5. Bruckner Spring: Schola Floriana

Schola Floriana
Among the choir groups in St. Florian, the Schola Floriana represents a special ensemble. It consists of ten men of varying ages and their director, Matthias Giesen. It was founded in November 1999. The Schola primarily focuses on the oldest form of church music, Gregorian chant.
Particularly interesting is the connection between choral singing and organ music, known as the alternatim practice, where choral singing and organ verses alternate. The Schola Floriana especially cultivates this performance practice in collaboration with organists Andreas Etlinger and Matthias Giesen.
The Schola Floriana is deeply committed to preserving this oldest cultural heritage of church music and ensuring its place in the liturgy, as well as in concerts. In addition to regularly shaping the liturgy of the abbey, the Schola performs concerts in numerous monasteries and churches throughout Austria. Recently, the Schola undertook several tours to Israel, Poland, Finland, Bosnia, Croatia, Switzerland, Russia, and Germany.
In addition to the preservation of Gregorian chant, multi-voiced male choir literature (from the Middle Ages to modern times) is also cultivated. To date, three CDs by the Schola Floriana have been released.