Ancienne Belgique

Lullabies, a journey through common heritage. That's the title of duo Bas Bogaerts and Eva Schampaert's legacy project. On 18 April they left by motorbike from Ghent for a 4 month journey along the Mediterranean Sea, in search of supposedly long forgotten lullabies. When they return they will search for these lullabies again here, among people of the appropriate origin, and see if the songs have survived the migration. AB supports this project as part of its tribute to Alan Lomax. Follow their journey on the website www.slaapkindjeslaap.be

In autumn 2009, the AB will be organising a tribute to the American ethno-musicologist Alan Lomax (1915-2002). It is thanks to his pioneering work that anyone can now acquaint themselves with the earliest folksong recordings. Together with his father, he was responsible for the discovery of blues legend Lead Belly and folk icon Woody Guthrie. Lomax was later the most important staff member of the Archive of Folk Song or to the Library of Congress in Washington.

Bedtime rituals and cradle songs, an unexploited spiritual heritage. A route along various cultures, from Flanders to far across the Mediterranean Sea.

The ‘Lullabies’ project is a research project concerning the ritual and tradition of lullabies and their significance in cultures all around the Mediterranean Sea plus the strength of their link with the respective communities in Flanders.

The initiators are searching for the cultural ‘common ground’ in relation to the theme and want to make it scientifically and artistically accessible for a broader audience. They will be doing this during a 4 month expedition around the Mediterranean Sea and afterwards in the Flemish provinces.

The essence of the research project rests in the results of the first phase, in the form of fieldwork around the Mediterranean Sea. Lullabies will hereby be recorded in both sound and image. Research groups, partners for content and for logistics in the relevant regions will support the project based on their level of expertise and network.

In a second phase, comparative research will be done in the Flemish provinces. This research will examine the similarities and differences between people of the respective origin who have now often been living in Flanders for several generations.
The Flemish lullaby tradition will be closely examined too. In both phases the goal is to record the songs in their rawest and most intimate form: sung by mother to child, by grandparent to grandchild, by fathers, sisters and brothers to babies, toddlers and each other.  Without arrangement, or importance being placed upon ability.

The results of these two phases will be correlated in a third phase. An analysis will be made of what happens to the legacy when it becomes isolated from its cultural context and what the link with Flemish heritage is, or might be.

In the fourth phase the research will finally be spread publicly in the form of various artistic presentations. A travelling auditive exhibition, a stage presentation, and a publication are planned. This cultural legacy consequently offers us a surprising mirror of our own time and is at the same time a lively product of tradition and renewal.