Corvus Corax means a real treat. These Könige der Spielleuten ensures pure medieval music and traditional music pieces every time again. Clad in striking clothes from different parts of the ancient Europe , a choice of surprising – self-made – instruments and attributes to decorate the stage, they are a delight to watch and listen to. I saw them perform at the Melkweg two years ago, and this night the eight members could have a repeat performance for me.

It is a tight fit. The stage can barely accommodate the band. Three microphone standards rise up in front of the stage and the back is filled with drums, cymbals and other percussion. They have to squeeze, but these men with meaningful names like Teufel, Ardor vom Venushügel, Castus, Harman der Drescher and Venustus have found a place on the stage. Somehow they manage to maneuver with all their flutes and bag-pipes around each other while dancing.

The public is carried away with a choice of songs that all have roots in ancient times. Tireless they play “Ballade De Mercy”, “Venus Vina Musica”, “Nominalto”, “Albanischer Tanz” and “Ductia” and when Teufel cries “ Sind sie schön müde” the audience answers with one voice “ Nein.” Almost every song is announced as if the village herald is crying a proclamation. Dance is the message, and that is what is happening. It is almost impossible to keep standing still with the hypnotizing sounds from these lovely instruments. Sometimes it is almost a game, like when Castus is playing his flute in a high pitch, like the way a woman would cry. Everybody – band members and audience – is watching and laughing when he bends backwards as far as he can while playing.

There isn’t a real encore, but towards the end a guest musician enters the packed stage with loud applause and Corvus Corax ends a successful performance with the songs ‘Fili Neidhardi” and “Chou Chou Sheng.”