“Dialogues” is a musical series that explores the question: “Is Music a Universal Language?”
We have all heard the adage that music is a universal language. But is it true? When we listen to music from other lands and cultures, do we misinterpret what we hear – filtering it through our own aesthetic and emotional filters? These questions point to interesting, deeper issues. Are all emotions and feelings universal? Are the ideas and feelings expressed through its music unique to a culture and not necessarily easily accessible to audiences who have not grown up in that culture? How do we truly dialogue with artists from other cultures free from our own limitations and prejudices?
CITE ARTS will present its first “Dialogues” concert of the season in collaboration with the Koper Music School of Slovenia (director Iztok Babnik). This concert, featuring Slovene and American composers, will take place both in New York and Koper, during the week of April 8th through April 12th – as part of The Koper’s Music School’s Biennale Contemporary Music Festival, curated by Tatjana Jercog. The New York portion of the concert will take place at The Firehouse Space. The concert will feature three of Slovenia’s new music composers, Uros Rojko, Larisa Vrhunc, and Matej Bonin. Included in the program will be three American composers – Stuart Diamond, Demetrius Spaneas, and Sandra Sprecher.
The three American composers have written new works that will be premiered at the Festival in Koper. The pieces were written specifically to be performed by the students from The Koper Music School.
The goal of these events is to promote dialogues, both musical and conversations, between artists and cultures – exploring what is unique and what is universal to each. The mission is to expand artistic horizons – learning from each other, not only new sounds and techniques, but experiencing and appreciating the emotional aesthetic underpinnings that underlie another’s artistic expression.
The Koper Music School, under the directorship of Iztok Babnik, is one of the leading cultural institutions in the Primorska region of Slovenia. As part of the Slovenia educational system, it offers professional musical training through the high school level of studies. It also sponsors a wide range of concerts and performing ensembles.
CITE ARTS (The Center for Interactive, Traditional and Exploratory Arts) supports international arts programs and cultural exchanges. Its sponsors have promoted and conducted programs throughout America, Europe, the Mid-East and Asia.
For more information, contact Stuart Diamond of CITE ARTS by email: studiamond@gmail.com or phone: (917) 862-1937.
