Early music department

The department offers training in performing repertoires from the Middle Age to the late Baroque period. Depending on the instruments, training inclueds later and contemporary repertoires. 

Complementary courses (Early music theory, basso continuo, tuning and temperament, early music history and culture, etc.) help students build a deep understanding of these repertoires, bonding this comprehension with performance and artistic practice.

Dedicated sessions and special projects, led by pedagogical team and guest artists, leading to public performances. Several sessions are organized in partnership with specialized ensembles, other study departments, or higher education institutions across France and Europe.

A monthly seminar, the Early Music Lab, brings together all students and multiple faculty members to explore the connections between culture, research, and performance practice. 

Strong emphasis is placed on autonomy and research preparation (treatises, repertoire research, historical context, organology, music editing, etc.), empowering students to develop an individualized approach that reflects current developments in early music.

Courses brings to students practical, career-oriented tools: program and project design and presentation, legal frameworks, networking with industry professionals, and developing promotional materials to pitch artistic projects to targeted presenters. 

Professional immersion internships provide students with hands-on experience in professional settings, boosting their career readiness.  

The joint Master’s degree “Music: Research and Ensemble Performance” (MRPE)—offered by the Universities of Poitiers and Tours in partnership with RésoNAnces and the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes—is designed for students who wish to combine high-level performance training with musicological research.