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Some 40 people from eight Nations aged from 20 to 90 years old gathered at Sonnenberg, Harz. Old acquaintances, long practised in the style of Sonnenberg Conferences, shared their skills with first time delegates to create teamwork as purposeful as those from National Teams at the World Cup, a competing diversion for the Moderators/Conference Directors. The conference structure provides for morning and evening work periods with opportunities for group and full plenary sessions as well as private discussions at other times. The theme was Culture across the Generations at a National and International level. The conference languages were German and English with simultaneous translation provided by dedicated and talented students from the University of Cologne. Thus, a recipe was created with a rich mix of spices and is to be recommended. The awful rain drummed on our windows and impinged with a monotone on our very well-being. We agreed that music in all its rich expression could not be set aside since it is at the 'hub of our soul'. Thus, a morning designed to allow us to hear and reflect on music formed a natural module of our programme. The students demonstrated the pleasure they derived from House Music that perhaps shocked some but fitted in with student contemporary life styles to feet-tapping Flamenco, offered by a student with a passion for Spain. The Moderator's music was associated with high culture, but reflected Power and Political expression as the reason for its composition, an interesting fact to assimilate. Rather more fun, perhaps, were colloquial expressions of political satire from the 19th and 20th centuries. Leaving behind the security of our conference base, we were taken to Göttingen with its overtones of academia. A group of 10 visited MUSA with its vibrant emphasis on music. MUSA is housed in a former bakery on a rundown industrial estate in a poor quarter of the City. It offers 5,000m2 of floor space at economic rents in which to make or participate in music from all traditions: choral, chamber orchestra, instrumental, rock bands, dance and theatre at both amateur and professional levels. The centre, now a priceless pearl, was formed in 1977 from an unwilling conscience to make provision for a socially deprived and troublesome section of the community, stands today as beacon. There are bookings ahead for three years, whilst 95,000 people from all age groups, took advantage of the extraordinarily wide range of music activities, both conventional and therapeutic. A multi-cultural dance programme extends geographically from Angola to the Philippines and in structure, from anger management to meditation with slow sensitive movements and deep concentration on inner feelings. 17 sound proof cells are provided in the cellar to enable some 60 bands to develop their art form without disturbance to residential neighbours. Three bands are allocated to a cell and its usage is self regulating; 24 hour access is accepted. Gender orientated groups are encouraged with a policy of inclusion. Vandalism is minimal. The concept is an absolute triumph. In commercial terms it should be franchised; only a visit would persuade City Fathers to adopt the enterprise, since sponsorship would require a degree of political risk but it clearly works. Delegates to Sonnenberg are awakened in the morning with music, often labelled discordant. To those who visited MUSA such judgment would now be dismissed on account of their exposure to the benefits that derive from access to the widest range of music in the most unlikely of settings. Music and Sonnenberg will be firmly linked in these delegates minds. ANDREW CLARK |
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page last updated 20 JULY 2002 |
