Polo Vallejo: The harmonic language of Georgian polyphonies

Polo Vallejo will give a talk from 4:30-6:00pm, followed by an academic presentation of the film 'Africa The Beat' at 7:30pm.

SEMINAR ABSTRACT

Bearer of an exceptional musical language capable of surprising us by its “modern” sound and at the same time evoking a remote musical past, Georgian music emerges in all its splendour amid the musical present. The beauty, refinement and complexity of its vocal polyphonies, is due principally to a unique factor: its harmonic idiosyncrasy; that is to say, the nature of its constitutive chords and the harmonies which result from their combination. In this sense Georgian music is characterized by sudden changes of colour that seem startling, and in some cases absolutely strange, to Western ears. Because of the nature and combinations of these chords, Georgian music brings to mind harmonies associated with the Middle Ages or those of the turn of the 20th century, transmitting to us the impression of being confronted with music at once religious and profane, popular and “cultured”, old and new.”


'AFRICA THE BEAT' SYNOPSIS

A film documentary by Samaki Wanne, based on research carried out by Polo Vallejo. 

“Africa: The Beat” was filmed in Nzali, an enclave situated in the heart of Tanzania where the Wagogo live. Theirs is a unique musical universe. From the film’s first frame to the last sound heard, each image takes us further into their daily reality while their music gradually engulfs us in a world of surprising sensations. Day and night, the passage of time and the seasons, nature and the elements, water, the importance of the word and the stories, the stages of life… all of this emerges from a pulsation around which every instant of existence is articulated. Filmed with rudimentary technical means, “Africa: The Beat” conjoins the perspective of a painter, the vision of a filmmaker and the sensibilities of two musicians. It does away with the concept of the voice-over, which conditions and invades the spectator’s senses. Instead, the film permits the spectator to experience his or her own emotions, and bear witness to the essential place music occupies in life.
 

For more information about the film: http://www.africathebeat.com/ 

 

Polo VallejoABOUT POLO VALLEJO

Associate Professor of Musicology at the Complutense University of Madrid; Scientific and Artistic adviser at the Carl Orff Foundation in Munich and researcher at the “Association Polyphonies Vivantes" at the CNRS, Paris. Internationally recognized due to his experimental works on ethnomusicology and music education programs, he is a guest lecturer at prestigious music centres, universities and international music workshops all over the world.

He has been travelling since 1987 in Black Africa, the results of which have been edited in numerous articles, books, audio documents and a film "Africa: The Beat". Nowadays, and in collaboration with the Goethe Institute, he is responsible for teacher training programs and experimental ethnomusicology projects in Senegal and in Georgia (Caucasus). In the latter location, and together with Simha Arom, he is carrying on with research work dedicated to the secular and sacred vocal polyphonies.

As a composer, his works are regularly performed by prestigious soloists and ensembles throughout the five continents.

 

Presented in collaboration with the MCAM (University of Montreal) - Présenté en collaboration avec le MCAM (Université de Montréal).

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