The traditional musical event of the Moissaga summer period is back for an exceptional new edition. Discover the program.
The Organum ensemble, this singular vector of musical and liturgical memory that has its source in late antiquity and the very early Middle Ages, is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. Created at the Abbey of Sénanque (Vaucluse) in 1982, this vocal ensemble followed the Cistercian path westward to settle in Moissac in 2001 after a stint at the famous Abbey of Royaumont in the Val-d’Oise. Under the leadership of Marcel Pérès, the historical founder, the Organum association has today become a veritable laboratory dedicated to the exploration of early music.
The association, with its Spring, Summer and Autumn Diagonals, punctuates the seasons of the uvale city with its skilful assembly of courses, conferences and concerts so that this common memory anchored in the depths of our Judeo- Christian but also Mediterranean.
Three thematic courses
The Diagonales d’été are traditionally devoted to the feast of Saint-Jacques, highly symbolic on this major stop on the way to Compostela that is Moissac. Upstream of the program of events (see box), three courses are offered by the association.
From July 16 to 25, 2022 directed by Marcel Pérès, Twilight transfigured, a work by Marcel Pérès for choir and dance echoing the songs and poems of the 11th century from Moissaga. Registration until July 15, 2022.
From July 18 to 25, 2022, singing course led by Frédéric Tavernier, Codex Calixtinus les Vêpres et la Messe de Saint-Jacques. Registration until July 17, 2022.
From July 19 to 24, 2022, workshop for children to discover the secrets of medieval instruments led by Jodel Grasset, Dorothée Pinto and Serge Soula (Compagniee La Baraque). Registration until July 10, 2022.
Registration is done on 06 74 45 23 60 or by email at [email protected].
The participants in the courses, integrating the choirs of the CIRMA (Itinerant Center for Research on Ancient Music), will take part in the concerts given from July 23 to 25 at the Saint-Pierre de Moissac abbey.
The program of events
Friday July 22: at 9.30 p.m., in the hall of Paris, cinema screening, presentation of the film on the Laudario di Cortona, Tuscan Mystery of the 13th century reconstituted by the Organum ensemble on the occasion of the inauguration of the great hall of the City of Music (Paris 1995). Free entry.
Saturday July 23: great day of improvisation in early music; at 6 o’clock, Romanesque organ (10th century), in the abbey church, free entry; at 8 a.m., Cavaillé-Coll organ, at the abbey church, free entry; at 9 am, surprise instrument and lute, at the cloister, ticket office on site €5; at 9.30 a.m., piano, in the cloister, ticket office on site €5; at 11:22 a.m., procession with a surprise instrument from the Saint-Jacques church and passing through the market to go to the abbey church and the concert at 12:12 p.m., free entry to accompany us on this path; at 11.33 a.m., the abbey carillon rings, free admission; at 12:12 p.m., surprise concert, ticket office on site €10; at 5.17 p.m., surprise organ and instrument dialogue, at the abbey, ticket office on site €5; at 7:19 p.m., at the cloister, dance performance with song: Le Crépuscule Transfiguré, work by Marcel Pérès, “La Baraque” Company, Organum ensemble, CIRMA Choir and the children of the study session, ticket office on site; price €15 and €10; at 11 p.m., at the abbey, Saint-Jacques vigil, surprise concert, Organum ensemble and all the musicians, free entry.
Sunday July 24: from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Saint-Jacques church, public rehearsal and “open house” day in partnership with the Moissaga association “L’Art s’invite à Moissac” which presents a contemporary art exhibition “Come and discover the Organum ensemble and the CIRMA”, free admission; at 4 p.m., at the abbey, children’s show: “The legend of Compostela”, free participation to bring ancient music to life for a young audience; at 9 p.m., at the abbey, 1st Vespers of Saint-Jacques (Codex Calixtinus 12th century), ticket office on site €5.
Monday July 25: feast of Saint James. At 8 a.m., Romanesque organ, free admission; at 8:30 a.m., Lauds of Saint-Jacques, free entry; mass at 11 a.m.; at 6 p.m., 2nd Vespers; at 7:30 p.m., Spanish inn meal at the Organum premises at 12 boulevard Lakanal in Moissac.