Show – "Listen to what the Normans are singing"

A performance combining a display of medieval instruments, instrument-making, and Anglo-Norman and Sicilian music with Arabic influences from the era of the Norman kings.

 Les Prieurales and their iconic ensemble Quarte&graal showcase a remarkable collection of Norman instruments, built up over more than twelve years thanks to the support of the City of Le Havre. This project showcases a musical heritage reconstructed from historical sources, notably medieval sculptures and iconography linked to Norman history.

Among these instruments is a reconstruction inspired by a sculpture from Graville Abbey, crafted by Giuseppe Severini, a luthier based in Randazzo, Sicily. Severini is also known for his work in reconstructing the instruments depicted in the paintings of the Palatine Chapel in Palermo. Built during the reign of Roger II, heir to the Norman conquest of Sicily, this monument bears witness to the encounter between Norman, Arab and Byzantine cultures. Its decoration features numerous instruments such as the oud, the rebab, the qitara, the santur and the zamar, which have now been reimagined and performed by Giuseppe Severini and his wife Marilena.

The meeting of the Norman instruments of Quarte&graal with those of Arab-Norman Sicily gives rise to a unique musical dialogue. Sounds from Normandy, England and the Mediterranean resonate through the voices and instruments of the artists gathered for the occasion, illustrating the richness of the cultural exchanges that shaped European history in the Middle Ages.

For this exceptional programme, the Quarte&graal ensemble brings together:
Evelyne Moser: bowed viols, vocals
Leah Stuttard: rote, vocals
Marilena Severini: large tambourine, derbouka, vocals and dance
Giuseppe Severini: oud, rebab, santur, zamar, mezwed, vieras, vocals
François Montaufray: guiterne, citole, qitara, vocals
The programme is divided into two parts: a presentation of the instruments, their origins, their historical depictions and the construction techniques that have enabled their reconstruction, followed by a concert. Anglo-Norman songs, Sicilian repertoires and works by the Norman troubadours blend together to bring to life an exceptional musical heritage, at the crossroads of the influences that have shaped the history of Normandy and the Mediterranean region.

Practical information:
Suitable for all ages
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission charged
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