Jazz à Ramatuelle exhibition - Arundo donax? The Provence cane, of course!

What we mistakenly think of as a weed when we come on vacation to our region and see cane trees blooming along roads, paths and streams, in a sort of capharnaüm, is, in fact, a treasure.

In a jazz festival like ours, some neophytes might wonder why this plant is so popular? It's quite simple: without it, music wouldn't be what it is!
Oboes, bassoons, English horns, clarinets... All these instruments need a particularly thin strip of this reed, called a reed, which, with the musician's breath and the pursing of his lips, will vibrate and bring to life the music that will move us.
Its greatest value is the reed. We're talking about 90% of the world market (in terms of quality). Other countries produce it... but like rosé, it's in the Var that the best are produced.
You'll learn that Provence's canes, which aren't used for music, have left their mark on the history of our region, thanks to calligraphy, medieval and Provençal music with fifes, basketry and stakes for crops, racks to dry fruit, shade for terraces and masonry to hang plaster from the ceilings of old buildings.
The song of the Provence cane: from now on, you'll have another look, closer to us!