"Finding La Renaissance's rehearsal room is pretty difficult - so that is why the 'chef' meets you off the metro! Of course, he doesn't say he's the conductor; you don't find that out until after you have arrived together and he lifts up the baton. No, first impressions of La Renaissance are friendly, welcoming, and delighted that you want to play. And that's before you've even stepped into the room. When you do step into the room, the introductions begin. Greetings are more important than starting bang on 20.30 (and you must greet everyone). Every face is smiling, the bar is (unofficially, until the break) open (you help yourself from the fridge, you put your money on a plate on the counter, if you don't have it you write on the blackboard what you owe, and of course your first night is free). Introductions are made, conversations abound. After a while, Denis (who met you at the station) calls order and wanders over to the conductor's stand. You are found a place, and the rehearsal begins. Some bands achieve good playing by hard slog. La Renaissance achieve it by easy slog. That's to say, the atmosphere is so friendly, and the banter so lively, that you forget that you are actually working on a piece of music. Yet the improvement is amazing. Everyone gives their all, and willingly. There are no auditions, all abilities are welcome, you play what you can. The 90 minutes or so until Denis calls 'Pause' fly by. Then, once again, you are surrounded by conversation. There is never a lonely minute: it is a band policy that everyone is included. You don't speak French? That's OK, 'Jérôme, he learn Eenglish. Jérôme, viens ici!' In this way, friendships are made and cemented. I will probably never forget our first rehearsal with La Renaissance. Newly arrived in Paris, we naively assumed that a rehearsal starting at 20.30 would be over in two hours. In fact, we rolled home at 3am (thanks to a lift from said Jérôme, in fact). After the rehearsal is a meal and, if you are lucky, it is a 'pot'. A 'pot' is where some band members team up and provide and prepare food for everyone. No need to pay - you just make sure you volunteer about once a year. Our first week was one such 'pot'. It has been said that musicians can make it to the bar before the last note has finished sounding: not true. By that time at La Renaissance, they are not only 'watered'; they can also have the tables out and the chairs re-arranged ready for dining. You have already had an amazing time, but the most enjoyable part of the evening is about to begin. During our time there were many 'pots'. Raclette, Brazilian, Burns Night (of course - though it is far easier to source haggis in Paris than neaps), crêpes, fondue, oysters, Beaujolais nouveau, and many, many more. Even a non-'pot' night would feature pâté, wine, bread, cheese, crisps... And no need to worry about running to catch the last metro - no, someone will always give you a lift. (Even if it means going three times around the Bastille roundabout.) Gigs range from under the Eiffel tower to playing in stations, and yes, by now you can probably guess the social side of them. In short, La Renaissance embodies everything that is great about French hospitality. The snootiness for which Paris can be infamous is as far away as Toulouse. Joining the band carries all the advantages of joining a large, happy family. (They even helped us move house, as we were pleased to help others with things like DIY.) Everyone pulls together: skills are shared; babies are born (the envelope goes around); joy is spread; if something unfortunate happens understanding and practical help abounds. Despite being large, the band manages to make every individual feel both welcome and valued, no matter what your playing ability or language level. You quickly find that, living in Paris, an unassuming hut in the grounds of the Gare d'Austerlitz becomes your home on a Friday evening: warm, welcoming, and wonderful." 

 k.maxwell@music.arts.gla.ac.uk 

ハーモニー・ ラ・ルネッサンスへようこそ。ハーモニーのメンバーはとてもフレンドリーで、音楽を愛し、また人の繋がりを大事にします。練習の後にはご飯を食べながら会 談します。参加希望お待ちしております。 

seiko_nakadaira@hotmail.com 

Yuroko HAGA 

L'Harmonie la Renaissanceはパリ滞在中の最高の思い出のひとつです。居心地のいいこの楽団で過ごす時間が大好きで、毎週の練習をいつも待ち遠しく思っていま した。メンバーはみな気さくで優しく、練習中も笑いの絶えない明るく素敵な楽団です。帰国したため離れてしまいましたが、いつか帰りたいと思っています。

la_cle_dargent@yahoo.fr

François LEFEBVRE

frlefebvre@hotmail.com

---

Myke SURGUY

          "When I arrived in France, way back in 2001, I was looking for different jazz groups to play with.  Somewhere during my search I came across an advert looking for a drummer in a concert band – I thought, why not?  Half expecting hear and play classic concert band music (not the most exciting for a drummer), I quickly found that that was not at all what Denis Lancelin had in mind.  After a wild 15 minute Looney Tunes medley, I got the nod from Denis and understood that I got the job.
            I spent the next 6 years with the Renaissance concert band.  During this time it was clear that Music is ultimately what drives the band as well as what motivates them to come every Friday night.  But the ambiance also includes a very warm and friendly feel which certainly is maintained by their regular ‘pots’ (a kind of pot luck) which follows almost every rehearsal.  Sometimes I wondered whether the band rehearsals were excuses for the long ‘pots’ afterwards.
            The Renaissance has been around for a long time now, and I’m very happy to have spent a short time in it.  Having been in France only a short time, the Renaissance certainly helped my adaptation to French culture – especially when learning to drink the right wines, eat the right cheeses and sing the right French ‘chansons paillardes’ (funny / crude / bawdy songs)."

 

michael_surguy@hotmail.com

---

Söeke Frederik HRAFT

    "Als ich vor drei Jahren für meine Promotion nach Paris gekommen bin kannte ich dort niemanden. Auch die französische Lebensart war mir nicht vertraut. Allerdings hatte ich meine Klarinette im Gepäck und noch bevor ich richtig eingerichtet war, habe ich mich im Internet nach einem Orchester umgeschaut und bin auf die Harmonie "La Renaissance" gestossen. Die erste Probe hat mich gleich überzeugt. Obwohl ich kaum Französisch konnte, war der Empfang sehr herzlich und das vielseitige musikalische Programm hat Lust gemacht mitzuspielen. So konnte ich die letzten drei Jahre viele verschiedene Stücke spielen und habe Leute unterschiedlichsten Alters und beruflicher Herkunft kennen gelernt. Nicht zu vergessen die vielen gemeinsamen Konzerte und Unternehmungen. Dank des Orchesters habe ich Frankreich und die Franzosen kennen und schätzen gelernt!"

Soenke.Kraft@rwth-aachen.de

---

Francesca

Lively, relaxed and most of all friendly are three words that sum up
the harmony. Joining the harmony is not only a great outlet for
developing your interest in music but it is also a great way of
meeting new people, especially it you are a foreigner coming to live
in Paris for the first time. The harmony gives you the opportunity to
play a variety of music, perform in concerts all over the city and
meet up with your friends on a Friday night for a drink and a catch
up.  I would definitely recommend the harmony to anyone who enjoys
music and a bit of banter!

Bises
Francesca

---

Moémi ARAKAWA

l'Harmonieに入って約２か月、、２０：３０頃からはじまって、途中に休憩、また２３時過ぎまで練習して、みんなでごはんを食べて帰る…この何ともフランスらしい、ゆるーい感じがとても気に入っています。フランス語がほとんど出来ない私でも暖かく迎え入れてくれる、とても居心地のいい楽団です。パリで吹奏楽をしたいなと思ったら、ぜひl'Harmonieの扉をたたいてみて下さい！


Cordialement,

30045ma@gmail.com

---

Henri-François RENARD

Un  belge à Paris…

Janvier 2011. Je débarque à Paris, le coffre de ma voiture rempli avec tous mes brols. Dans le tas, mon euphonium, car j’étais bien décidé à continuer à jouer de la musique. J’avais d’ailleurs déjà exploré le terrain sur Internet avant d’arriver, où j’avais découvert le site de l’harmonie La Renaissance (au passage très bien fait et à jour !). Je me décide donc à sonner au chef, dont le numéro est affiché sur le site (même pas un numéro de GSM ! Serait-il réfractaire aux évolutions technologiques ?). Bref… Je tombe sur un monsieur ma foi fort sympathique qui m’explique qu’à la Renaissance, l’ambiance est familiale, les musiciens ne sont ni gros cous, ni péteux… et qu’il fallait que je vienne pour m’en rendre compte.
Un vendredi soir de début février 2011, me voilà donc embarqué dans une nouvelle aventure musicale et amicale. Car si la Renaissance est un lieu où l’on fait de la musique, c’est aussi un lieu de franche camaraderie où l’on peut rencontrer plein de gens sympas et intéressants, de tous les âges et de tous les milieux !
Bref, dans ces conditions, je n’ai pas eu trop dur à m’intégrer. Aujourd’hui, un an est déjà passé et j’encourage tous les souffleurs du monde à faire un tour par la Renaissance ! Bonne humeur assurée !
Et pour paraphraser une publicité célèbre en Belgique, je dirais : « La Renaissance, au plus que tu la goûtes, au mieux que ça te goûte ! ».
Grosses baises bien plaquantes à tous,

Henri