Jadis et naguère (Long ago and in times gone by)

Les Lunaisiens

Arnaud Marzorati, artistic direction, baryton | Jenny Daviet, soprano | Cyrille Dubois, ténor | Chœur Audomaria, dir. Adélaïde Stroesser | Claire Ombeline Muhlmeyer, recorder, saqueboute | Noé Bécaus, viola da gamba | Pernelle Marzorati, harp | Valentin Seignez-Bacquet, violin | Thomas Vincent, baroque guitar | Christophe Tellart, hurdy-gurdy, recorder, hornpipe

Release on 22 May 2026 – simple CD – référence : SE 16 – total run : 64’40
Label : Seulétoile – Distribution : Socadisc (France) & iMusician (digitale) – ISBN : 3770020083235 – Engraved and printed in France

Price : 15€

Storytelling. That is the “trademark” of the ensemble Les Lunaisiens, as their previous works reveal. Jadis et naguère is no exception, taking the mantra literally as it transports us to the heart of the fabulous epic of French history, following in the footsteps of France Vernillat and Pierre Barbier who, in 1982, published an Histoire de France par les chansons that speaks as much about history as it does about our perception of it, leaving as much room for satire as for poetry.
The aim here is not so much to seek ‘authenticity’ as to see – and above all to hear – how the centuries, the rulers and the events have nourished popular creativity.

In Jadis et naguère, Les Lunaisiens wander between the time immemorial of the Frankish kingdom and that of the grand Versailles, between glorious deeds and unspeakable blunders, evoking as much a profoundly nostalgic spirit as a parodic streak. The guiding principle in the creation of this album was to respect not chronology, but rather the flavour of each story, to offer a mix that is textually rich and musically delightful.

It is therefore a decidedly “quirky” vision that they present to today’s audience, one that will cheerfully resonate with the escapades, gossip and biases characteristic of street tales.