Early and contemporary music will meet in an exceptional concert with Ensemble De Caelis at the Abbaye de Fontevraud on September 26, 2015. Le Graduel d’Aliénor, a liturgical book from the 13th century will be paired with Chanson de Guillaume d’Aquitaine, new work by Philippe Hersant which will have its world premiere at this event.

Ensemble De Caelis was keen to work with Philippe Hersant, who chose to use a poem from this Graduel d’Aliénor, entitled Farai un vers de dreyt nien (“I’ll write a verse on nothing at all”) written by Aliénor d’Aquitaine’s grandfather, Guillaume.



LE GRADUEL D’ALIÉNOR / an exceptional testimony
A manuscript kept at the town library of Limoges (France), Le graduel d’Aliénor de Bretagne contains all of the music sung during the liturgical year. Copied and illuminated in 1250-1260 in the Parisian studio of Nicolas Lombard, it is a magnificent book as much for its iconography as for its musical content.

PHILIPPE HERSANT / CONTEMPORARY SOUND
A composer influenced by the music of many historical periods, Philippe Hersant is one of the most famous composers in the world. He subjugates harmony and melody to his literary and poetic sensibility.

At Fontevraud’s request, Hersant based Chanson de Guillaume d’Aquitaine on the poet’s verse Farai un vers de dreit nien (“I’ll write a verse on nothing at all”) as a tribute to the founder of troubadour poetry.

Laurence Brisset from the Ensemble De Caelis joins the composer to talk to us about their new collaboration.