French order opens abbey doors to allow what could be the largest recording project ever
A monastery of Benedictine nuns living in seclusion in southern France has opened its doors to allow recordings of its Gregorian chants to be made available to the outside world.
In what is believed to be the largest recording project ever conducted, the US musician John Anderson followed the 45-strong order for three years. He installed microphones in the abbey church of Notre-Dame de Fidélité de Jouques near Aix-en-Provence in southern France and captured the nuns singing their eight daily “offices”. The result is thousands of chants, the entire Gregorian repertoire, about 7,000 hours long. Continue reading “Benedictine nuns release Gregorian chants to help ease coronavirus isolation”→
With long-term confinement, the antennas adjust their grids to meet the demands of listeners
Thursday April 9, Médiamétrie will publish, as every quarter, the audience figures for French radio. With a week in advance and, due to the epidemic, different calculation methods, the field surveys having, for safety reasons, been suspended Monday March 16. Even without the usual analysis tools, these figures should bear witness to the explosion of hearings since the start of confinement. This is already notable in other surveys.
The Alliance for press and media figures (ACPM) reported on Monday April 6 that online radio listening had increased by 15% on average in France over the first two weeks of confinement – the information radios recording an increase of 40%.
The peak morning audience has shifted: 9 a.m., instead of 8 a.m.
Listening habits have also changed: a study carried out for Europe 1 by Kantar Profiles, Monday April 6, on 1,027 respondents in France, underlines that 44% of French people say they get up later since the start of confinement. The peak morning audience has shifted: 9 a.m., instead of 8 a.m., says Etienne Marut, marketing director for Europe 1. He also underlines a very strong increase in visits to the antenna site: 35 million in March, an increase of 125%.
Same story on the side of France Inter, whose site saw its audience grow by 111% in March. “At the time of the attacks, we already had a feeling that radio was the medium of the crisis ,” explains Erwann Gaucher, digital director of France Inter, even if the period was fortunately too short to draw conclusions from it. There, after a month, the numerical figures are still very high. “
Excitement of exchanges
Free time also strengthens the interaction between the radio and its listeners. “In February, says Erwann Gaucher, there were 800,000 interactions (comments and likes) on our Facebook page, in March: 1.4 million.” [ . . . ]
The relationship between IFC Films and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne began with the 2011 release of “The Kid with a Bike” and also includes the 2016 mystery drama “The Unknown Girl,” but it’s “Two Days, One Night” that remains the centerpiece of this partnership. The 2014 drama stars Marion Cotillard as a factory worker who is forced to convince her fellow employees to give up financial bonuses in order for her to keep her job. Cotillard was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar for her performance, one of over a dozen acting nominations she received during the 2014-15 awards season. The drama was another foreign-language success for IFC with over $1 million at the U.S. box office.
“Two Days, One Night” and “The Kid with a Bike” are now streaming on IFC Films Unlimited.
Music fans can no longer go to concerts. But they have something to enjoy from morning to evening on social networks.
Alert, Jean-Louis Aubert launches a Facebook Live ! Cali is coming to Instagram! Arte puts a concert online at noon! After three weeks of confinement, the artists and media are so active on social networks that we no longer know where to turn. If you want to spend a day in music, here are ten daily appointments for all tastes.
9 hours. We wake up with Rufus Wainwright
Confinement is also an opportunity to discover artists. And to share with you our love for the American Rufus Wainwright. Every morning, this genius jack of all trades – pop singer, composer of operas and film scores – sends (with nine hours of difference) on his Instagram a postcard from Los Angeles. He welcomes him in his dressing gown, feeds his fish, sings on the piano or on the guitar one of his beautiful “quarantunes”, “quarantine songs”. Smiling and delicate, ideal to start the day off on the right foot.
10:30 am A Biolay for breakfast
He does it according to his desires. Up to three times a day. So difficult to give a fixed time to find Benjamin Biolay and his six strings on his Instagram account . But whether he takes over Daho, Gainsbourg, Reggiani, The Louis Trio affair or his own marvels, like “Your Heritage”, it’s always a joy. If you like sensitive strings, those of violinist Renaud Capuçon at 11 a.m. on Twitter are also highly recommended.
Midday. A concert to whet your appetite
From Monday to Friday, Arte Concert has three daily meetings on Facebook . At noon, she broadcasts one of her 6000 shows, from metal to classic, which can be commented on live. Monday, it will be Manu Dibango , Tuesday, Quincy Jones, Wednesday, Juliette Armanet… At 4 pm, an artist intervenes from his home live and in interview, for at least twenty minutes. Irma, Asgeir and Emilie Simon are among others on the program for the coming days. Finally, from 7 p.m. to midnight, Arte broadcasts, always live but from a Berlin club, a DJ concert.
14 hours. Boxed with Bob Sinclar
“I’m at home, I can’t do anything but music. If you want a particular record, tell me, I have 30,000 vinyls here. Confined to Marseille, DJ Bob Sinclar goes to the turntables every day from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to dance the whole world with Facebook using themed playlists. It’s very fun but also touching when he pays tribute to Manu Dibango.
VIDEO. Confinement: a day of live on social networks
15 hours. A stroll in the Aisne
Without transition, we leave the dance floor for the Sainte-Thérèse d’Hirson church in Aisne. Former church, it should be noted, since it has been the home of classical pianist Kit Armstrong since 2012 . Confined with his piano, the 28-year-old Anglo-Taiwanese virtuoso wants, on Facebook , to “offer a moment of escape” and pay homage to French composers. It succeeded. We listen religiously to his stories and his interpretations of Fauré, Couperin or Pachelbel.
18 hours. With the family at Henri From
“Hello dear, it’s me! It is Swiss precision. At 6:00 p.m., Henri DA is faithful to the appointment to share one of his famous refrains on his Facebook page. He hums the melody on the guitar then with the lyrics and gladly tells an anecdote… Notice to families, the other star of the playground, in rock’n’roll version, Aldebert has also started to make his lives on Instagram.
6.30 p.m. Make yourself a jazz gratin
Q West TV is the Netflix of jazz. Co-founded by the legendary Quincy Jones, nicknamed Q, this video on demand platform offers during confinement a free 30-day discovery of its 750 concerts and documentaries. As a bonus, it broadcasts at 9 p.m. a show on Facebook and YouTube, and at 10 p.m. on Instagram a never-before-seen live show of sizes such as Eric Bibb, Taylor McFerrin or Shelea.
8:30 p.m. Treat yourself to the Philharmonie
In five years, the Philharmonie de Paris has become one of the most popular European stages. The opportunity to see his old concerts – classical, song, rock and electro – every evening at 8:30 p.m. From Monday, we will vibrate with the soprano Sabine Devieilhe and the orchestra Les Siècles, then Les Arts Florissants, Richard Galliano and the Paris orchestra, a tribute to Frank Zappa, the New York Philharmonic, the electronic musician Rone… Que heavy! But beware, the concerts are only visible for 24 hours on live.philharmoniedeparis.fr.
22 hours. Francis Cabrel opens his treasure chest
It’s short, but it’s rare and often beautiful. Since March 16, the discreet Francis Cabrel has been playing a song and guitar every evening, a song he rarely or never performs on stage. Treasures like “I will be back soon”, “A star in his own way” or “The Cathar knights”, presented with humor and humility. No interaction because the title is recorded, but the interpretation and the sound are perfect. To (re) see on Facebook of Baboo Music , the label of his daughter Aurélie.
10:05 p.m. A glass, worms with Keren Ann
How about we end the day by sharing a glass of wine with Keren Ann on Instagram ? The singer gives an appointment every evening from 10 p.m. in her living room. A delicious moment when, singing, singing along with the guitar or the piano, her songs and her recaptures of heart, from Christophe to Dylan. She also reads poems and the messages entrusted to her (by email to daysofconfinement2020@gmail.com) of people confined for their distant loves.
In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, many of us are home-bound this winter. But culture can provide a thrilling escape, even from your couch. Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite podcast episodes, videos, playlists, and more so you can take a deep dive into contemporary and classic French and Francophone cultures––without leaving your apartment.
Listen to The Thing About France Podcast
Did you know that David Sedaris loves French-style frozen food? Or that being in Paris makes Gloria Steinem feel like she’s in a village? Podcast fans will love The Thing About France, which explores the fascinating and complicated relationship between France and the United States through intimate with artist Mickalene Thomas, chef Daniel Rose (Le Coucou), Jonathan Galassi (President and Publisher at Farrar, Straus and Giroux), and many more! Listen here.
Dive into Geopolitics with the French Embassy’s FrancoFiles Podcast
FrancoFiles gives listeners a chance to explore geopolitical issues and get a behind the scenes look at French diplomatic and consular missions in Washington D.C. through the podcast medium. Learn about La Maison Française, biodiversity, the Michelin Guide, and more.[ . . . ] Continue reading “Explore French Culture from Your Couch”→
Pas De Merde 