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New European Songbook: Sounds from a continent in flux

Complex and changing currents of migration are creating new musical encounters and bringing influences from beyond Europe’s limits. The New European Songbook is an international creative collaboration that celebrates the new music arising from a continent in flux.

The New European Songbook

About the New European Songbook

Complex and changing currents of migration are creating new musical encounters and bringing influences from beyond Europe’s limits. People travel from near and far to re-settle for reasons to do with economics, politics, personal safely and relationships – and with them, they carry instruments and mastery of musical genres and repertoires unknown in their new homes.

Six European countries have united their diverse musical talents to co-produce a truly unique project

The European Broadcasting Union initiated this international creative collaboration, in which each participating broadcaster has commissioned a new song and music film from a well-known local musician and a newly settled musician that explores and blends both traditions. Seven nations have taken part and, in the UK, BBC Arts Digital and BBC Radio 3 have commissioned two songs to form part of the songbook.

One local artist and one newly-settled artist from Germany, Austria, France, Portugal, Switzerland and two from the UK have each combined their varied musical ability to create a music video that showcases their individual experiences.

New European Songbook: Concerts at the EIF

At this year’s EIF, established UK artists like Karine Polwart and Matthew Herbert joined fellow European artists, and others recently arrived on the continent, for two nights of new music.

Both New European Songbook concerts, which took place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August 2017, are available to watch in full on-demand alongside individual highlights from some of the acts.