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Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée de la Musique de Céret, formerly called the Musée des Instruments de Céret (MúSIC), is housed in the former St. Peter's Hospital, built in 1649 in Céret. This historic building, adjacent to the Saint-Roch Chapel, has since 2013 been home to an exceptional collection of instruments, including oboe from all over the world, bequeathed by Heinz Stefan Herzka and Verena Nile. This legacy, complemented by the funds of the Internacional Centre of Música Popular (CIMP), makes it one of the richest collections in the world for this family of instruments.

The origins of the museum date back to the initiatives of local Sardinian associations, such as the Foment de la Sardane de Céret (led by Roger Raynal and Joseph Burch) and the Sardanist Federation of Roussillon (created in 1976). In 1983, a convention between the city of Céret and the Institut de musique populaire et mediterranean (IMPEM) allowed the rehabilitation of the St. Peter's Hospital to set up a centre dedicated to traditional Catalan music. The CIMP, created in 1987 under Roger Raynal's presidency, then expanded its scope to include Mediterranean music.

Inaugurated on 18 May 2013 in the presence of Jean-Pierre Bel, President of the Senate, the museum exhibits more than 500 instruments on the 3,000 of its collection. It also includes a fonds of 12,000 coble scores (Catalian instrumental ensembles) and a 15,000-piece partotheque. Every year, he organizes the Festa del Joglar, an event celebrating traditional music, including an instrumental salon. The CIMP, supported by the State and communities, acts as a research, training and dissemination hub for popular and scholarly music.

The unique character of the museum lies in its watery collection, unique in the world for its diversity and quality. The instruments, always used in their original societies, illustrate the organological evolution of oboe, linked to the technical innovations of factors and the demands of musicians. The museum also maintains documentary, photographic, iconographic and sound archives, as well as Catalan art and crafts, strengthening its role as a resource centre for traditional music.

The project is part of a cross-border dynamic between the northern and southern Catalonias, with a strong anchor in the local heritage. The travelling exhibitions and actions of the CIMP aim to enhance this musical repertoire, while promoting exchanges between professionals, amateurs and researchers. Since its opening in 2013, the museum has reached 3,300 visitors in four months, confirming its cultural and heritage attractiveness.

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