Developed by SN partner Musica, Musimatrix is an interactive format introducing young children and families to classical or contemporary music. This latest edition was presented in Bruges and in Antwerp (BE).
If it’s spring, there’s MusiMatrix. Every year, more than 1,200 children go on an extraordinary journey: a musical voyage through the Concertgebouw, going from the chamber music hall to the studios and on to the concert hall. During this sound and music itinerary, children experience three mini-concerts, each prepared by a participatory workshop. Skilled workshop facilitators teach the children musical basics such as melody, rhythm and timbre in an amusing and unusual way.
At MusiMatrix, participation is key. Children and their teachers are immersed in a world of sound. Together, they uncover surprising perspectives on sound and music.
This year’s edition delves into the omnipresence of sound. What impact does sound have on you? When does it transcend into music? Can you imagine a world without sound? These questions guide our exploration, as we ponder the existence of absolute silence.
Featured in MusiMatrix 2024 is Autophagy III, a collaborative creation by Andrea Mancianti and Tom De Cock. This innovative piece, commissioned by Centre Henri Pousseur Liège, funded by FRArt, explores the interplay of micro-percussion and feedback loops.The instruments seamlessly adapt to each other, creating a spectral-harmonic tapestry that reacts to its environment. At the heart of Autophagy III lies a contemporary reflection on the percussion works of Iannis Xenakis.
With Pollock & Mondrian, Frederik Croene on piano and supported by Marlies Cornelis, participants are led into the realm of repetitive music, increasingly surrounded by all children and teachers on 5 parallel upright pianos.
Klankkeuken, by Nabou Claerhout on trombone and Lynn Cassiers with voice and live electronics, invites participants to co-create a live soundscape alongside the musicians. It’s an opportunity to blend their own sonic expressions with professional expertise, resulting in a truly unique auditory experience.
Where and when
Concertgebouw Brugge: Monday 19 & Tuesday 20 and Thursday 22 February 2024
Landcommanderij Alden Biesen Bilzen: Thursday 29 February 2024
DE SINGEL Antwerpen: Monday 27 to Thursday 30 May 2024
Interested in the MusiMatrix format? Check out previous editions at Musica and Wilde Westen.
All photos: Tim Theo Deceuninck