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Poeta Magica – medieval-world-music
The wide musical range of Poeta Magica can indeed be called multi-cultural. The name Poeta
Magica denominates an ensemble of talented musicians who know well how to blend
different musical traditions.
Archaic, mystic sounds of the pagan shamans of Scandinavia meet lively Oriental tunes,
rising to the wild tones of the Hungarian plains, mediaeval melodies fuse with modern sound
patterns: song and melody link to rooms and pictures. This special way uniting the music of
different cultural backgrounds to a synthesis creates it’s own unique style, it’s own colour of
sound by various skilful compositions of the band’s members.
By their typical virtuosity Poeta Magica blend traditions, sounds and types of music to a
musically convincing work that changes and develops continuously, staying rhythmic and
varied, exciting and diversified.
POETA MAGICA’S equipment contains more than 100 different instruments – to name them
all would be a long list. Among them are e.g. the rare nyckelharpa (Swedish key fiddle), 20
instruments in different model variations and tunes; more than 30 bag pipes and other
rarest instruments from all over the world. Some of the instruments come from Holger
Funke’s own workshop.
The „Fusion Folk“ project RAGNAR combines modern and archaic instruments, the sound of
the mediaeval times weaves a colourful pattern with elements of rock and jazz.
Poeta Magica perform on mediaeval markets and events in castles all over Germany, and
they play on concerts in Europe, especially in Scandinavia. You may see them in the
following locations:
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France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria
Urkult-Folkfestival in Nämforsen/Sweden
Medeltidsveckan in Gotland/Sweden annually since 1990
Early - music Festival in Riga/Lettland
Festival for ancient music in Viljandii/Estland
Tønsberg and Oslo/Norwegen
Fairy-tales-festival, Luzern, Switzerland
Concerts with „Hedningarna“ and „Garmana“
Concert for the Royal Family of Sweden, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia
POETA MAGICA
was founded 1992 by the multi instrumentalist Holger E. Funke and Friederike Funke. The
band has published 6 CD’s so far, one MC and worked as guest musicians on various CD’s
and in movies.
1994
1995
1996
1997
1999
2001
2003
CD
MC
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
„Minne, Mystik, Meistersang“
„Vox Salica“
„In Taberna ... mori !“
„Raben, Runen, Raukar“
„Ferox“
„Ragnar“
„Froy“
The band 2003 consists of:
Holger E. Funke, Friederike Funke, Jens Fischer, Stefan Schicklgruber
Poeta Magica – Experiencing the Magical Moments
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Poeta Magica – Experiencing the Magical Moments
The main focus of the artwork of Poeta Magica is the lively performance of the historical
European musical cultures, stressing especially their great variety, the richness in
instruments and their optical appearances.
Musical virtuosity and artistic engagement are the band’s key to make the music come alive
for the audience. The band members are highly talented in their personal education and
abilities in vocal and instrumental performances. Manager and musical head of the band is
Holger E. Funke, he has studied Mediaeval History and mittelhochdeutsche philology, since
1987 he works as professional musician. Holger E. Funke is also the cultural referee of VITA
HISTORICA.
Among the instruments of Poeta Magica are bagpipes from different countries (Spain,
France, Sweden, Romania etc.), hurdy-gurdys, Celtic harp, lute, shawn, a great variety of
flutes, drums, oriental percussion and nyckelharpas, the Swedish key fiddle.
Some of these rare instruments come from Holger Funke’s own workshop or have been built
by specialists according to mediaeval scripts and notes.
The great variety of the band takes the audience on a journey through the different cultures
of the Old World:
Songs of the European middle ages take turns with the polyphone ensemble sounds of the
Orient, dance melodies of the Mediterranean realms alternate with the ancient shamanic
music and melodious instrumental tunes from Scandinavia.
By combining ancient musical traditions with today’s sound culture the spectrum of Poeta
Magica ranges from mediaeval to traditional and up to ethnically-oriented world music.
Poeta Magica performs on castles and ancient sites all over Germany and on festivals all
over Europe, such as:
• France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria
• Urkult-Folkfestival in Nämforsen/Sweden
• Medeltidsveckan in Gotland/Sweden annually since 1990
• Early - music Festival in Riga/Lettland
• Festival for ancient music in Viljandii/Estland
• Tønsberg and Oslo/Norwegen
• Fairy-tales-festival, Luzern, Switzerland
• Concerts with „Hedningarna“ and „Garmana“
• Concert for the Royal Family of Sweden, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia
Poeta Magica
made the soundtrack for the US-Series „Exotic Islands“, the movie „Der grüne Heinrich“
(„Green Henry“) and provided the professional equipment for numerous movies and
documental production of the German TV channels ZDF, SWR, HR and WDR.
The band was portrayed in the series „Vox-Tours“ on Gotland/Sweden.
Poeta Magica is the official representative of the Swedish „Medeltidsveckan“ (middle age
week) in Germany.
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Holger E. Funke
Friederike Funke
Jens Fischer
Stefan Schicklgruber
nyckelharpa, bagpipe, hurdy-gurdy, wooden flutes, vocals
bagpipe, shawn, bendir, def, davul, vocals
drums and multi-percussion
double bass, e-bass
Poeta Magica – Experiencing the Magical Moments