Listen to what the Normans are singing.

A performance combining the presentation of medieval instruments, lutherie, and Anglo-Norman and Sicilian music with Arab influences during the time of the Norman kings.

Les Prieurales and their emblematic ensemble Quarte&graal highlight a remarkable collection of Norman instruments developed over the last twelve years with the support of the City of Le Havre. This project showcases a musical heritage reconstructed from historical sources, notably sculptures and medieval iconographies related to Norman history.

Among these instruments is a reconstruction inspired by a sculpture from the Abbey of Graville, created by Giuseppe Severini, a luthier based in Randazzo, Sicily. He is also known for his work on restoring 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 reflects the meeting of Norman, Arab, and Byzantine cultures. Its decor features numerous instruments such as the oud, rebab, qitara, santur, and zamar, which have now been reimagined and interpreted by Giuseppe Severini and his wife Marilena.

The interaction between the Norman instruments of Quarte&graal and those from the Arab-Norman Sicily creates an unprecedented musical dialogue. The sounds originating from Normandy, England, and the Mediterranean resonate through the voices and instruments of the artists gathered for this occasion, illustrating the richness of cultural exchanges that shaped European history in the Middle Ages.

For this exceptional program, the ensemble Quarte&graal brings together:
Evelyne Moser: bowed vielle, 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 proposal unfolds in two parts: a presentation of the instruments, their origins, their historical representations, and the manufacturing techniques that enabled their reconstruction, followed by a concert. Anglo-Norman chants, Sicilian repertoires, and works of the Norman trouvères intertwine to revive an exceptional musical heritage at the crossroads of the influences that have marked the history of Normandy and the Mediterranean region.

Practical Information:
All audiences
Duration: 1h30
Admission fee
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