8th International Scientific Meeting for the Study of Sound and Musical Instruments
CONGRESSO DE ORGANOLOGIA 2019 ORGANOLOGICAL CONGRESS
Belmonte, east-central Portugal
20-22 September 2019
Instruments of culture and peace
Many complain about the backstage, or invasive, pollution of sound in daily lives, and solutions? Social anxiety is mirroring short and long term influences, notably from birth, or even pre-natal effects through a stressed mother (scientific trends differ, precisely for this reason, we give here an opportunity for discussion, acknowledging it as a vast and often neglected issue). Many refer to “how life in Nature” is so beautiful, where we can play music in a perfect ambiance, but can’t or aren’t moving a finger to do something about it. We are doing it. We are developing a project that not only deals with the essential creativity in the human being but also the setting up of biodiversity in a balanced environment, where one can be thyself. All who visit us feel well here – why? This subject matter is far more important than it seems at a first glance. There is too much ‘noise’ in most people’s lives, too many front page headlines, too many characters on stage, too many spotlights, and everybody talks about all at the same time… we can’t listen to each, we can’t think about each… we need ‘silence’, reflection, to listen to life and art. Why are so many people frustrated and often depressed? Why so much illness with such highly developed medical support? Among many factors, the “sound quantity and quality” in our lives is fundamental. And that of music in our psychological and social balance too.
And – how music and creativity in sound can help a society in crisis? Fight fights, promote peace? How to help a society to be more united and less fragile? Can we, with our work, do better – and be part of the “positive productive” and not, as many do say, be the “useless” for the society? We are inviting you to discuss these and other prominent topics, which are intrinsically related to sound and musical instruments. Please come forward. In a society which is getting used to lightly give an opinion for anything and nothing in the social media, we invite those who “think” and – concretely “do something” – to visit, show, and think and do further.
From the morning of a bright Friday to an exquisite lunch on Sunday at the fabulous old Monastery, now a luxury hotel called Pousada de Belmonte, with concerts, recitals, activities, and full immersion Sessions, our program is quite promising. However, our special invitation to sociologists and musicologists had a good response in quality but not as wide, thematically, as we wanted it to be. There is still time, to make proposals and be part of this interesting gathering of people, who positively and openly discuss about the various issues that concern us all. We look forward to have more work presented that deals with the social impact of music and their musical tools, and studies about sound – for instance, how sound (acoustic and electronic) is affecting daily lives, our world.
You can have more information at the congress website, which is periodically updated: link [https://congressorganimusic.wixsite.com/co2019oc]
Or you can contact us directly: congressorg2019.animusic@gmail.com
Registration: besides the program (as listed above), it includes an active visit to an Exhibition of Musical Instruments (historical, traditional and technological), an unique bag with the program and materials, equipment and technical support, Wireless internet, coffee-breaks (nice and diversified), lunches (2), a banquet-lunch (gourmet), selected visits, reviewed publication (in the book series ‘Liranimus’, which contains essays on Organology, or online), certificate of participation, perhaps a memoir-gift, publishers, makers, restorers, and participants stalls, networking opportunities and, essentially, time reserved “on purpose” for constructive discussions and exchange of ideas. Note: group meals are optional.
All activities are open, namely recitals, concerts, demonstrations, workshops (within a registration limit), and visits.
Registration fee:
Early bird registration » 80€ for ANIMUSIC members (which has a symbolic registration fee of 20€, and no annual fees, no profit) / 110€ others (early bird registration until the 31st of August)
Regular » 120€ (ANIMUSIC) / 150€ (from 1st September)
Dayly fee » 40€ (does not include the banquet-lunch)
Banquet-lunch gourmet (for those friends accompanying, still a special price: 35€)
Other costs: Portugal is one of the less expensive countries in Europe. To give an idea, an expresso coffee costs about 0,70€ in a normal coffee-shop (it’s everywhere, this is the normal coffee, similar to Italia), or even less in automatic machines. Meals may be around 10€ (complete with wine, etc), including nice fresh grilled fish or vegetarian food. There are various options for lodging in Belmonte, you can check with the different available search engines or at Airbnb, averaging 70€ per night in a good hotel.
Transportation: You may use Porto’s or Lisboa’s international airports. From Porto, it is probably easier to rent a car, the rates, when booking from abroad, are quite low (you can have a car for 10€ a day or similar) and it’s basically all highway till Belmonte (if avoiding crossing Porto, you have: A4-A24-A25-A23; or crossing Porto: A29 or A1-A25-A23) which is very comfortable. The transportation from Lisboa is quite easy, also renting a car, or by public transportation: From the airport you take a taxi (5 to 8€) or the metropolitan, to the Oriente station, which is near the River Tejo (beautiful place to visit if you have time, where the Oceanario is, plus other interesting sites). There, going up the stairs or lift, you check the line for Covilhã, usually trains are in time. If you pay online with anticipation (5, 8 or more days), you can even have a discount of up to 65%, if you are senior, it’s always 50%. The ticket to Covilhã, in the speed direct train, costs (as per today): 17,70€. Arriving in Covilhã, you can take a taxi (not expensive), a bus or meet with a group organised by us and the Municipality, on the 19th of September. If you have special needs, please contact us so that we arrange a special way for transportation. We work the best we can to help your experience be perfect and unique.
Portugal has been rated as the third safest country in the world, after Iceland and New Zealand. So, by visiting us, you shall discover more of this amazing country and meet fellows who are interested in your work, in discussing ideas and in moving forward. This is project Erdissol-ANIMUSIC.
For more information, visit us at this link. You are most welcome to contact us directly if you have questions (email).