A court chapel (German: Hofkapelle) is a chapel (building) and/or a chapel as a musical ensemble associated with a royal or noble court. Most of these are royal (court) chapels, but when the ruler of the court is not a king, the more generic "court chapel" is used, for instance for an imperial court.
In German Hofkapelle (literally: court chapel) is both the word for a royal chapel and any other court chapel.
As a musical venture court chapels emerged in 16th century Europe, largely due to the consolidation of more itinerant musical groups initiated by the dukes of Burgundy and their Imperial successors in the 15th century. There was a double objective: continuity and stability of religious ceremony, and showcasing splendour and artistic taste of the court.[1] The chapels and palaces that were built at the time exhibited the same splendour, and served the same goals.
- ^ Alexander J. Fisher. "The Munich court chapel." Book review in Early Music, Volume 37, Issue 1, pp. 113-114. Oxford University Press, 2009