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11-12-2020:

Music for the Christmas Season


Tired of yet another version of Jingle Bells or All I Want for Christmas? Maybe you'll like our 'Special Seasonal Mix' on Spotify, a selection of songs to spice up this cold December month.

Even though we celebrate Christmas a little differently this year, presents are always nice to receive and to give. Balsam's music literally works as a balm to many souls in these times, an ideal gift for under the Christmas tree. Thanks to a stock sale of the Homerecords label, you can buy the Scattered Rhymes CD with the Frank Vaganée Trio at a discount price of 5 euros. For a swinging start of 2021!

15-09-2020:

Fall 2020: Balsam and two premieres


We are all in need of cultural activities after the past months. It's something we noticed from the many moved reactions after playing Balsam at the Zomer van Antwerpen in July. The press has repeatedly called the performance "a balm for the soul." This autumn we bring you extra oxygen for the soul with the reprise of Balsam in Rotterdam and Heerlen.

On October 14, Zefiro Torna and the contemporary French Ensemble Variances will unite music from the 14th to the 21st centuries during the premiere of BACHC®AB in deSingel. And a month later we'll launch you 'im glückliche Fahrt' into a new time and space with the long-awaited premiere of PAST | ORALE: BTHVN transhumanized during the Lunalia festival. Looking forward to this special reunion!

16-06-2020:

Zefiro strikes back


The word is out! After a few exciting weeks we can announce that BALSAM, the mysterious laboratory with Laika, will be premiered at Zomer van Antwerpen. We'll play 36 times between 1 and 26 July, but as tickets are limited, be sure to buy your tickets on time.

In August we will be back on stage with SLUIMER - together with Lore Binon and Benjamin Glorieux - during the Music Mondays in Ninove and the Bijloke Zomerbar.

We'll kick off this special summer on 21 June with Klara on Tour. Follow our performance with soprano Annelies Van Gramberen at 2 pm, broadcasted live from Amuz via Klara.

23-03-2020:

Zefiro Torna's antidote


Like many other artists and ensembles, Zefiro Torna had to cancel upcoming concerts due to the corona crisis. It's a pity, but the health of everyone around us comes first.

In the meantime, we continue to work on future projects from our attic, living room or improvised office. Every week, we'll provide a musical antidote, starting with this playlist on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3bl07iS

Stay healthy and creative!

13-01-2020:

A lab of senses

In January 2020, Zefiro Torna will reshape the production of Balsam into a music theater performance that stimulates all the senses. To this end, the ensemble works together with theater company Laika - Theater der Zinnen. Balsam becomes a visual and physically stimulating laboratory in which the live music merges with surprising scents and flavors. While the music is simmering and enchanting, the spectators witness all kinds of experiments and chemical processes: oil solidifies dropwise into edible pearls, milk becomes electric, charcoal a sweet treat. Balms, powders, drinks and amuse gueules in all scents, colors and flavors are presented and shared by the performers with those sitting next to you, premiered on January 31, 2020 in Le Channel (Calais, FR) and then on tour in France, The Netherlands and Belgium.

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Scattered Rhymes

— A tribute to Francesco Petrarca (2015)

Zefiro Torna - Frank Vaganée Trio

    6 April 1327. In a small church nearby Avignon, a glimpse of a woman named Laura ignited a lingering passion in the renaissance poet and humanist Francesco Petrarca. His rime sparse or scattered verses took the form of 366 sonnets that later would be called ‘Canzoniere’. This songbook is full of platonic love declarations and cryptic references to his unattainable beauty. It almost reads as Petrarca’s own psychoanalytical notepad.

    For centuries these sonnets have formed an inspiration for numerous poets. They were set to music by excellent composers such as da Bologna, de Rore, Lassus, Monteverdi, Liszt and Schönberg. The historical music ensemble Zefiro Torna and Frank Vaganée Trio continue this tradition. They edit the music of medieval, renaissance and baroque madrigals, romantic songs and avant-garde music. Above that they wrote new songs on Petrarca’s immortal verses. Polyphonic tissues, obsessive rhythms, sound chemistry, painful punches, wordless scatting and healing harmonies form the elements of a timeless tribute.

    The album Scattered Rhymes will be released on 11 December 2015 at Homerecords, in coproduction with Brosella Folk & Jazz.


  1. Sigismondo d’India (c.1582-1629) - Voi ch’ascoltate in rime sparse
  2. Els Van Laethem (°1973)* - Mille piagge
  3. Guillaume Du Fay (c.1397-1474)* - Vergine bella
  4. Cipriano de Rore (1515/16-1565)* - Io canterei d’amor
  5. Els Van Laethem* - Una candida cerva
  6. Els Van Laethem* - La gola
  7. Frans Liszt (1811-1886)* - Pace non trovo
  8. Jacopo da Bologna (fl. 1340-c.1360)* - Non al suo amante
  9. Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)* - Zefiro torna
  10. Claudio Monteverdi* - Vago augelletto
  11. Jurgen De bruyn (°1971)** - Een jonge vrouw

* arrangement Frank Vaganée
** arrangement Ensemble

Zefiro Torna

Juliet Fraser vocals
Didier François nyckelharpa
Jurgen De bruyn archlute, lute, vocals
Els Van Laethem compositions

Frank Vaganée Trio
Frank Vaganée soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, arrangements
Jos Machtel double bass
Lionel Beuvens drums


Gyuri Spies recording, mixing
Michel Van Achter mastering

Marco Mertens photography
Corentin Aussums artwork

Coproducers The City of Mechelen, CC Mechelen, Brosella Folk & Jazz

Recorded July 2015, Motormusic Studios, Mechelen
Released by homerecords.be