The ensemble takes its name from Giovanni Battista Maccioni's dramatic cantata L'arpa festante (The Festive Harp) which was first performed in 1653, inaugurating what was to become the Bavarian State Opera.

For the publisher Carus-Verlag they produced a first recording of eleven sacred vocal works by Johann Philipp Förtsch, titled Ich freue mich im Herrn, and in 2004 of works by David Pohle, titled Wie der Hirsch schreyet: Diligam te Domine; In te Domine speravi; Benedicam Dominum; Jesu chare; Paratum cor meum., conducted by Rien Voskuilen.

[8] On the Leipzig label GENUIN, they released two recordings of works by Dietrich Buxtehude with Stephan Schreckenberger and Musica Lingua: Festive Cantatas (2002, [1]) and Membra Jesu Nostri (2005, [2]).

In 2006 they recorded a historically informed performance of Mozart's Requiem with the Bachchor Mainz conducted by Ralf Otto, with soloists Julia Kleiter, Gerhild Romberger, Daniel Sans and Klaus Mertens which was broadcast by Hessischer Rundfunk in a documentary on the work on 28 April 2006.

A reviewer described the group as "an excellent ensemble, playing with taste and a feel of joie de vivre, the string sound enhanced by a crisp harpsichord or gentle lute, depending on the mood in any particular movement.