....we entered an Italian Chamber Music Competition https://nonesal.wixsite.com/aemc/english
and although we didn't win, we scored high enough to be invited to take part in AEMC's annual conference. In the midst of Covid-19, lockdown and social distancing, loss, grief, fear but also solidarity and community spirit, we (Animo) are finding ways to continue our journey and spread our message and talk about Music.
It's been a long time since my last post. Since then, the Virus has wreaked havoc globally. I gave it a capital 'V' for it is now a cause, an effect and a reason why life has been turned upside down globally. Friends, relatives, aquintentances have all been touched in some way by this unprecedented phenomenon of dealing with a global pandemic. Artists of all disciplines have been affected. Creatively, it might be our best time ever to re-centre and find balance before launching on to the next stage of our careers, clearly marked by 'the lockdown'.
Sarah and I have not played together since the lockdown. The last thing we did was the record a video to enter the AEMC International Chamber Music Competition 2020. Our video entry is below:.
We felt an immediate affinity with AEMC's motto: "Our philosophy is that music is not just technique. It is something more, which is what we are looking for."
When the news came that sadly we didn't get one of the 3 top places I went straight to the AEMC's website to look up the winners. They are all fantastic musicians who play from the heart. Do have a look at the AEMC's website and look through YouTube to find their recordings. Magnificent! I wanted to celebrate their success and musicality so here is an excerpt from AEMC's website:
These are the results of the "2nd AEMC international chamber music competition",whose jury comprised Bertrand Giraud (France), Alberto Nones (Italy) and Hamish Robb (New Zealand). The competition received applications of ensembles from seventeen countries
1st prize: EURASIA QUARTET(The Netherlands)
2nd prize: DUO EMIL (Norway),formed by Emil Duncumb (piano) and Emil Huckle-Kleve (violin)
3rd prize: POLISH VIOLIN DUO (Poland), formed by Marta Gidaszevska and Robert Łaguniak (violins)
We were thrilled to be told that we were one of the high scoring groups and we were invited to submit an application to be included at AEMC's annual conference by sending an abstract submission of 150 words discussing the question 'is Classical music dead?'.
This is what we submitted:
‘Social distancing’ is a topical term and the best survival tool during this current Coronavirus pandemic.
When people speak of ‘Classical Music’ they unwittingly embrace ‘cultural and social distancing’ and strip Music from its main powers: to soothe, inspire, empower, transcend, dream of a different world and bring people together as a community.
When we, Animo, started our journey into contemporary music we wanted to tell a story; one that is accessible to all. We commissioned soulful music that is ‘new’, that touches people directly, has its roots in the past but fulfils its destiny in the future; music that is unbounded, music of the now.
Classical Music as a term is probably dead; it creates division, class superiority and belittles other musical art forms as less important. Perhaps it’s time to find a new term that identifies us as musicians of everyone. We, Animo, are performing Music, for all.
We are going to be performing for you before too long; until then... 'we are in this together'!
