Ancienne Belgique

Renowned American ethno-musicologist Alan Lomax (1915-2002) spent more than 60 years of his life recording folk music and making it better known. From the summer of 1954 until January 1955 he travelled through Italy with his Italian colleague Diego Carpitella. Last year a fantastic photo book of this trip, L'anno più felice della mia vita (The Happiest Year of My Life), was released by Goffredo Plastino.

Alan Lomax went out into the big wide world as songhunter in order to immortalise songs. He got his fascination for recording and throwing light upon culture from his father, John A. Lomax – a pioneering folklorist. Together they are responsible for plumping American archives with folk music from every corner of the world.

Lomax’ influence on contemporary music cannot be emphasised strongly enough. Aside from archiving culture, he was also responsible for the spreading  and  knowledge of it. Minority groups weren't excluded either. So it was that he paid special attention to black music (blues, jazz) and the prison culture (prison songs).

In 1954 Alan Lomax travelled through Italy with musicologist Diego Carpitella in order to gather musical gems. They recorded this one-year journey on film, in field recordings and impressive photography. Italian ethno-musicologist Goffredo Plastino  (Newcastle University) bundled this material in L'anno più felice della mia vita (The Happiest Year of My Life), a book in which the journey is explained in photos (publisher: Il Saggiatore).

On account of the Alan Lomax tribute organised by the Ancienne Belgique in September and October 2009, the MIM and AB present a photo exhibition. A powerful selection from the book allows inspection of the use of authentic Italian instruments and the life's work of the late Alan Lomax. Several concerts will take place during the exhibition period and there will also also be a reading by Goffredo Plastino. Furthermore, the Musical Instrument Museum will provide a special route along a number of typical Italian instruments that are present in the museum.

Practical info:

Photo exhibition ALAN LOMAX The Italian Treasure Trove
Wednesday 26 August until Saturday 11 October 2009

free of charge
Musical Instruments Museum (MIM)
rue Montagne de la Cour 2
B-1000 Bruxelles (Belgium)
T? : + 32 (0)2 / 545.01.30 Fax : + 32 (0)2 / 545.01.77
www.mim.be

Opening hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Note : Tickets are sold until 45 minutes before closing time .

Closed on
Mondays and on 1st January, 1st May, 1st and 11th November, 25th December.