Konferenz / Conference - Website

IGEB Conference
10th – 15th July 2008 (Arrival – Departure)
in Echternach / Luxemburg / Europe   

WINDMUSIC: Regional Traditions – Global Perspectives

Damien Sagrillo

After its first trip outside of Europe in Northfield / Minnesota / USA in 2006, IGEB finds its way back to Europe for the conference of 2008. But this time the conference will be organised in a part of Europe, which is new for IGEB and which has a very remarkable windmusic tradition, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. The decision within Luxembourg was taken in favour of Echternach. Echternach is the oldest town of the Grand-Duchy. It was founded by the Irish monk Willibrord in 698 and grew up to a population of 5200 today. Its architecture has an impressive tradition, bears a remarkable past and offers various attractions for tourists.  

The International Music Festival of Echternach is organised since 1975 and takes place annually in May and June. On Whitsun Tuesday the world-famous Dancing Procession attracts thousands of people and has its origins in the Middle Ages. The pilgrims spring to the melody of an ancient tune, which has been converted into a slow polka rhythm. The enthusiast of windmusic can admire dozens of bands providing the musical background to the dancing pilgrims. Echternach also has an important municipal music school with nearby one thousand pupils and more than fifty teachers. The community band of Echternach, a first class wind orchestra, and other bands of the region have their young talents educated in this focus of musical culture. 

From the tourist viewpoint the monumental Romanesque basilica must be mentioned first. It characterises the skyline of Echternach with its attached abbey, which serves today as a secondary school. Beside this sacral site there are profane sites like the market square with the “Denzelt”, the narrow streets of the old town and the city wall, which is still partially preserved. In addition to this architecture intra muros, Echternach is the centre of Little Switzerland, an area of rocks, dark valleys, green woods and bright creeks. It can be explored by walking, or it can serve simply as zone of relax. 

IGEB will be one of the first associations organizing its conference in the new cultural centre, which will be inaugurated in December 2007. It offers optimal conditions for the realisation of an event joining musicology and musical performance. 

The conference will take place from 10th – 15th July 2008 with the collaboration of the Luxembourg Music Federation Union Grand-Duc Adolphe and the municipality of Echternach.