La Guilde des Mercenaires

La Guilde des Mercenaires [literally Mercenaries’ Guild] is an early music ensemble gathered around cornettist Adrien Mabire. The term ‘guild’ – originally describing self-help organisations bringing together people with common interests – inspired the name of the ensemble, in which artists from different musical orbits combine knowledge and skills to play works from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The musicians of La Guilde des Mercenaires are united by their ambition to extract the fullest sound from a set of hauts instruments – loud instruments, intended to be played in larger spaces or outdoor areas in earlier centuries; this is why the ensemble consists of singers with sonorous voices and energetic instrumentalists.

 

Their aim is to perform early music with virtuoso flair; they uphold the traditions of musicians of the seicento era while considering the specificity of contemporary concerts.

 

The ensemble’s recordings have received critical acclaim worldwide. Riposta (2023) was preceded by an album covering a complete collection of canzoni by Girolamo Frescobaldi, released in 2022.

 

Associated with Brittany, the ensemble invites artists from around Europe and consists of musicians educated at top universities. “The Mercenaries’ Guild” is a group of personalities distinguished by the dynamism that is rarely encountered on the early music scene.

 

Ensemble supported by DRAC Bretagne