Pharaonique Moondog

An unconditional lover of European classical music, founder of minimalism, inventor of percussion instruments such as the “Trimba” and creator of dances with equally whimsical names such as the “Dog Trot”, the “Rabbit Hop” and the “Bumbo”, this blind poet in a Viking helmet left a remarkable mark on the music of the late 20th century.

Directly inherited from the French Revolution, harmony orchestras or “musical societies” have been part of the fabric of our country’s associations since the early 19th century. Open to high-quality amateur musicians, these ensembles are not only places for learning music, but also for sharing and discovery. The inter-generational exchanges and the spirit of association that can be developed are values that reinforce the interest and relevance of these orchestras.

Moondog loved large ensembles, as demonstrated by his many symphonies and his piece for 400 trombones. For the 2022 edition of Jazz sur le Grill! We want to create a giant, ephemeral orchestra in this image, bringing together several bands (from 4 to 6) to celebrate the music of this iconoclastic composer over a 30-40 minute programme. The simple forms, catchy melodies, art of the canon and ritornello inherent in his music are all elements that can be adapted to the orchestral mass.

Pascal Berne, artistic coordinator of Jazz sur le Grill ! and a double bass player, composer and arranger, was responsible for the adaptations and artistic coherence of the project. Two soloists were involved in this musical creation: Damien Sabatier (saxes) and Gérald Chevillon (saxes).

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