Ad Orientem is an artistic and research project that explores the relationship between architectural heritage and musical performance, promoting the appreciation of the acoustics of historical monuments as a catalyst for their cultural use (see teaser here). 

Following a first edition focused on northern Portugal (see presentation video here), the project now proposes an international expansion, with interest mainly in working with other peripheral countries, both to carry out acoustic studies, concerts and recordings in their monuments, and to bring artists from these nationalities to learn about Portuguese cultural heritage. 

The initiative will include artistic residencies, in a co-creation format, that bring together the Ensemble Cardo-Roxo with international musicians who have a similar mission (using traditional instruments and/or repertoire to promote their cultural identity). These residencies culminate in the recording of two albums: one dedicated to Portuguese traditional music and recorded in Portugal, and the other to the music of partner countries, recorded abroad. 

These editions, similar to what happened with the album resulting from Ad Orientem's studies in 2023/2024, "Além do Rio" (listen here), will be recorded in the monuments themselves, and the different songs will focus on motifs that represent local traditions. 

The project will also result in a platform that maps these monuments and shows their characteristics. This website exists, for now, in an embryonic format, with the first 12 monuments that the association, in partnership with DGArtes, Património Cultural IP, Rota do Românico, and ESMAE (Porto music school), has studied in the last two years. 

This same website can be accessed here: here.  

The plan is to redesign it to integrate and publicize the new spaces and acoustic studies, establishing a European network of locations with relevant capabilities for musical performance. 

This project promotes intercultural dialogue and the circulation of artists, reinforcing the sound identity of European heritage and encouraging its active use as living spaces for musical creation and enjoyment, as well as cultural tourism, placing new locations and territories on the European map, seeking its decentralization and sustainability. 

If you’re interested in being a partner, please contact us so that we can arrange an online meeting and figure out in what way we can cooperate!