In the Solre-le-Château Harmony cabinet, certificates, thanks, and music scores accumulate. Sixth Junior Music Festival of Dourlers, April 16 and 17, 2005, Rocquignies Music Festival from May 1 to 4, 2003, Coursole Music Festival on September 23 and 24, 2000. Beyond proving that the village harmony is happy to visit its neighbors, these thanks above all reflect the age of the association. So, the Harmony of Solre-le-Château is at least 26 years old, not even thirty yet? We are far from the mark, there isn’t even a term to describe this age class, where we would speak of a “supercentenarian.”
The harmony, born in 1862
A little further down, a vinyl catches the eye: “Municipal Fanfare of Solre-le-Château, created in 1862.” And 164 years later, this association is still alive and has even evolved into a municipal music school. Its director, Fabien Goubet, reveals: “it’s our heritage, it’s important to take care of it,” all while making sure the hanging jacket is not damaged when the doors are opened. “It’s one of the traditional garments of the harmony, today if we forced the kids to wear it, they would refuse,” jokes the music teacher.
Supported on a shelf, a velvet flag. Although it seems weathered, the inscriptions are still visible: “July 1, 1875” in one direction and “Society of Fanfare of Solre-le-Château” in the other. Unfortunately, at the time, our newspaper was focused on politics, so nothing in our archives can attest to the event of this date. “We thought it was the date of the harmony’s creation, but the vinyl proves otherwise. So, we don’t know what this date corresponds to for the harmony.”
If the history of the harmony holds its share of mystery, it still seems to connect many Solréziens. Recently, a photo of the vinyl was shared on social media. On the front, a group photo and on the back, four portraits: Armand Lety, Eloi Berlemont, André Barbet, and Gervais Perus. In the comments, reactions are numerous: “it’s a collector, I was 11 or 12 when the record was made. I am on the cover photo with my paternal grandfather’s trombone and I had the chance to be part of the musicians on the record.”
Concert this Saturday
This nostalgic journey does not prevent us from returning to the present. This Saturday, April 25, the municipal harmony will give its traditional spring concert in the Gilbert Kors hall. Admission is free, and the repertoire will be very diverse: Highlights from La La Land by Justin Huwitz, One more light by Linkin Park, Cantina Band by John Williams.
