The Abbey hosts a nightly program for pilgrims. It begins at 8:30 with Compline and a blessing. I was sorry not to understand more than a few words of the Brother’s sermon because he had people chuckling so often. The 4 Brothers in attendance sang acapella and the acoustics amplified their sonorous voices.
At 9 there is a description of the Tympanum.
The Brother was quite the ham, acting it out with his body, changing his voice, inviting the audience to respond. It was entertaining even if I missed a lot of the French explanation. I got the gist.
Following this, musicians perform in the Cathedral. Amazing. This night were a flutist, cellist, and violinist. They also performed some acapella vocals that soared in that space and brought me to tears. The flutist also played piano, Clair de Lune. Splendid. Tried to upload video, but WordPress can’t do it…
Lastly, there’s a light show on the Tympanum. It had been painted way back in the 11th-12th C. Different areas are lit, highlighting various parts in their time. Here it is fully lit. Ed got a great shot.
All in all, it was quite an evening, a satisfying experience to end our Chemin – for now.
Other images of Conques…
Last year a friend broke her leg, mis-stepping on this bridge. After successfully maneuvering all those killer downhills… She and her husband are back this year to continue.
We spent a full day in Conques before catching a van the following day, the 27th, back to Le Puy, which felt like a large city after our countryside days.
Then we arrived in Avignon. I was ready to get back to the nature and quietude of the Chemin and fell into a mini depression, exacerbated by a flaming hot Achilles tendon. So Chemin out. My leg and ankle need the break.
Avignon today was grand, more on why, later. Bonne soiree!
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Hope the Achilles gets better soon! Rest! Maybe check with a local doctor? Some kind of brace might help? I had something like that happen out-of-the-blue during Covid. Got up one morning and couldn’t walk. Not Achilles, but something else in the foot. Ice helped. Some complicated bunch of stuff to wind around the foot did not really help — I gave it up after a day. But kept icing. Then it all went away, as suddenly as it had come. Go figure.
I guess you won’t be dancing sur le pont d’Avignon until this gets better. I loved your description of the music in Conques. I’m sorry I didn’t spend a night or two there — it was very crowded so we just headed out of town after a quick look at the abbey. Maybe I’ll go next year for my 80th!
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The Achilles tendon recovered pretty quickly with ibuprofen, rest, and no pack or strenuous climbs. I think that leg is just compromised from the tree fall and doesn’t take a beating like it used to.
About the music – we were fortunate to be there Monday night. We returned Tuesday night and it all was lacking. The brother who gave the sermon, the one who explained the Tympanum – both lackluster – and only 2 flutists for music, which didn’t have the rich resonance of the night before. So while we felt blessed by our experience on Monday night, Tuesday night informed us of just what a gift it was!
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Oh, good! So glad it is doing better already! So, maybe you will get to dance on the bridge! 😉
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Your 80th! Maybe we’ll join you.
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