The International Gathering of Instrument-Makers and Master Pipes of Saint-Chartier The festival was held as a one-off event in 1976, in the castle park, to mark the centenary of George Sand’s death. This site had been chosen to gather instrument-makers (hurdy-gurdies and bagpipes), folk music players and listeners. It was such a success that be event has taken place annually and the word Gathering takes all meanings. The Gathering’s purpose is to show all the aspects of the hurdy-gurdy and bagpipe, in the time and in the space. Each year, more than 10 000 music and danse fans attend the event (1/3) of them from abroad). The four-day Gathering means : more than 80 stands with hurdy-gurdies and bagpipes and other traditional instruments, top folk concerts, contests (solo and twin hurdy-gurdies and bagpipes), the free stage, danse workshops, and course night folk balls in the square.
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