Within the Voices of Heritage project, interdisciplinary Research and Development activities are carried out to preserve, enhance, and internationally promote the Beneventan Chants—one of the rarest and most significant musical heritages of the European Middle Ages. The project stands out for its integrated and innovative approach, structured around two main pillars:
Technological Innovation for the Beneventan Chants
The primary goal is to develop an advanced digital ecosystem for the digitization, preservation, and access to Beneventan liturgical manuscripts through:
- high-definition imaging technologies and mesoscopic material analysis;
- the use of augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) to create immersive experiences;
- integration into a digital platform accessible to scholars, musicians, students, and a global audience.
A Replicable Model for Cultural Heritage Preservation
Thanks to its interdisciplinary method—merging musicology, digital sciences, archival research, and education—VoH aims to serve as an exportable framework to innovate the preservation and enhancement of historical sound heritage, both locally and internationally.
The R&D activities are structured into three main tasks:
Task 4.1 – Manuscript Study and Comparative Analysis
A systematic analysis of the Beneventan Chants, focusing on musical notation, script, and decoration. This work includes comparisons with coeval liturgical repertoires from Lombard Europe to identify unique features and cultural connections.
Task 4.2 – Digitization and Development of Innovative, Sustainable Solutions
Creation of a digital library of the manuscripts, alongside tools for conservation diagnostics (IoT, multispectral imaging) and environmental monitoring of the archives.
Task 4.3 – Enhancement and Public Engagement
Development of an immersive and interactive experience for the public, featuring high-fidelity audiovisual content embedded in digital environments that narrate the history, sounds, and context of the Beneventan manuscripts.
The solutions developed across the different tasks will lead to:
- new technological standards for the preservation and digitization of ancient musical heritage;
- a transformation in cultural accessibility, through virtual and interactive experiences tailored for diverse audiences, including non-specialists;
- the use of heritage as a driver for international collaboration, supported by global academic and artistic partnerships;
- a replicable methodology that can be applied to other musical archives and cultural settings.
