Harmonium Festival in Mougins

The Mougins Harmonium Festival is one of the unmissable events for music lovers and lovers of the pipe instrument.

Every year, at the beginning of autumn, it is always the occasion for fascinating encounters around a remarkable instrument. The four concerts offered for this 2022 edition will take spectators on a journey through various repertoires - baroque, classical and jazz - while introducing them to original sound combinations. The harmonium of Saint-Jacques le Majeur will be joined by the Hammond organ, the flute, the glassharmonica, the Ondes Martenot, but also bird singers!

Program:

Artistic director: Olivier Vernet

- Sunday September 25 at 6 p.m.

Charles Balayer, harmonium and Hammond organ “Bach, swingin' Bach” First part: Excerpts from Johann Sebastian Bach's “Goldberg Variations” on the harmonium. Second part: Improvisation on themes from the Baroque and Renaissance periods on the Hammond harmonium.

- Sunday October 2 at 6 p.m. Maude Gratton, organ / Pierre Hamon, flute Jean Boucault and Johnny Rasse, bird singers "The Organ and the Bird" Symbol of freedom or divine inspiration, the bird has always occupied a special place in many cultures. We observe its flight, we imitate its song. For this concert the bird is the central figure of a poetic journey where improvisation will link medieval music, music from Native American traditions or figures from the classical repertoire. Human voices, pre-Columbian flutes and organ will be brought together around the theme of the bird.

- Sunday 9 October at 6 p.m. Jean-Cyrille Gandillet, organ / Philippe Depetris, flute "Johann Sebastian Bach: paths of emotions" Jean-Sébastien BACH (1685-1750) Aria from Suite No. 3 in D BWV 1968, Sonata in B minor BWV 1030 Andante, largo e dolce, presto, Concerto in C major after Vivaldi BWV 594 (solo organ), Arioso (largo from concerto BWV 1056), Chorale “Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan Kam” BWV 684 ( solo organ), Sonata in E minor BWV 1034 Adagio ma non tanto, allegro, andante, allegro. - Sunday 16 October at 6 p.m. Thierry Mechler, organ - Thomas Bloch, Ondes Martenot and Glassharmonica “Au gré des Ondes”

It took 250 years to germinate the idea of ​​bringing together the glass Armonica (or "glassharmonica") whose glasses are rubbed with wet fingers and the pipe harmonium. However, Mozart, among others, composed for both instruments. Today it is played by less than a dozen performers around the world. Almost as rare, the ondes Martenot, one of the first electric instruments (1919) of which the organist and composer Olivier Messiaen was an illustrious godfather, often remain attached to the repertoire of the strange and naturally find their place alongside them. J.S. Bach Fantasy in A minor BWV 904 Jean-René Combes Chant d'Atalyante Olivier Messiaen Unpublished 4th sheet W.A. Mozart Adagio K.356 (617a) Orlando Gibbons Pavane Thomas Bloch Hot Dog Astor Piazzolla Tanti Anni Prima Thomas Bloch Formula Henri Dutilleux Tribute to Bach J.J.S. von Holt Sombach 1st Suite Thomas Bloch Christ Hall T. Mechler / T. Bloch Improvisation

Practical information: Free admission (Subject to availability)

Church of Saint-Jacques le Majeur - Mougins Village - 6 p.m.