A sonic plunge into the heart of French kingdom in chaos: Into the Winds returns to transform the story of Charles VI, French king also called the “mad king”, into a striking musical fresco. 
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With Le Grand Embrasement, their second album released in 2024, the ensemble Into the Winds retraces the turbulent history of King Charles VI’s reign, when a monarch’s madness plunged France into civil war and English domination. Conceived from a stage production of the same name, this recording draws on research conducted in part at the Centre d’études supérieures de la Renaissance (CESR) in Tours (France): transcriptions of late-14th- and early-15th-century polyphonic songs preserved in manuscripts, as well as experiments with vanished repertoires such as alarm calls and processional music. Faithful to historical sources while leaving room for invention, the project blends scholarly rigour with creative freedom to bring a forgotten chapter of musical heritage back to life. Adrien Reboisson, the ensemble’s director, reveals what went on behind the scenes.
Your album Le Grand Embrasement recounts the turbulent story of Charles VI’s reign. How did you build this musical narrative—from the choice of pieces to that of instruments?
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