Saintonge (Organs)

Renovation project aimed at heritage enhancement and introducing young rural people to the music of the organ / Heritage project funded by the Foundation (April 2010)

The mission of the Saintonge Heritage and Culture association is to preserve and enhance the heritage of this former French province straddling four departments: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres and Vendée. Cédric Burgelin, winner of the organ prize at the Paris national music conservatory, is technical and artistic advisor to the town of Jonzac as well as official organist in the cathedral at Saintes in Charente-Maritime. With the support of the town of Jonzac he has launched a project to renovate the historic cathedral organ, as well as a programme introducing youngsters to the piano, harpsichord and organ. Burgelin describes the organ as being like the human body – a beautiful mechanism which needs constant checking. In Charente-Maritime there are 52 organs, half of them of high quality. Seven are officially listed. Along with the Saintonge Heritage and Culture association, Burgelin has offered to carry out a regular audit on the 26 quality organs in the department. In parallel he uses his visits to the 26 towns to offer classes aimed at introducing music to pupils in rural junior and middle schools. To this end he has developed a programme for explaining the workings of the organ and its three keyboards. The children are aged between 10 and 12. After he checks a town’s organ, Burgelin gives a free concert for residents. On April 19, Burgelin was with middle school students in the town of Pons.