Listen to what the Normans are singing.

A performance merging the presentation of medieval instruments, lutherie, and Anglo-Norman and Sicilian music with Arab influences during the time of the Norman kings. The Prieurales and their emblematic ensemble Quarte&graal showcase a remarkable Norman instrumental collection that has been developed over the past twelve years with the support of the City of Le Havre. This project highlights a musical heritage reconstructed from historical sources, notably from medieval sculptures and iconographies linked 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, the heir to the Norman conquest of Sicily, this monument reflects the encounter between Norman, Arab, and Byzantine cultures. Its decor showcases numerous instruments such as the oud, the rebab, the qitara, the santur, and the zamar, which have been reinvented and interpreted by Giuseppe Severini and his wife Marilena. The meeting of the Norman instruments of Quarte&graal and those from Arab-Norman Sicily gives birth to a unique musical dialogue. The sounds from Normandy, England, and the Mediterranean respond through the voices and instruments of the artists gathered for this occasion, illustrating the richness of cultural exchanges that shaped European history during the Middle Ages. For this exceptional program, the Quarte&graal ensemble includes: 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 facilitated their reconstruction, followed by a concert. Anglo-Norman songs, Sicilian repertoires, and works of Norman trouvères blend together to revive an exceptional musical heritage, at the crossroads of the influences that have marked the history of Normandy and the Mediterranean space. Practical Information: All public Duration: 1h30 Paid event Contact