The Fabulous Journey Of The Bellelay Gradual
The Bellelay Gradual is a 12th-century liturgical and musical book belonging to the Prémontrés order. It includes the entire Mass repertoire - proper and common - spread over the annual liturgical cycle, combining the Temporal (regular feasts) and the Sanctoral (saints' feasts). This book, one of the first to be annotated, was used to chant mass in the Premonstratensian abbey of Bellelay from the 12th to the 18th century, before being definitively deposited in the archives of the Jura Cantonal Library. But in 1998, the Graduel was rescued from oblivion. L'Atelier d'Axiane, a non-profit foundation promoting art therapy, showed its interest in the work by associating it with scientific research into language disorders and difficulties of human expression. Digitized and studied from a historical and musicological point of view, the Gradual was finally interpreted partially but masterfully by the Ensemble Venance Fortunat under the direction of medieval sacred music specialist Anne-Marie Deschamps at a concert in Romainmôtier in 2008. The documentary looks back on this human and spiritual adventure to rediscover a priceless treasure of medieval liturgy that is still bearing fruit.
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