Translate: A Journey of Musical Experimentation

Translate: A Journey of Musical Experimentation

As part of the 2023 ACERCA program, the Spanish Cooperation invited Egyptian artists and performers to embark on an immersive journey of musical experimentation. Facilitated by Spanish composer Ramón Souto, the two-week workshop titled “Translate” welcomed singers, musicians, actors, dancers, and researchers from all backgrounds, with the aim of creating a unique collective performance that explored the limits of sound and musical production.

The workshop encouraged participants to reevaluate the ways in which they listen to and engage with everyday sounds, by asking them to recreate familiar soundscapes using unconventional materials.

Through the discussion of various historical and contemporary examples, from Vivaldi to Facis Alÿs, participants were exposed to alternative modes of musical practice beyond traditional hierarchies and commercial consumption. By exploring the possibilities of rhythm and tempo, the workshop encouraged participants to playfully experiment with musical conventions.

Similarly, activities such as the layering and substitution of electronic and acoustic techniques, as well as group improvisational singing highlighted the potential of using sound to connect with audiences in a novel way. The resulting collage formed part of the inspiration for a final performance that could sonically capture the collective feelings and fears of today.

Participants were divided into one ensemble of instrumentalists and one group of performers and singers. In each group, participants were given the opportunity to work individually and as a collective with the facilitator to develop their contribution to the final performance. All participants were equally encouraged to experiment with new ways of playing instruments, performing to music, or otherwise creating sound.

Finally, both groups came together to work on a collective piece that synthesized their experimentation throughout the workshop. In the spirit of preserving sounds we might never hear again, the final performance reimagines the sounds of a disappearing arctic scene to expand on a growing sense of worry over the fate of our planet. Interpolating the familiar sound of wind, the performance showcased performers, singers and instrumentalists in active dialogue to produce a transporting experience that challenged audience expectations.

In Souto’s words, translation is always an incomplete process that often creates new meanings along the way. The workshop and performance highlighted the extraordinary power of sound to create a variety of intimate reactions. Reflecting on the experience, participants expressed hesitation about the unconventional and non-melodic approach, struggling to relate to some of the activities. This inspired Souto to make modifications along the way, sharing that the experience allowed him to recognize the limitations of his own preconceptions as well.

This workshop was made possible by the ACERCA Program for development in the cultural sector.

ACERCA is committed to developing the professional and artistic capacities of cultural actors from both public and private institutions, and fostering environments for cooperation and cultural exchange.

Created by the Spanish Cooperation in 2005 to implement the first line of the Culture and Development Strategy: The Formation of Human Capital in the Field of Culture, ACERCA works to strengthen institutions and consolidate cultural public policies through the development of specific training programs and workshops that respond to partner needs without losing sight of the creative process which is at the foundation of cultural development.