The ECOU Project

The ECOU project (Concert Experiences for Eyes and Ears), co-funded by the National Cultural Fund Administration (AFCN), aimed to research and promote Byzantine music works that address themes such as somatic complexes and disabilities, exploring aspects related to visual and hearing impairments from the perspective of inclusion and accessibility.

The REVIVART Association’s initiative aimed to facilitate access for blind and hearing-impaired young people to high-quality musical and artistic experiences by integrating them as performers in inclusive concerts and activities. Through its educational aspect, the project aimed to reduce prejudices related to the ability of vulnerable people to express themselves musically and artistically, by providing access to music therapy and stained glass painting workshops for 150 beneficiaries with visual and hearing impairments.

The training component dedicated to people with visual impairments was organized in two series, with different profiles and needs, but with a coherent methodological architecture. At the Association of the Blind, Iași branch, sessions were held focusing on active listening, rhythmic exercises, improvisation, and the preparation of a short performance, with a view to increasing the degree of involvement and musical expressiveness.

At the Association of the Blind in Bucharest, students followed a similar structure, coordinated by music therapist Oana Mădălina Marin between September and October. The activities brought together both students from the Regina Elisabeta Special Technological High School and groups of adults with visual impairments.

At the same time, at ANSR, the project developed a visual direction through stained glass workshops led by artist Andreea Geamănu, focused on techniques and compositions capable of translating the perception of vibrations and music into visual language.

The sign language component was reinforced through a series of online workshops led by trainer Octavian Neagu. The content covered basic conversation and musical terminology, and the materials were made available in their entirety to the public on YouTube, thus ensuring access to a valuable educational resource. YouTube playlist

Continuing the activities, on October 2, the National University of Music in Bucharest hosted the workshop “Introduction to Music Therapy and Emotional Communication through Music,” led by Angelica Postu, a music therapist trained at the Berlin University of the Arts and founder of the Romanian Music Therapy Association.

The event brought to the fore aspects related to the theory and practice of music therapy, as well as a moving demonstration of transnational connection through jazz. Andrada Precup and Andra Petre, two visually impaired students from UNMB, together with Elise Sløgedal from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, performed jazz pieces in sync, thanks to MVTP technology, an innovative platform that eliminates latency in audio-video transmissions. YouTube link | YouTube playlist

The project also included a competitive component, the ECOU National Byzantine Music Interpretation Competition, structured in two sections, for pupils and students. The winning performances are available on the REVIVART Association’s YouTube channel. YouTube playlist

In November, the band Psalmodia recorded the album Ochiul inimii mele (The Eye of My Heart), which includes songs about physical disabilities and healing. YouTube playlist

During the same period, the facsimile volume “Macarie Ieromonahul: Calofonicon, collected and supplemented by Athanasie Iordănescu” was printed and made available to the target group free of charge.

The project included two unique concerts. The first artistic program took place on November 27, at the National Library of Romania, where the “Psalmodia” band of the National University of Music in Bucharest performed psaltic songs alongside guest Ribale Wehbe and the ANSR sign language ensemble, formed as part of the ECOU project. YouTube link | YouTube playlist.

The activities concluded on December 4 at UNMB with the concert “Din cuvânt, lumină” (“From Word to Light”) and the distribution of books and audio albums. YouTube link