At the end of 2025, the instrumental collection of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles will be enriched with a consort of recorders. To mark the occasion, a day of professional meetings, organised in partnership with the association ‘Flûtes à bec en France’, will offer professionals an in-depth understanding of the issues involved in this reconstruction. It will also be a unique opportunity for flutists to try out these new instruments, with a particular focus on the repertoire for which they are intended. Conferences, playing sessions, round tables, discussions and social events will punctuate these two days, making this an unmissable event for the world of the recorder!
In autumn 2025, the instrumental collection of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles will be enriched with a consort of recorders faithfully reconstructed from 17th and 18th century French models. This project, carried out in close collaboration with instrument makers, musicians and researchers, aims to meet the practical needs of today's performers, enabling them to achieve greater precision in their interpretation and accurately reproduce the characteristic sound colours of this period.
Organised in collaboration with the association Flûtes à bec en France, these two days offer professionals a unique space for meeting, reflection and experimentation. They will provide an opportunity to understand the artistic, educational and scientific challenges involved in reconstructing this consort, and to place these instruments back in their historical repertoire: vocal, chamber and orchestral music. The programme includes lectures on instrument making and iconographic sources, demonstrations and instrument trials, small ensemble workshops, a round table discussion on the educational and artistic uses of recorders, and opportunities for informal discussion. This meeting marks an important step in the rediscovery of the French recorder and is a valuable resource for all professionals involved in historically informed performance.
Objectives
- Understanding the historical, organological and aesthetic issues involved in the reconstruction of recorders by the CMBV
- Exploring the sonic, expressive and technical possibilities of the recently constructed consort instruments through practice and experimentation.
- Promote the integration of these instruments into current professional practices, both in an artistic context (historically informed performance) and in an educational context (teaching, awareness-raising), by stimulating exchanges between musicians, instrument makers, teachers and researchers.
Trainers
Tiago Simas-Freire, flutist, cornettist, teacher
Augustin d'Arco, flutist, bassoonist, teacher
Claire Michon, flutist, teacher, president of Flûtes à bec en France
Marco Magalhães, flute maker, flute player
Henri Gohin, facteur de flûtes
Thomas Leconte, researcher and editorial manager (CESR - CMBV)
Benoît Dratwicki, researcher and artistic director (CESR - CMBV)
Training arrangements
- In-person workshop only
- Workshop conducted in French (discussions possible in English)
- Alternating between theory sessions, round tables, individual and group games using the instruments available
Programme
Friday 27 March 2026
- 10:30 a.m.: welcome
- 11 a.m.: presentations
- 1–2:30 p.m.: buffet organised by the CMBV
- 2:30 p.m.: repertoire reading
- 4:30 p.m.: round table/discussion
- 5:30 p.m.: free play
- 7 p.m.: end
Saturday 28 March 2026
- 9:30 a.m.: welcome
- 10 a.m.: presentations and repertoire readings
- 1 p.m.: conclusions
- 1:30 p.m.: lunch (free time)
- 3 p.m.: free play
Participants
- Active recorder players
- Recorder makers
- Musicologists
- Higher education students
Prerequisites
- Working professionals
- Future professionals in training - currently enrolled in higher education (bachelor's, master's) or equivalent
Repertoire studied
A discussion with Tiago Simas-Freire prior to the workshop will help determine the repertoire to be played during the repertoire readings
Pricing conditions
These professional days are supported by the association Flûtes à bec en France. Members of the association benefit from a reduced rate for registration for the training course (upon presentation of proof of membership for the current year).
- Individual participation fee for members of Flûtes à bec en France: €100 including VAT
- Individual participation fee for non-members: €150 including VAT
- Individual participation fee for students (up to 26 years old): €90 including VAT
Services included in the price:
- Access to CMBV premises (instrument tuning if necessary)
- All teaching costs (instructors, instruments, etc.) for the duration of the course
- Playing the instruments
- Provision of documents and sheet music
The following remain the responsibility of the trainees:
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation expenses (meals and lodging)
To join the association Flûtes à bec en France (€20 per calendar year, €5 for students upon presentation of proof of status), visit the website: https://www.flutes-a-bec.com/qui-est-erta/adherer-a-erta/
Registration
Participation in the professional networking day is free of charge. Please register by completing the registration form below.
The classrooms and teaching areas are accessible to people with reduced mobility. If you have a disability that requires adjustments to the teaching, please specify this when registering: this information will be forwarded to the CMBV disability officer, who will contact you if necessary.
Registration deadline: 27 January 2026
