H.I.P.S.T.E.R. Autumn Concert Series 2025

H.I.P.S.T.E.R. Autumn Concert Series 2025

Experience the H.I.P.S.T.E.R. Autumn Concert Series at the Hunt Museum, a journey through medieval melodies, Polish Renaissance music, and evocative Klezmer string traditions performed by world-class musicians.  H.I.P.S.T.E.R. (Historically Informed Performance Series, Teaching, Education and Research) is co-directed by Vlad Smishkewych & Yonit Kosovske, with support from  the Arts Council of Ireland and Limerick City & County Council.

HAMELN ANNO 1284: Medieval Flute Music on the Trail of the Pied Piper Norbert Rodenkirchen, medieval flute

Date: Saturday, 4 October
Time: 3pm – 4pm
Location: Captains’ Room
Admission: €15 Adult/€10 Concession

They say the legendary Pied Piper lured the children of Hamelin away after ridding the German town of its rats. Though centuries have passed, his tale still echoes through children’s stories—but what kind of music might the Pied Piper have actually played?

Historians suggest the man behind the myth may have been a flute-playing medieval recruitment officer, commissioned by the Baltic aristocracy to attract young families to migrate north. And by all accounts, he was successful—enticing 130 young people to leave Hamelin in the summer of 1284.

Fascinated by this story, medieval flute specialist Norbert Rodenkirchen embarked on a musical journey to imagine what the Pied Piper’s melodies might have sounded like. The result is a rich programme inspired by historical events, featuring melodies from a Slavic prince, ancient dances from northern Poland, and more. Drawing on his deep knowledge of medieval improvisation, Rodenkirchen brings these haunting and beautiful sounds to life—crafting an unforgettable concert that conjures the world of the Pied Piper as it may once have been.