This album was recorded during a music workshop dedicated to medieval music that took place at the old Chapeau Cornu – means "Horned Hat" – castle not far from Lyon during the summer of 1972. The participants, beginners or experienced musiciens, were 30 in number and the team composed of five confirmed musicians among whom René Zosso, yet to become a world-known figure of medieval music. The goal here was clearly to overcome the constraints of written – too much written – music and of "genuine" instrumentation : some space was left for free improvisation and modern and ancient instruments were used indifferently : hurdy gurdy and cello, positive organ and harpsichord, a set of carpenter’s nails as a gamelan and a cardboard barrel as a drum. All tracks were recorded live, and some with an audience. The result is varied and refreshing, making this music sound much more colloquial than it uses to. This record also has a "curiosity": a cover –medieval of course - of "Je Chante Pour Passer Le Temps", a poem by Louis Aragon, set to music by Léo Ferré… just strings and voice… awesome !Those were the days… The Chapeau-Cornu ("more or less comfortable", as written on the back of the cover) has now become into a luxury hotel with canopy beds in the rooms…