I Fedeli

I Fedeli is an ensemble specialising in the performance of 16th and 17th century music. It was founded in 2006 by cornetto player Josué Meléndez with the aim of reviving the best and most exciting repertoire written for the cornetto in different combinations, and to present it to a wider audience.

For music of the 16th century, I Fedeli plays in a wind instrument formation typical for that time; this combination of cornetto, tenor cornetto, pommer, sackbutt, and dulcian was known as Stadtpfeifer, Piffari, Ministriles and Town Waits throughout Europe and the New World. As their services were called upon in church, private festivities and public events, their repertoire was very broad and covered both purely instrumental works as well as vocal music. In this formation, I Fedeli won the first prize in the International Young Artist Presentation 2009 in Antwerp.

In the 17th century these wind ensembles evolved to consist mainly of cornettos and trombones and, alongside their usual duties, they were increasingly used in the new up-and-coming form: opera.

In both formations I Fedeli works regularly with established vocal groups such as
Singstimmen Baselland, Ensemble Latinoamericano, Bacchanto and Cantus Cölln (Konrad Junghänel).

Alongside this the ensemble also presents projects in bigger settings which can include specialist singers, viola da gamba, lirone, harpsichord, organ, harp, theorbo and violins.