The latest Muséfrem project (Musiciens d’Église en France à l'époque moderne) to be held at Artois university in association with Clermont-Auvergne university and the CMBV, will present material, notably from Muséfrem’s national survey database, concerning the career of organists (their recruitment, training, profession, liturgy, etc.) under the Ancien Régime and up until the French Revolution.

In 1790, laws governing the clergy and the abolition of chapters and religious orders resulted in applications from unemployed organists and church inventories listing organs hitherto missing from the archives. The figures do not always tally. The Muséfrem database has brought to light many organists, their instruments providing rich research material, and the repertoire used, which still raises questions, due to organists tending to improvise plainchant and to the rarity of surviving organ scores.                               

For these annual Muséfrem events (Musiciens d’Église en France à l'époque moderne) organised by partner research laboratories, researchers are invited to study the topic and explore the archival sources updated by Muséfrem. They also offer an opportunity for contributors to the project to meet and share the latest research findings with a view to planning the way ahead.