Canticum Novum

Within a Middle Ages supposedly characterised by obscurantism and closed-mindedness, the 13th century stands out as a time of openness to the world, but an openness associated with the aggressive expansion of the West through commercial development and the Crusades.

Against this backdrop, the figure of Francis of Assisi stands out in more ways than one. A true ‘other Christ’, following in the footsteps of the first with radical joy, Francis breaks with tradition. He accompanies the crusaders with the ambition of converting the Sultan through gentleness, and returns horrified by the lamentable spectacle of the so-called fighters of Christ.

At a time when the West was beginning to exploit the living world, Francis spoke to birds, tamed a wolf, sang the praises of Creation, and brought animals into paradise by giving them souls. Francis thus gave new impetus to Western spirituality, and his mysticism spread to the East, notably thanks to the missions entrusted to the Franciscans in the East.

Cast - 10 musicians

Barbara Kusa, Emmanuel Bardon, vocals 
Valérie Dulac, viols
Aliocha Regnard, nyckelharpa 
Philippe Roche, oud 
Spyros Halaris, kanun, lute & vocals 
Marine Sablonnière, recorders
Artyom Minasyan, duduk, pakou, zurna & blul
Henri-Charles Caget, percussion 
Ismaïl Mesbahi, percussion

Programme:

Laudario di Cortona, 13th-century Italian music 
Cant de la Sybilla, 13th-century Spanish music 
Traditional and liturgical music from the Kingdom of Armenia and Cilicia (13th and 14th centuries)
Traditional music from Cappadocia 
Sufi music