Konsolo

N° 02 Cartagena, my last stop after three months of travelling. The old town has a wonderful but crowded atmosphere. Surrounded by  ‘las murallas’ fortifications, although beautiful, a metaphorical barrier for lots of Colombians unable to visit the city. I play the tible, a guitar with tripled strings, and a variety of the traditional percussion.

music & played by Robin Cuvelier / video & pictures by Inneke Le Beer

N° 01 Children are dressing up and dancing in the streets of Cali (Colombia) to please ‘El Busiraco’, the salsa demon. Meanwhile a preacher talks about salvation on the main square of Jaen. I’m playing the charango in Cuenca, a traditional Andean, ukulele like, string instrument. This city of music was my first stop for the Konsolo project.

N° 06 The students of Leuven love the peace and quiet of the beguinage. On Wednesday Luc is present to play the carillon. Hidden away in his church tower he offers his music to the city. Thank you Steven for helping me record this monumental instrument.

music by Robin Cuvelier / played by Luc Rombouts / video by Robin Cuvelier

more about the carillon / dutch website of Luc

N° 11 Roozbeh and Soodat play their Kamancheh and Santour for me. The mother spoils me on traditional cookies and food. For Iranian people, a normal welcome. In Isfahan I ask around about the dried Zayandeh river. Everybody adds a different nuance to the story. But they all are kind enough to let me take their picture.

Music and played by Roozbeh Arjmand & Robin Cuvelier / video by Robin Cuvelier

N° 10 Páll Guðmundsson plays his ‘Steinharpa’. An instrument made with rocks he picked up around his house. Although difficult to communicate by speech, we share the same passion for sounds, so recording went easy. Thank you Hans for drawing our portraits.

Music by Robin Cuvelier / played by Páll Guðmundsson / video by Luc Roymans / drawing by Hans Vera

website Páll Guðmundsson / website Luc Roymans / flickr Hans Vera

N° 08 Moustafa and Learbi are playing in Essaouira. Two passionate berber musicians. Mohammed invites me in his music shop. Everybody’s eager to sell. On my train ride back to Cassablanca a fascinating kid takes the seat in front of me.

music & played by Moustafa Abdallah, Learbi Khalef, Mohammed Rachid & Robin Cuvelier / video by Robin Cuvelier

N° 07 Paskalizia plays the umuduri. She’s part of the pygmy Birara Batwa community. She sings about the eviction of her people from the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. And how they became conservation refugees. Thank you Henry for introducing me into this fragile community.

music & played by Paskalizia Nyirakaromba & Robin Cuvelier / video by Robin Cuvelier

website UOBDO

N° 04 Chris Foster on langspil, a traditional Icelandic three-string instrument, played with a bow. England-born Chris married Bára, an Icelandic woman, and has since worked hard to preserve this isolated country’s musical heritage.

music by Robin Cuvelier / played by Chris Foster / video by Nathalie Beausaert / pictures by Luc Roymans

website Chris & Bára / website Luc Roymans

N° 05 Working with musicians of the Ossipov National Balalaika Orchestra was a privilege. Discovering the ANS,  a unique photoelectronic  synthesizer, at the Glinka Museum was a delight. The suburbs of Sergiev Posad proved to be inspiring to write this Sjostakovitsj scaled duet.

music by Robin Cuvelier / played by Konstantin Zakharato, Julia Neverova, Sergey Chetoev & Irina Novichkova / video by Robin Cuvelier / pictures by Anna Skullova

website Ossipov / website Glinka / more about ANS / website Anna

N° 03 Up on the hillsides, overlooking Sarajevo, I found this spot to write my modest ode. In Zadar (Croatia), I discovered the sea-organ, an architectural – musical object. Two places where a serene atmosphere of calmness was to be found.

music & played by Robin Cuvelier / video by Robin Cuvelier