The Orchestra
The „Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste“ has been in existence for fifteen years. Initially a few dozen music-loving amateurs shared the few instruments they had at their disposal. Rehearsals were organised in shifts so that everyone could have a turn. Today there are over two hundred musicians on the platform when the “OSK” gives a concert.
Most of them are still self-taught amateurs. Even for those fortunate enough to have trained for a profession and found a halfway regular job, everyday life in the metropolis of Kinshasa with its eight million citizens is a constant struggle for survival. For many the working day begins at six in the morning, frequently a great deal earlier for the ones who cannot afford to share a taxi and have to walk miles to get to their workplaces. Despite this they attend the rehearsals that go on until well into the night, practically every day. A staggering example of discipline and enthusiasm.
In the meantime some of the orchestra’s repair artists have a whole collection of self-devised and self-built tools that they need to mend instruments. Their methods are as unorthodox as they are effective. Other members of the orchestra make their concert attire themselves, procure the sheet music required and make sure that the children are fed and looked after during the long evening rehearsals.
Armand Diangienda is the founder and conductor of the OSK. He is the grandson of Simon Kimbangu, a martyr greatly revered in the Congo for opposing the Belgian colonists and establishing his own church: the Kimbanguists. Armand plays the cello and is also a composer: “Music often helps me to think straight and plan my life,” he says. “And even though the rehearsals are often uphill work with little immediately appreciable progress, making music together is a compensation for lots of problems.”
http://www.classicinblack.com/#
The instrument maker Christian Adam at his last travel to the OSK:
www.geigenbau.com/geigenbau/geigenbauer/geigenbau_workshop.html
News
23.09.2010
Kinostart in Germany
2.09.2010
"Kinshasa Symphony" is nominated for the Erasmus EuroMedia Awards 2010.
17.08.2010
The 6th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival presents the Grand Prize to "Kinshasa Symphony", directed by Claus Wischmann, Martin Baer from the International Competition section, "World Music Film Today".
16.08.2010
Rhode Island Int. Film Festival 2010:
Grand Prize "Best Cinematography" goes to "Kinshasa Symphony"
The 2010 Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced the winners in this year’s film competition at its annual Awards Ceremony in downtown Providence, RI. The festival ran August 10th-15th and showcased over 200 cinematic works, including 35 World and 23 US/North American Premieres. The films were selected from a record entry base of over 4200 international submissions.
www.film-festival.org
12.08.2010
Filmmusik verbindet die Festivals in aller Welt: bei den Oberaudorfer Musikfilmtagen spielt die Jugendblaskapelle Filmmusikklassiker - zur Eroeffnung des Jecheon International Music & Film Festivals in Korea gibt es ebenfalls Filmmusik, diesmal gespielt auf koreanischen Saiteninstrumenten.
Beide Festivals sind noch jung. Beide sind ausgesprochen gastfreundlich und wunderbar musikorientiert. Fantastisch, dass beide "Kinshasa Symphony" zeigen! In Bayern mit deutschen Untertiteln, in Jecheon mit koreanischen.
29.07.2010
"Kinshasa Symphony" erhält eine "Lobende Erwähnung" beim Phoenix-Dokumentarfilmpreis 2010. >>>
27.07.2010
Pascal Capitolin stellt "Kinshasa Symphony" beim Durban International Film Festival vor: "Die erste Vorstellung fand vor vierhundert Schülern statt, die danach vor allem fragten, wieso Schwarze klassische Musik statt Rap oder ähnlichem spielen. Der Film kam sehr gut bei ihnen an - und gelacht wurde an ganz anderen Stellen als in Europa. In Südafrika haben schon erstaunlich viele Menschen von "Kinshasa Symphony" gehört."
20.07.2010
"Kinshasa Symphony" hat seine Premiere im Kongo.
Der Film läuft "open air" am 20.7., dann als Gala-Vorstellung für das gesamte Orchester am 21. Juli im "Hotel Venus" und am 22. Juli im "Centre Culturel Wallonie-Bruxelles" fileadmin/user_upload/pdfs/PM_Filmvorfuehrung_in_Kinshasa.pdf>>>
26.06.2010
„Kinshasa Symphony“ erhält den Publikumspreis beim „Festival des Deutschen Films“ >>>
04.05.2010
AWARDS OPEN DOEK FILMFESTIVAL 2010
Special Mention: Kinshasa Symphony "The jury was very enthusiastic about the portrayal of the creative musicians in Congo."
15.3.2010
“Kinshasa Symphony” opens the prestigious "Visions du Réel" festival in Nyon (Switzerland) on 15 April 2010
8.3.2010 World premier of "Kinshasa Symphony" a complete success: two showings completely sold out, keen interest from the audience
18.1.2010
„Kinshasa Symphony“ selected for Berlinale 2010
The film “Kinshasa Symphony” celebrates its world premiere at “Berlinale Special” on February 17th 2010, 21:45h (rerun February 18th, 18:00h, Cubix 8)
30.10.2009
The team is back in Berlin and the postproduction has started already.
16.10.2009
The second phase of filming in Kinshasa has begun. Fortunately, the rains have held off. Rehearsals, outside shots, short musician portraits and a new protagonist: a tubist with his own pharmacy. And: the cameraman still has both his shoes.
4.10.2009
sounding images GmbH has succeeded in bringing the "Kinshasa Symphony" project to the attention of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. The orchestra gave the filming team a crate with collected instruments for L’Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste. A long-term partnership is planned between the two orchestras. An instrument maker is also to travel to Kinshasa to offer support and advice locally.
20.08.2009
sounding images has succeeded in securing the patronage of the German Commission for UNESCO for the “Kinshasa Symphony” project. This makes us very proud.
19.08.2009
The first leg of the filming is over. With the exception of one of the cameraman’s shoes that got lost on the flight back, the team and their equipment have returned unscathed…
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Es freut mich sehr, wieder etwas von dem Orchester im Kongo zu hören, bei dem ich als Geigenbauer und Musiker im April 2003 bereits einen Reparaturworkshop sowie ein gemeinsames Konzert durchführte. (siehe www.geigenbau.com/geigenbau/geigenbauer/geigenbau_workshop.html )
Ein besonders herzlicher Empfang und die Begeisterung der Musiker, die unter widrigen Bedingungen klassische Orchester- und Chorliteratur erarbeiten sind mir noch in bleibender Erinnerung. Ich freue mich auf den Film.
Herzliche Grüße
Christian Adam