Biography
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Years Active
2001 – present (23 years)
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Members
- Anna Karin
- Brigitta Jaroschek
- Daniela Heiderich
- Edwin Meißner
- Jutta Simon-Alt
Germany (2002 - present)
“Irrlicht” is German for “The Will’o’The Wisp”. This mythical creature was known to the old Romans as „Ignis Fatuus“ or the light of fate. According to legend, they led nocturnal wanderers astray, if not to their deaths.
These modern-day “Die Irrlichter” entrance their audience and lure them with music from days gone by and worlds far far away. The band excites listeners both at their live performances and on four released
albums, with their foot-stomping dances, tragic ballads, saucy ditties and own compositions of fairy-tale stories. Their harmonised vocals and part singing are accompanied by reproductions of historic instruments such as bass lute, harp, renaissance recorders, nyckelharpa, davul, shaume and bagpipes.
Live performances get their special touch and atmosphere through the lively commentary, the large variety of instruments and the even larger repertoire of music. What is already a feast for your ears turns into a feast for your eyes through supporting acts of juggling and the themed costumes worn by the musicians.
The debut album Koboldtanz (Goblin’s Dance) was released in 2002 and met with thrilled listeners everywhere. May 2004 saw the release of the second album Elfenhain (Elven Wood), which is especially renowned for its merry and sometimes saucy tunes. The album Angelus ad Virginem (From The Angel To The Virgin), released in autumn 2005, had a wintery and christmasy theme and showed “Die Irrlichter” from their quieter, romantic side. Contrasting this, the current album Aventiure (Adventure) from 2006 leads into a world of adventurers, cutpurses and witches. The current album Goldstück (released in autumn 2008) leads you to the dark side of fairy tale.
Current line-up:
Brigitta Jaroschek ("Ilara die Vielsaitige") - vocals, bass lute, six-string and 12-string guitars, cittern, mandoline, harp, Jew's harp
Stephanie Keup ("Ioana die Liederliche") - vocals, flutes, rauschpfeife, chalumeau, nyckelharpa, hammer and anvil
Jutta Simon-Alt ("Die Eifelflamme") - vocals, bagpipes, shawm, flutes
Jutta Tiedge ("Hayat - tanzt an der Trommel") - davul, lance-knight drum, darabuka, cymbals, percussion
Daniela Heiderich ("Ela Engelhaar") - flutes, rauschpfeife, shawm, bagpipes, harp, crumhorn
Former Members:
Anna Karin ("Das Tanzweib Lacrima") - vocals, davul, percussion, lute, cymbals, dance
Ulla Kramer ("Die gurrende Geigerin") - violin, viola
Christine Krull-Kosubek ("Das schöne Wib") - vocals, bagpipes (galician gaita, Hümmelchen), gemshorn, flutes, jingles
Ulrike Endesfelder ("Linja") - vocals, flutes, rauschpfeife, violin, percussion
Christoph Danielec ("Meister Argyll") - vocals, shawm, rauschpfeife, flutes, bagpipes, war horn
Edwin Meißner ("Der Teufelsgeiger") - violin
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