The Oldest Songs of Europe International Festival

The Festival features the oldest examples of music practiced by traditional cultures inhabiting different corners of Europe. The previous editions attracted dozens of singing ensembles and numerous soloists from Albania, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Serbia and Italy.

Archaic songs, frequently rooted in Pre-Christian times, have been performed by venerable guardians of rural tradition, as well as young artists from urban areas who attempt to restore old singing techniques and preserve the vanishing pieces. The Festival provides a rare opportunity to listen to the archaic songs which are still alive or have been brought back to life by ethnomusicologists and artists.

Each year the Festival is accompanied by workshops of traditional dances, exhibitions, discussions and lectures. As a result, it provides a unique forum for international exchange of experiences, thoughts and ideas. The Oldest Songs of Europe International Festival is one of the main projects of the Foundation Muzyka Kresów, existing since 1991. Since 2009, the festival is hosted by the Foundation and CICI Crossroads.