Museum of popular music (MuPop)
MuPop is a fiercely innovative museum which traces the history and evolution of music from the 13th century to the present day. Enjoy a trip back in time in the company of musical instruments and experiences !
A museum dedicated to the history of music !
MuPop is a fiercely innovative museum which traces the history and evolution of music from the 13th century to the present day. Enjoy a trip back in time in the company of musical instruments and experiences ! The Musée des Musiques Populaires, which has the status of Musée de France, has the largest collection of musical instruments and memorabilia in France dating from 1750 to today.
Situated at the heart of the medieval town of Montluçon, MuPop is housed in an architecturally innovative building of renovated mansions and contemporary constructions. Spectacularly designed exhibition areas and interactive installations have been cleverly thought out to pay tribute to the popular music of yesterday and today.
By following several different experiences, visitors are taken back in time to discover the amazing history of popular music. Keen to appeal to both young and older visitors, MuPop also has a resource centre and a space reserved for young visitors with educational workshops.
Musical experiences at MuPop
The musical experiences provide a novel way to explore the musical repertoires and movements from the late 18th century to the 1990s. A time line leads through six areas, each presenting musical trends of a given historical period. These include Rural Communities, Ist Republic to 19th century, the electric revolution of the 1960s and music of the 1980s.
The melodious, rhythmic experiences feature visual and sound shows in which the floor vibrates and music bursts out of instruments to heighten the feeling of immersion. Album sleeves, posters and other musical memorabilia complete the scenario. Visitors can even compose their own musical programme via a system of individual headphones.
Instrumental experiences.
Hurdy-gurdies, accordions, percussion instruments and electric guitars are on show in the Charnisay building. Films and educational models explain the history of the instruments and how they work.
Parts of several instrument makers’ workshops have been recreated such as Pajot hurdy-gurdies, Lestrade bagpipes and Selmer electric guitars, to show how the instruments are made.
Once again headphones allow visitors to listen to and compose pieces of music. To appreciate this sound and vision experience to the full, there are small lounge areas in the centre of the exhibition area where visitors can watch films and documentaries in comfort.
Digital experience
This interactive, fun space is a contemporary continuation of the musical and instrumental experiences, dedicated to new sound technologies. It also houses “The Machine Room”, an immersion experience based around multimedia installations in which light images, sensors and vibrations harmonise with sound to realise the interactivity of present-day music.
Explore the world of music using touchscreen technology ! Experience the digital revolution in which machines, computers, instruments, production and transmission units are essential parts of a full-blown digital nervous system.
And what if the computer became THE musical instrument of the 21st century?
Continue your journey through the world of art and entertainment in the Allier region by visiting the ‘Centre National du Costume de Scène et de la Scénographie’ (Stage Costumes and Set Design) or CNCS in Moulins !
