However, you highlight that organ festival fills churches.
RVN: Yes, but it is not a national phenomenon that happens in all Western societies and is therefore not let this serve as a consolation, because with the problems of others we deal with, is not a defect of the Portuguese, is structural. Our country has not done enough to counteract or correct this situation, I think a big investment that needs to be done, but I will say it should be mainly focusing on the level of schooling. People go to school and learn reading, writing, history, math and science, ie, learn a little of each field, but not everyone will be scientists, historians and mathematicians, but are left with some knowledge and they have almost no artistic training throughout their academic training, there is a universe which they never had access. If the family does not have the habit at home or school does not give it, nor one way or the other, It is necessary to strengthen the artistic disciplines in the school curriculum.
Speaking of the 5th Organ Festival of Madeira, which is their importance in terms of the Portuguese context?
RVN: It is a very great importance, because throughout Portuguese history, the organ since the sixteenth century has a major role until the nineteenth century, much of the music that was made in the church, had the participation of this instrument on the ground or accompanying singers, or incorporated in an orchestra. And there is a long repertoire written by Portuguese and international composers who played in Portugal that requires much of the organ, there is much national musical heritage that requires a lot of participation this instrument.
And the very construction of the organs that is unique.
RVN: Exactly. And today we have hundreds of historic organs in Portugal, thankfully. And that has been gradually being restored, I do not know if every single will be, but there have been a growing number who are being put back to work. Begins with a large number of younger organists, before there was only a handful, and therefore, no ability to maintain an important organist activity. Now, there are schools all over the country, whether conservatories or colleges already teach organ at an advanced level. We are creating critical mass that allows the organist slowly to give life to this kind of music. It only exists when played, does not exist in files.
This also extends the repertoire previously not played.
RVN: Yes, of course. It is a work that is in progress. I think twenty years ago it was impossible to have a festival of organ like this. The first concerts were made in Lisbon in the late 90s and were very rare events, there were few organist repertoire and now there are many young organists and they perform well, ie, one half dozen musicians taught this generation and we are witnessing a major expansion. It is also important that the church is interested in this type of music, with liturgical content. As you know the quality of the music of the churches is very poor and actually make sense retrieve this special musicality that was made to the church. So it makes no sense that the church does not take on this inheritance that is theirs too, is not only the state, is also of all of us, as we'll see this repertoire is lacking there is that recognition, it is useful and makes us happy.
The money remains a gap.
RVN: Yes, because without eggs we cannot make omolets. When there is no money it is very difficult to do things, the cultural investment is very small, especially with the Portuguese public budgets.
And particularly in music?
RVN: Particularly in music because it is more expensive, a theater group can work in a garage, with a handful of objects to make scenarios, the music requires, if an orchestra, a choir and soloist that takes many years to form, there is a permanent investment that is required to have. It is an expensive luxury, as the cinema. There needs to be investment that was formerly done by the aristocracy, the court. When these classes no longer have money for these luxuries for themselves, the state in general replaces it.
But there is a law of patronage.
RVN: But to have a law of patronage is necessary that someone wants to give and is not mandatory. It is a possibility and if the Portuguese are not sensitive to it, in fact national entrepreneurs do not have much this tradition of patronage like un England, the USA, or in Germany that is but natural. But one has to bet on pulling the wagon, we cannot say there is a law of the patronage culture and make you pay it now, the state has a crucial aspect in this scenario.
