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“The music of 1714”, in the Museu de la Música

The exhibition can be seen up until the 19th of October and forms part of the Barcelona 1714-2014 Tercentenary celebrations

As part of the commemorative events for the Barcelona 1747-2014 Tercentenary celebrations, the Museu de la Música is hosting an exhibition entitled Les músiques dels 1714s (The music of 1714), which can be seen up until the 19th of October. The exhibition focusses on two main aspects, the musical transformations which took place during the War of Succession, and the survival of references to the Catalan defeat in popular folk songs and musical creations inspired by the events of the year in question.

As with virtually the entire continent of Europe, and in particular in the Romance-language speaking regions, dance, musical composition and instrumental formations were significantly reformed during the years of conflict. In the particular case of Catalonia, the painful remembrances of wartime and the resulting loss of freedom where maintained for generations through the oral singing tradition. Some pieces, including songs about Bac de Roda, the Miquelets (militia) or the figure of the Duke of Marlborough, were handed down through by word of mouth and later revitalised by activists of the Catalan revivalist movement of the 19th century.

The exhibition provides a perspective on this song tradition beginning in the period during the War of Succession and focussing on the evolution of the musical heritage of 1714 through subsequent generations of composers. Ticket prices and opening times can be consulted via this link.

Publication date: Friday, 16 May 2014
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