Music and history, the cornerstones of the abbey’s influence, echo each other throughout an itinerary marked by high-tech acoustic stations. The Musicaventure experience can be enjoyed in groups from primary three.
Delve more deeply into the experience: discover binaural sound, listening activities, the fantastic mediaeval bestiary, story-writing, historical frescoes…
The Carrousel Musical
A fun, sensory approach to music. Sheltering under a vast shell of silvery mirrors, an immense “Bazilik”* houses, in its body, a gigantic digital instrumentarium that is truly one of a kind. With the Carrousel Musical, explore bows, keyboards, harps, electro-acoustic instruments and vocal cords. The ride ends in the collective production of an interactive piece. With a poetic, fairground dimension, the Carrousel Musical is an extraordinary, stimulating ride that calls upon the senses of touch, hearing and sight. It is a new approach to music.
* In reference to the basilisk, mythical creature of the Roman bestiary.
The Jeune Orchestre de l’Abbaye (JOA)
Young musicians from all over the world come to Saintes to complete their musical training with the JOA. They also participate in musical outreach activities. These experiences, based on practice and listening, enrich all concerned: the musicians, who are in contact with audiences unfamiliar with music that they must win over to their cause, and the participants, who have the opportunity to meet the musicians, try singing and/or a musical instrument and be transported by music.
The Abbaye aux Dames, cité musicale, has always placed choir singing at the heart of its cultural outreach activities.
In a school and after-school setting, the abbey develops choir singing courses, stays abreast with existing practices, supports teacher training, encourages and organises meetings between children’s and young people’s choirs, develops programmes for prestigious choirs and creates workshops for vocal practices, among other activities.
Outreach resource centre
With over 15 years of experience, the Abbaye aux Dames develops and perfects modules initiating participants in musical outreach. Today, this skill is a must for professional musicians.
Supported by a network of partners in the cultural, tourist and social sectors, the Abbaye aux Dames conducts research on outreach and gives it a great deal of thought. This activity now extends to all of Europe.