…dialogues between Venetian polyphony and Persian melodies…
IMAGO MUNDI :
Riccardo Pisani, tenor
Shahab Azinmehr, tar, setar, voice
Sofie Vanden Eynde, renaissance lute, theorbo
A museum is a defined space that can evoke both constraint and wonder. The concept of the Wunderkammer still captivates the imagination today. Lois Weinberger’s Wild Cube symbolizes a place where the uncontrolled and spontaneous come together. The Beguinage’s Besloten Hofjes (enclosed courtyards) are small, three-dimensional cabinets filled with meticulously crafted artworks, serving as intimate “gardens of contemplation” for private devotion and spiritual reflection.
These closed, symbolic spaces provide a venue for unexpected encounters between diverse cultural and artistic traditions. In this light, one might envision a dialogue between Venetian Renaissance music and Persian music, both deeply rooted in religious and spiritual inspiration and connected to the rich culture of noble and royal courts.
The lush polyphony of Venetian music could engage in dialogue with the improvised melodies of the Persian Radif. The shared emphasis on refined ornamentation, in both stringed instruments and vocal lines, creates unexpected harmony. Instruments such as the lute and the Persian tar or santur embody the delicate and complex sound patterns central to both traditions, where structure and freedom complement each other.
This encounter could foster a new, organic fusion of sounds, ideas, and spiritual expression. The present and past come together in an attempt to resonate with the vitality of these historical traditions, attuned to our modern need for interdisciplinary and intercultural exchange.