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Music, Religion and Civic Identity in Renaissance Avignon (c.1500–1630)

Project description

Shedding light on the musical mystery of Renaissance Avignon

The musical history of France is renowned worldwide. But our understanding of musical life in Renaissance Avignon (c. 1500–1630) and its impact on the broader religious, social and political level is limited. The EU-funded AVIGNONMUSIC project seeks to change this. It is the first in-depth study of Avignon’s musical life during this period, underscoring whether it reflects localised and/or nationalised trends and if Avignon’s status as a papal residence and enclave impacted the region’s institutions and musical practices. The results will help grow our knowledge about music production in France during the 16th century and Avignon’s urban identity in today’s world.

Objective

This interdisciplinary project will reveal how musical life in Renaissance Avignon (c.1500–1630) was directly interlinked with events happening on a broader religious, social and political level. Alongside being the first in-depth study of Avignon’s musical life during this period, it represents a significant and much-needed departure from the Parisian/royal court focus that has typified almost all previous scholarship on French Renaissance music. Two fundamental issues will provide the basis for this investigation: a) the question as to whether Avignon’s musical life can be said to reflect localised and/or nationalised trends; and b) the effect that Avignon’s unique status as a Papal enclave had on its institutions and musical practices (for example, in the presence of Italian personnel or musical developments). These broader issues will serve as a backdrop for exploring the full spectrum of musicians’ professional activities, as well as the various contexts within which they made the city resound – i.e. from its ecclesiastical establishments (such as Notre-Dame des Doms Cathedral and the Collégiale Saint-Agricol), to the instrumentalists attached to the city’s guilds, to the various civic spectacles within which musicians participated (like ceremonial entries). The results of this innovative survey will thus constitute a major contribution to the fields of early modern soundscapes and cultural studies; by extension, they will also shed new light on Avignon’s urban identity at this time, thereby leading to a better understanding of music making in France during the long sixteenth century.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DE TOURS
Net EU contribution
€ 195 914,88
Address
RUE DU PLAT D ETAIN 60
37020 Tours
France
Region
Centre — Val de Loire Centre — Val de Loire Indre-et-Loire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data