21 May 2026
Just as on the first day, also after the second day of #REFORC2026 all participants of the conference in Wrocław will confirm.
Supported by a range of beautiful pictures of liturgical textiles, Wim François added a new dimension to research on Early Modern Christianity. The evolution in style, iconography, and ornamentation reveals shifts in cultural and theological frameworks. Textiles made for and used in liturgical context are so much more than just material. This also counts for sounds as Stefan Michels, who captured the audience with explaining how musical practices shaped and regulated embodied religious experience across different confessional contexts.
Both keynotes spread enthusiasm but also encouragement for new perspectives on materiality whether worn, sung or heard in liturgy and beyond. It seemed as if participants could not get enough of the presentation as no one left the auditorium, but that appeared caused by the materiality of a door that could not be opened.
The problem was quickly solved by the Wroclaw team, exemplar of the wonderful organizational job they did and do. Once the door had opened all ran for coffee and cookies in order to be fully ready for a full afternoon of short papers, discussion and personal and academic exchange. An intense program, but all efforts could be rewarded with – again – sounds, as the day closed with a wonderful concert in the impressive Oratorium Marianum by Vocal Ensemble Ars Cantus.
So yes, all excited about textiles and sounds.
