HOFgesang (Court minstrelsy) – encounter and sharing (PDF)
Diverse – moving – mind-e x p a n d i n g
An attempt to recover the abused courtyards for the residents by choral power
In May 2008 the courtyards of the city of Zurich resounded for the second time with a large variety of choral singing: during four weeks as many as 75 choirs sang in 150 courtyards. By making the courtyards of Zurich resound, this memorable event raises the question about the significance that is attributed to these valuable urban spaces. More than 2000 singers performed in order to promote the courtyards as places for lively interactions among neighbors. The city’s wide-ranging choral culture – choirs representing different styles, cultures and generations – took a stand for a shared concern in a way previously unheard of.
What started the movement?
The rear side of the city is largely unknown. Even though courtyards and backyards take
up as much as one fourth of the city’s space, hardly anyone pays attention to them. As
late as the 1950s, these spaces were widely used by small-scale industries, or to grow
vegetables, to dry laundry or beat carpets. They were work places and thus also places
where people met and interacted with each other. Children watched these proceedings,
participated in the work or found corners to play in.
Since then, most of these courtyards have either been turned into parking space or have
otherwise been rendered unsuitable for community purposes. In consequence, the increasingly
multicultural residents who live around these courtyards have been deprived
of spaces in which good relations among neighbors can develop. This loss not only reduces
the quality of living, it also endangers a peaceful coexistence. People who are
forced to know their neighbor’s favorite TV-program and who witness each flushing of
the neighbor’s toilet, but who never meet and thus never get to know each other, are
unlikely to have much sympathy for each other. Conflicts are not far away.
It is therefore all the more surprising that the quality and the changing function of these
semi-public spaces has so far scarcely been noticed by politicians and city planners in
Switzerland. In this situation, HOFgesang recommends a root treatment: the recovery of
purpose-alienated courtyards as habitats.
And how is this to happen?
HOFgesang will hardly invalidate the market laws, which invite to abuse the courtyards
as a source of extra profit. And it is obviously more profitable to take the 25'000 Euros
per annum for ten parking lots then to use that space to grow flowers or let children
play on a sand heap. All the same, the singers want to make people think and start an
initiative to convert these places back into spaces in which people meet. HOFgesang
invites all parties concerned to a dialogue, with the support of city authorities.
Tenants and landlords are encouraged to work together to find ways to turn these bleak
spaces into playgrounds, recreational areas, dream spaces, gardens – or at least to take
a first step towards realizing such an objective.
To trigger a movement, the singers take an obvious approach: they move around. In this
way, choral singing is brought to everybody, including people who don’t usually attend
concerts: to their balconies and kitchen windows. Especially children and youngsters who
do not live in ideal housing conditions experience a singing culture live – on this side of
the TV screen. This may make them realize that singing can be a liberating experience
and an experience that has the power to unite people. The choirs fight against social
isolation and disintegration. HOFgesang wants to offer this as a contribution to
neighborhood development with the aim of mediating between different cultures.
To the choirs themselves HOFgesang offers an opportunity to introduce themselves to
different neighborhoods and audiences. Personal contact between members of the audience
and singers is easily established in these courtyards and offers the choirs a chance
to recruit new talent.
But who is HOFgesang?
HOFgesang is an organization set up by private initiative. It is supported by the Hofgesang-
society consisting of persons engaged in the cultural sector and other socially
active people who believe in the mind broadening power of music. They choose choral
singing to make people aware of the social significance of courtyards. Primarily, however,
HOFgesang consists of the singers who share in this activity.
The organization is under the patronage of the city of Zurich and is actively supported by
eminent figures from different fields, among which music, education as well as city development.
And what is the future?
HOFgesang will be performing in Zurich for a third time in May 2010. Until then, we hope that the courtyards of many other cities will resound with choral music, too. Yet before, from May 26th (European Neigbour's Day) to June 10th 2009, HOFgesang will be performing in Bern. Choirs from the town and anywhere are cordially invited to join in.
Andreas Diethelm, 1. Februar 2009
HOFgesang
Badenerstr. 18
8004 Zürich
Tel +41 43 317 1968
www.hofgesang.ch
signpost to Zurich's mobile choral singing
window on Zurich's inviting and bleak courtyards