blow Northerne Wynd Blow northerne wynd send thou me my suetyng Blow northerne w…
Blow the Northerne Wynd Blow northerne wynd Send thou me my seting Blow, northerene …
By the Light of the Moon So we'll go no more a roving So late into the…
Cupido Stetit puella rufa tunica; si quis eam tetigit, tunica crepu…
Departir Cant voi l'aube du jour venir, Nulle rien ne doi tant…
Departir (club version) Cant voi l'aube du jour venir, Nulle rien ne doi tant…
Doussa res Us cavaliers si iazia ab la re que plus volia; soven baiza…
Dulcis Amor Qui te caret hoc tempore, fit vilior. O dulcis Amor Ecce fl…
Ecce Gratum Ecce gratum et optatum ver reducit gaudia: purpuratum floret…
El Sendero Hacia Monserrat Stella splendens in monte ut solis radium miraculis serrat…
Entre Moi Entre moi et mon amin En un boix k'est le Betune Alainmes…
Falling Star Go, and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake…
Flame Amoureuse Quant je sui mis au retour De veoir ma dame, Il n'est…
Flaming Drake The moon's my constant mistress, And the lonely owl my marr…
Flamma Tempus est ioundum, o virgines modo congaudete, vos iuvenes …
Floris e Blanchaflor Estat ai en greu cossirier Per un cavallier q'ai agut, A vuo…
Flow Flow, my tears, fall from your springs! exiled for ever let…
frühling Florent omnes arbores, dulce canunt volucres; revirescunt fr…
Frühling Florent omnes arbores, dulce canunt volucres; revirescunt …
Frühlingslied Ich wil truren varen lan, Uf die heide sul wir gan, Vil…
Glacies Cedit, hiems, tua durities; Frigor abit, rigor et glacies …
Gottinne Minne Ein bette in mitten inne was gesniten schône und reine ûz cr…
Herbst Jârlanc wil diu linde vom winde sich velwen, diu sich vor…
Hymni Nocturnales (Abaelard {1079-1142}) In ortum mundi sensibilis Zum Aufgang…
In dem Begyn In dem begyn Ho uber sin Ist ie daz wort. O richer hort, …
Indiscrete Bacchus sepe visitans mulierem genus facit eas subditas tibi…
Jherusalem Jherusalem, grant damage me fais, Qui m'as tolu ce que je…
La Froidor La froidor ne la jalee Ne puet mon cors refroidir, Si m'ai…
Lasse ,,Ich Unglückliche, wie grausam ist mein Herz. Warum verschm…
Lasse Grant Douçor Lasse, por quoi refusai celui Qui tant m'a amee? Lonc tens a…
Levis Levis exurgit Zephyrus et sol procedit tepidus iam terra s…
Lingua Mandax que me dicit deceptorem et non fidum amatorem quem amabam,…
Ludus Erat arbor hec in prato Quovis flore picturato Herba, fo…
Maiden in the Mor Maiden in the mor lay, In the mor lay, Sevenight fulle, seve…
Maravillosos Maravillosos et piadosos et mui fremosos miragres faz Santa …
Melos Lacrimosum Pange melos lacrimosum, Lacrimans elegia: Tempus venit pla…
Monsieur's Departure I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and…
Musa Venit Musa venit camrine Dulci modulamine: Pariter cantemus! Ec…
Name Der Rose Omnis mundi creatura Quasi liber et pictura Nobis est in spe…
Nihil omnia tenebrus sed ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine er…
Noit e Dia Por que nos ajamos sempre, noit e dia, Dela remenbranca, En …
Noit Et Dia [Lyrics: Cantigas de Santa Maria] Por que nos ajamos semp…
Non sofre Santa Maria Non sofre Santa Maria De seeren perdidosos Os que as sas rom…
Obscure Petit porte de valour De soy monstrer dehaitié, Ne le tien…
Omnis Mundi Illuminate Omnis mundi creatura quasi liber et pictura nobis est in s…
Owi Ôwî ôwî,mîn her Tristan, nu clebet iu mîn herze allez an, nu…
Ozymandias I [Lyrics: Percy Bysshe Shelley] I met a traveller from an …
Ozymandias II I met a traveller from an antique land, who said: "two…
Palästinalied Nu allerst lebe ich mir werde, sît mîn sündic ouge siht da…
Palestinalied Nu allerst lebe ich mir werde, sît mîn sündic ouge siht daz…
Passacaglia Piango, gemo, sospiro e peno. O, la piaga rinchiusa e nel…
Por mau tens Por mau tens ne por gelee ne por froide matinee ne por…
Remember Me [Lyrics: Dido's lament from "Dido and Aeneas"] When I am la…
Rose In The Mor ,,Im Moor liegt eine Frau seit sieben Tagen, was war ihre…
Rossignolet Rossignolet du bois, rossignolet sauvage Apprends moi ton l…
Rossinhol Rossinhol, el seu repaire m'iraz ma dona vezer e diguas li…
Rot Ich froie mich manger bluomen rot Die uns der meie bringen…
Sanctus Quam felices fuerint qui cum Christo regnabunt, facie ad fa…
Schnee Schnee fällt leise. Rieselt auf die Körper derer, Die verl…
Silver Swan The silver swan, who living had no note, When death approac…
Sine Nomine Amara tanta tyri Pastos sycalos sycaliri Ellivoli scarras Po…
Slahte Wille Mir tout einer slahte wille sanfte und ist mir doch dar…
Sleeping Weep you no more, sad fountains: what need you flow so…
Spiegelglas Nu daz diu maget und der man, Îsôt unde Tristan, den tranc…
Stella Splendens :Stella Splendens in monte Ut solis radium Miraculis Serra…
Sumer Do der sumer komen was Und die bluomen durch daz gras Wünnec…
Swebend In so hoher swebender wunne So gestuont min herze ane vröid…
Tenacious Love Over the mountains And over the waves, Under the fountains…
The Whyle Alas, alas, the while Thout I on no gile, So have I…
Translucida Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright! The bridal of…
Trobar Clus Chansson do'ill mot son plan e prim Farai puois que botono'i…
Tyger Tyger, Tyger, burning bright In the forests of the night, …
Un Vers de Dreyt Nien Farai un vers de dreyt nien: Non er de mi ni…
Unmaere Bin ich dir unmaere, des enweiz ich niht: ich minne dich. …
Unter der Linden Under der linden an der heide, dâ unser zweier bette was, …
Vedes Amigo Vedes, amigo, o que oj'oy dizer de vós, assy Deus mi…
Vedes Amigo Illuminate "lhr Wellen des Meers, seht ihr meinen Freund? Ich vergieße…
Veni Veni, veni, venias Ne me mori facias Hyria, hyrie, nazaza,…
Virgo Splendens Cum erubuerint Infelices in progenie sua, Procedentes In per…
Vogelfluc [Lyrics: Her Bernger von Horheim] Mir ist alle zît als ich…
Von den Elben Von den elben wirt entsen vil manic man: so bin ich…
Vos Attestor (Carmina Burana, 13. Jhdt.) Omne genus demoniorum Ihr Geiste…
Winter Diu welt was gelf, rôt unde blâ, Grüen in dem walde…
Worlds Of Light I'm happiest when most away I can bear my soul from…