For over twenty years, the cultural heritage sector has proudly presented itself on the first Sunday after the Easter holidays. In 2025, this will fall on Sunday 27 April, with the theme Game On!, focusing on sports and games. The Alamire Foundation will participate, highlighting the fascinating ‘Canon for Mary of Hungary’, a work that itself is a kind of game. This exceptional composition by Benedictus Appenzeller will be brought to life once again. In contrast to modern interpretations, the term "canon" in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries referred more to a rule—a challenge or puzzle that musicians needed to decode in order to achieve the correct performance.

These puzzle canons could take various forms, such as a circle, a cross, or even a chessboard. The ‘Canon for Mary of Hungary’ was printed on an unusual medium, a linen tablecloth. The Alamire Foundation has recreated a facsimile of this remarkable piece and organized a research-based documentary-concert that delves into the historical context of the canon. On Heritage Day, the documentary will be presented, offering two potential performances of the canon by the ensemble Cacophony!. Staff member Pieter Mannaerts will introduce the docu-concert and provide insights into this extraordinary source.

You can register for one of the four available sessions on the City of Leuven’s website. Want to explore this unique source further? Visit our website to discover the study and facsimile in the Leuven Library of Music in Facsimile series.