News

REMA to organise European Day of Early Music

11 September 2012

In 2013, the European Early Music Netowrk (REMA) will organise for the first time a European Day for Early Music. It will take place on 21 March, a symbolic date, as it is the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach and the beginning of spring. The aim of the Day is to promote Early Music on a European level. Various activities will be organised by REMA members and be transmitted by the media. WHAT? – THE EVENT A celebration of more than a millennium of music, through concerts, events, and happenings taking place simultaneously across Europe, the REMA European Day of Early Music will be an official day for early music and a focal point for the promotion of the historical musical heritage in the European Union. WHY? – A LIVING HERITAGE Early music is a central part of the cultural heritage shared by Europeans, closely connected with other artistic expressions such as dance, theatre, and architecture. It spans more than 1000 years of music, written down or transmitted by oral tradition, from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century. While some of the composers of these eras, for instance Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, or Hildegard von Bingen, are widely known, there is a large repertoire still to be rediscovered by today’s audiences. The European Day of Early Music aims to increase awareness of the music from the medieval, renaissance and baroque periods and bring it to the attention of a wider audience. WHERE? - THE HISTORICAL CONTINENT During the European Day of Early Music, events will take place across Europe, creating and encouraging collaboration, and connecting initiatives on a national level in a joint European manifestation that will highlight simultaneously local distinguishing features and the common ground of the continent’s musical history. WHO? – COORDINATOR AND COLLABORATORS The official promoter and coordinator of the European Day of Early Music is REMA with its members as collaborators. The network and its members will organise concerts, conferences, and other events under the European Day of Early Music heading, but REMA will also seek collaborations with other organisations and partners, involving initiatives by organisers on local, regional and national levels. PARTNERSHIPS – MEDIA A strong partnership with the media is essential to the impact and visibility of the European Day of Early Music. The European Broadcasting Union has shown interest in the project. Partnerships between REMA members/other organisers involved in the project and local, regional and national media in each country should complement the European aspect. THE EUROPEAN UNION – AN OFFICIAL DAY FOR EARLY MUSIC The aim is to firmly anchor the European Day of Early Music on a European level. REMA is at the moment seeking an official partnership with the European Union which would strengthen the project and increase its impact.