The Estampie ensemble is known for playing medieval instruments in a modern sound. Their CD "Crusaders", recorded in 1995, was a great success and is now being re-released as part of the Christophorus Entrée series at a favourable price. Using medieval songs and chants, Estampie takes the listener into the world of the crusaders and tells of the recruitment of the crusading preachers, of the grief of the beloved at parting, of the great dangers of the journey through to the conquest of Jerusalem. Various minstrels have their say, the most famous of whom is Walther von der Vogelweide, whose Palestine song forms the quintessence of the programme.
