This concert invites you on a journey into the sounds of mourning, migration, resistance, and the quest for freedom as expressed in the musical traditions of four distinct cultures. The programme is structured around 45-minute live performance sessions, each enriched by brief contextual presentations that frame the music within its historical and social background.
The programme brings together an accomplished team of international musicians and facilitators, each representing their respective musical heritage. Kurdish vocal traditions are presented by Suna Alan and ethnomusicologist Serdar Canan, while Ed Emery offers further ethnomusicological perspective from the UK. The Lamento tradition, tarantella, and vocal music of Calabria are represented by Prof. Danilo Gato, ethnomusicologist from the Conservatorio di Musica P. I. Tchaikovsky, alongside his ensemble of Calabrian musicians. Basque musical culture is presented by La Basu and Nerea Quincoces through trikitixa, txalaparta, and vocal performance, while Irish traditions of bodhrán, flute, and voice are brought by the ensemble Huartan.
This concert aims to serve four interconnected objectives within the framework of the Forum. First and foremost, it seeks to illuminate the memory practices of these four communities, rendering them visible and audible through the powerful medium of their musical heritage. Through the dialogue of different traditions, the workshop creates a space for cross-cultural comparison, revealing how universal themes of mourning, hope, and resistance find distinct artistic expression across different peoples. At its heart, the project aspires to unite international musicians in the historic city of Diyarbakır, harnessing their collective artistry in service of a shared and timely message of peace. This collaborative spirit finds its ultimate expression in the fourth objective: the staging, during the concert, of a final piece—a tangible artistic outcome composed and performed jointly by all participants through a workshop to be held on May 15th—that stands as a lasting symbol of unity and creative exchange.
Language: Kurdish, Basque, Catalan and Irish
Capacity: 200 people
Participation: Open to all
Participation is limited by quota.