MUSIC
JOÃO GIL
Since the dawn of time, the universe and the stars have been in constant movement and expansion. Life forms on Earth respect the rules of that same Universe; the gravity that takes us to the earth and the upward movement that arises from it again for another life. And so on.
This reality produces noise, and organized sounds, ranging from the animals’ ‘speech’ to the water that falls in cascade, to the wind that blows in the trees, and to the sparrows that live in them and sing at the same time in continuous ‘speech’, creating a collective sound mass: the sounds of planet earth.
Human beings, endowed with a brain that organizes and manages to anticipate tomorrow, began to organize sounds and rhythmic cadences in an ongoing relationship with silence and pauses: that is music.
Music accompanies us at work, so that the applied force produces better results. Accompanies us in spiritual elevation, in the search for brightness and inner light.
Ever since I can remember, I combine and organize the sounds in my head, in a relationship with the cosmic exterior and the noises of the world. Everything inspires me and everything is useful information. These sounds organised in melodic and harmonic sequences, translate states of mind that may or may not have words.
It was in this assumption, and in the whirlwind of musical ideas that assail me, that I realized that I had kept many abandoned and unowned musical sequences and puzzles.Because life is in fact quantum, it aligns paths and stones that friends spread around, associated with the Mozambican roots of Ana (Mesquita), and suddenly, out of artistic and human admiration, we were both talking to Mia (Couto) and to draw together what would become ‘Viagem Pelo Esquecimento’ (Journey into Oblivion). Mia’s writing is full of sounds and speech from Ana’s universe. Overflowing with music everywhere. The images he creates and the words he writes, sweat odors so strong and thick that they make it difficult for intrusive sounds to intrude. So, I discovered one day that to work with Mia there would have to be a meeting of languages in a common and central idea. The writer gave me the title of Journey Through Oblivion, as if he, when reading what is before all our gestures, habits and actions, gave us an understanding of the World on a silver platter. The images that Ana knew how to conceive, as well as the whole artistic concept that underlies her, brought her together the artists that sublimate our huge soundtrack that now surrounds us on all sides, because it has accompanied us in careful progress for almost three years.At my side I surrounded myself with an extraordinary team of musicians and technicians who were able to build this musical Noah’s Ark.I highlight the huge and inspired arrangement work of Luís Figueiredo, endowed with a vibrant energy that involved and motivated all the musicians who participated in it.A very special thanks to all who gave the soul of their unique voice to each of the twelve themes.
This Journey reflects the path that we started a long time ago and we should never forget it. It is our Ark.
João Gil