WELCOME PAGE
Welcome to the website of the non-profitmaking organisation MUZIEKPUBLIQUE. To keep
up to date with all our activities you can subscribe to our newsletter by sending an email to
www.muziekpublique.be.
LESSONS
Music and Dance lessons:
Monday :
Irish Music
Violin
Vielle à roue (hurdy-gurdy)
Asturian bagpipes
Hungarian dances
Tuesday :
Galician bagpipes
Asturian bagpipes
Diatonic accordion
Flamenco
Wednesday: Galician bagpipes
Iranian percussion
European bagpipes
Chromatic accordion
“Irish-style” Chromatic accordion
Kora
Dances from Brittany
Oriental percussion
Thursday:
Galician bagpipes
Pandereta
Cuban Tres
Ud
Argentinian guitar
Galician Dances
Salsa
Saturday:
Tambor and Bomba
Sunday:
Singing
Classes begin on 6th October 2003.
Enrolment…
Online: please return a completed Enrolment Form to www.muziekpublique.be
or
Enrolment Site (at St. Joris):
Wednesday 24th September from 15.00 to 18.00.
Thursday 25th September from 18.00 to 20.00.
Monday 29th September from 18.00 to 20.00.
Thursday 2nd October from 18.00 to 20.00.
Location of classes…
St. Joris, Rue des Alexiens 16, 1000 Brussels (close to the Mannekin Pis, opposite the César
de Paepe Hospital)
or
GD De Pianofabriek, Rue du Fort 35, 1060 St. Gilles
PRODUCTIONS :
This page is under construction. For more information about Muziekpublique productions,
please use the links in the menu on your left.
A CONTRABANDA
The gaita (Spanish bagpipe) and pandeireta (Spanish tambourine) are the main
instruments in Galician traditional music, which is still very popular in
this region of north-west Spain. Bandas de gaitas (pipebands) can be found
at village festivals or in the streets of the region's major cities,
Santiago de Compostela and A Coruña, playing the typically up-tempo
muiñeira, the jota, the pasodoble and the rumba.
A Contrabanda is a Galician/Belgian band founded by Spanish immigrants in
Brussels (such as gaita teachers Gregorio Melgosa and David Valdes) combined
with Belgian musicians who have a passion for Galician music. This music has
little to do with the best-known traditional Spanish flamenco music, and is
much closer to Irish, French and even Belgian traditional music, but with a
festive, swinging Spanish feel.
Central to the music of A Contrabanda is the gaita, a type of bagpipe that
falls somewhere between the soft Swedish version and the fuller (and
better-known) Scottish one. The gaitas are accompanied by the bombo (big
drum), tambor (Galician drum) and pandeireta (a tambourine variant also used
by Galician women to accompany singing). The musicians of A Contrabanda are
open to influences from all over the world and sometimes add other
percussion instruments, the hurdy-gurdy or the accordion to their line-up.
A Contrabanda was founded in early 2002 and since then has played at several
village and world music festivals in Belgium and France, as well as
performing with Foliada, a group of dancers specialising in traditional Galician dances.
The line-up:
Gaita (Galician bagpipe): Gregorio Melgosa, Davíd Valdez, Raphael De Cock,
Thomas Merckx, Herman Mennekes, Hans Labeeuw, Sofie Moreels, Augusto
Gonzalez
Tambor (Galician drum): Gregorio Melgosa, Maud Vanderheyden
Bombo (big drum): Marcos Arrenas
Pandeireta (Spanish tambourine) and conchas (shells): Veronica Codesal,
Laetitia Missaoui Vazquez, Karen De Pooter
Hurdy-gurdy and accordion: Georges en Julien Feytens
A Contrabanda is a member of Muziekpublique, a non-profitmaking organisation that
promotes traditional music and dance from all over the world. Muziekpublique
organises weekly concerts and workshops in Brussels: www.muziekpublique.be
For information or booking contact : contrabanda@muziekpublique.be
THE ACCORDEON ORCHESTRA
The New Harmony of Accordions of Brussels
The Accordion Orchestra of Brussels was first created in 1912. Ninety years later the students
following chromatic accordion lessons wanted to recreate an actual accordion orchestra,
conducted by Piet Maris and Olivier Grawez., in the traditional style of the beginning of the
century.
After a few general rehearsals, the orchestra performed for the first time on the 25th of May in
their complete formation (that is to say 33 accordionists) at the Zinneke Parade. After that, it
was possible to see them in action again on the 22nd of September 2002 at the Parcours-cursus
where they presented the chromatic accordion lessons.
If you wish to join in with the harmony of the accordion orchestra, you can send an email to
accordeon@muziekpublique.be
FOLIADA
Our Galician dance group
The expressive Galician dances like Muñiera, Reguifa, Pandeirada, Pasodoble and other such
Xota, are the speciality of Foliada, a group who are passing on the tradition of dances and
songs from Galicia, a region in north-west Spain.
The dancers are accompanied by musicians who play their classic instruments from the
Galician repertoire with fervour and talent. These traditional instruments include the gaita
(bagpipes), la veille à roue (hurdy-gurdy), the accordion, the pandereita (a Galician
tambourine) and scallop shells. Galician music and dance finds its origins in the different
professions and the many myths and legends of this Celtic region. The most characteristic
dance from this region is undisputedly the Muiñeira, a dance based on a 6/8 rhythm and
inherited from the millers. Folida’s speciality is, however, the Pandeirada.
The dancers from Foliada regularly perform in Belgium and abroad, in places such as Palma
de Majorca, Dranouter, Saint Jacques de Compostelle, Rochester, Gooik festival…The
dancers and musicians from the group have shared the stage with the folk group “Kadril” and
with the famous Gaiteros Carlos Nunez, and also, when they are not holding a concert, the
singers from the group Ialma come to back the group up.
Foliada is recognised by the Communauté Française under ‘Arts & Vie’ (code dfo017)
Photos :
New !!! Foliada in Cassel (photos by : Jeff Dantin)
Photos from the Gooik Festival 2002 : Michael Delausnay, tel: 0496/401 651
(click on the photos)
ORBAYU
Newcomers to the little world of folk music in Brussels, the members of Orbayu, who are
originally from the Province of Asturias in the North of Spain, are handing down the tradition
of the bandas of Asturian bagpipes in their country of adoption.
The Gaita is a symbolic instrument in Asturia. More powerful than its Galician cousin, the
Gaita has made a come-back with the young generation due to the success of the popular
group Hévia. Moreover, this group is also a source of inspiration for Orbayu. At the base of
the group is Marcos Arenas, who teaches the typical rhythms, Jotas, Muñieras and other
Polkas of the Gaita from Northern Spain to young Belgo-Asturian Gaiteros. They regularly
travel to Gijon (Austuria) to perfect themselves with the help of experienced musicians.
Backed up by four percussionists who give a supplementary rhythmical force, Orbayu is the
perfect group for street parties and parades.
Concerts:
Contact: orbayu@muziekpublique.be
PROJECTS
Presentation of the project
Hidden Music
Numerous traditional musicians are present and active in Brussels and in the rest of the
country. Some have acquired a certain reputation, but many others are working in the shadow.
This can be due to a lack of funds or support which could potentially allow them to put on a
show that could open up the doors of the traditional music scene for them in this country. The
aim of the ‘Hidden Music’ project is to support these musicians by supporting them on a
musical, technical and organisational level which could help them to rise up from anonymity.
Through this project, we are of course also carrying out our work of promoting World music.
If you would like to receive more information about this project, you can email us at
info@muziekpublique.be or telephone us on 02/217 26 00.
This is done in collaboration with the Intercultureel Centrum voor Migranten, the Centre
Bruxellois d’action interculturelle and the non-profitmaking organisation Le Foyer.
With the support of the Fondation Roi Baudoin, the National Lottery, the Ministère de la
Communauté flamande, the cultural adminisration and the Commission communautaire
flamande (VGC).
WHO WE ARE
The non-profitmaking organisation Muziekpublique, folk music lessons and concerts, World
music and traditional dance
MUZIEKPUBLIQUE aims to promote and diffuse traditional music and dance from all over
the world through an ambitious programme of concerts, intense courses, and lessons.
Folk and World music concerts are the main activity of this non-profitmaking organisation.
We invite Belgian artists as well as international artists to perform here. Cultural diversity
occupies a major place in our programming of artists with the aims of encounter, exchange,
discovery and respect of another’s culture. We alternate between ‘atmospheric’ concerts and
‘listening’ concerts in different venues in Brussels. Other than concerts, roughly fifteen dance
and music lessons are on offer. These lessons assemble a large range of the most frequently
used instruments in traditional music (barrel organ, Arabic violin, lute, diatonic accordion,…)
as well as the most popular folk dances (dances from Brittany, Galician dances, flamenco,…).
From these lessons different groups have formed, such as A Contrabanda, which gathers
about thirty bagpipe players together, Foliada, a traditional Galician dance group, Ialma, The
New Harmony of Accordions of Brussels,…We also support six ‘unknown’ groups from
Brussels on a musical, technical and promotional level, under the ‘Hidden Music’ project.
We adhere to work in collaboration with other social or cultural institutions, as well as with
different cultural communities in Brussels, Belgium or abroad. Muziekpublique has
participated, in particular, in the organisation of the Fête de L’Iris (a ball with traditional
music and dances, brass band,…) and has collaborated in parties given to present a
compilation recorded by different artists as they have passed through the multicultural radio
show on RTBF ‘Le Monde est un village’. Muziekpublique also collaborates in the
programming of artists at the Huy Art Festival.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION /VENUES
Venues and rooms
Muziekpublique’s venues
Where do our concerts and lessons take place?
Our lessons take place in St-Joris,
Rue des Alexiens 16
1000 Brussels
How to get there :
Bus : 95, 96, 34, 48, St Jean stop
Trams : 3, 90, 55, Anneessens stop
Metro : De Brouckère
Train : Gare Centrale
Our concerts are held in the following locations :
Centre Culturel des Riches-Claires
rue des Riches-Claires, 24
1000 Brussels
How to get there :
Tram : 3, 90, 55, Bourse stop
Bus : 95, 96, 34, 48, Bourse stop
Metro : De Brouckère
Train : Gare Centrale
Halles de Schaerbeek
rue Royale Ste Marie 22B
1030 Brussels
How to get there :
Tram : 92, 93, 94, Ste Marie stop
Bus : 65, 66, Ste Marie stop
Train : Gare du Nord
Petit Théâtre Mercelis
rue Mercelis, 13
1050 Ixelles
How to get there :
Bus : 71, 54, pl. F. Cocq stop
Metro : Porte de Namur
Train : Gare du Luxembourg
Near ‘Tulipe’ parking
Conservatoire Royal
rue de la Régence 30
1000 Brussels
How to get there :
Tram : 92, 93, 94, Sablon stop
Bus : 95, 96, 34, 48, 20, Sablon stop
Botanique
rue Royale 136
1210 Brussels
How to get there :
Metro : Botanique
Tram : 92, 93, 94, Botanique stop
Flagey
place Flagey
1050 Ixelles
How to get there :
Bus : 71, 60, 38, Flagey stop
Tram : 81, 82, Flagey stop
PRACTICAL INFORMATION: CONTACT
Non-profitmaking organisation Muziekpublique
Boulevard A. Max 97
1000 Brussels
Tel : 02/2172600
Fax : 02/2195701
info@muziekpublique.be
Offices :
Anspach Centre
Boulevard Anspach 30-36
1000 Brussels
Bank Account
KBC 433-1187021-57
Membership card 2003
(valid from 01.01.2003 to 31.12.2003)
by bank transfer into our account KBC 433-1187021-57 : 7 Euros per person + 1,25 Euro in
administrative fees, and please mention "member" on the transfer form.
at the concerts : 7 Euros per person
As a member
- you have access to the concerts which are "free for members"
- you will also benefit from a reduction on paying concerts, which will only be given on
presentation of your membership card!
- you will receive the brochure every other month
Lost, forgotten or stolen cards
The membership card is only valid for the name bearer and must be presented upon entry to
each concert in order to benefit from the advantages that are linked with it. If a card is lost,
stolen or forgotten, the member must re-pay 7 euros for a new card.
Change of address
Could you inform us of any change in your address so that we can continue to send you our
brochures.
Newsletter
Last minute information, additional concerts,…will be announced by email. All you have to
do is subscribe by sending us a little email.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION : RESERVATIONS
Pre-sale : the tickets will be available-unless otherwise stated-at FNAC.
Reservations : It is not possible to reserve by telephone. Reservations can only be made by
bank transfer one week or less before the concert, and can be done by sending the amount to
the account no: KBC 433-1187021-57 with a message that includes the name of the artist, the
date, the number of places requested and also the membership number, where applicable. As a
security measure, please bring proof of payment along with you.