Ina Lohr (1903-1983): Transcending the Boundaries of Early Music

Although almost forgotten today, Ina Lohr played a significant role in Basel’s 20th-century musical world. In 1930, she became Paul Sacher’s musical assistant, helping in the preparations for performances of the Basel Chamber Orchestra, of which he was the director. Just three years later, she was one of the courageous pioneers who under the direction of Paul Sacher founded the now internationally renowned Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. As Ina Lohr was instrumental in creating its program, her work indirectly had an enormous impact on the Early Music Movement. Through her biography, we learn to see Early Music within the complex cultural and religious matrix of her time, forcing ourselves to transcend our own boundaries to understand her life.