What we do
Virtual Music Heritage is a website devoted to music heritage research and interactive installations by Ricercar — the musicology team of the Center for Renaissance Studies (CESR) in Tours, France.
Since 2010, we have been working on various projects dedicated to raising awareness of our music heritage research in conjunction with private and public museums and cultural institutions.
We currently have three ongoing programmes:
1) The Cubiculum musicae — a mobile interactive space equipped with HiFi and HD where visitors can immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of the Renaissance.
2) Music in Renaissance Palaces — research-based recreation of the acoustic of spaces designed for playing music, thanks to the collaboration of ensembles specialized in specific Renaissance and Baroque repertoires.
3) Interactive 3D reconstructions of lost architectures with sound spatialization.
In addition to the project already carried out and presented on this website, the Ricercar team is open to collaborations with researchers, international cultural institutions, museums, to develop innovative programmes to enhance the musical heritage.
Contact Camilla Cavicchi for further information.
Who we are
Musicologist
Camilla Cavicchi
is a CNRS musicologist of the Center for Renaissance Studies (University of Tours, France). She has published on a wide range of topics including musical iconography, organology, the history of musical institutions in the Renaissance, and orally transmitted musical repertoires.
Musicologist
Philippe Vendrix
is CNRS Research Director at the Centre for Renaissance Studies in Tours (University of Tours, France). Since 1994, he has been coordinating the activities of the Ricercar Programme, and editing and directing publications for Brepols and Garnier Classiques.
Musicologist
Hyacinthe Belliot
is in charge of the documentary activity of the Ricercar Programme and manages the financial administration of its regional, national and international projects. She organizes meetings and concerts, and has created an extensive database of sources with thousands of entries including music, recordings, and images.
Musicologist
Vasco Zara
is associate professor at the Université de Bourgogne (Dijon, France). He is an expert in the relationships between music and architecture. He has led several research programmes on the 3D sound-spatialization, including Music and musicians in the Saint-Chapels, Musi2R and ReviSMartin.
Designer
Alice Nué
is a graphic, editorial and communication designer in charge of the Tours Center for Renaissance Studies series and oversees communication for CESR scientific events.
Musicologist
David Fiala
is associate professor in Musicology at the University of Tours (CESR). His research focuses on the music and careers 15th and 16th centuries musicians, and he has a special interest in Digital Humanities. He has been instrumental in several digital programmes such as Prosopography of Renaissance singers, Music and musicians in the Saint-Chapels and ReviSMartin.